"Cattle banks" help people escape poverty.

The "Cattle Bank" project has proven effective in providing ethnic minority communities with the "fishing rod" to develop their economy. Starting with the initial cow provided, people have built up their own herds, enabling them to build houses and escape poverty.

The "Cattle Bank" project provided Mr. Y Kă (Thang Loi Ward, Pleiku City, Gia Lai Province) with a female cow, giving him the opportunity to develop his economy.

Poor people are provided with cattle for breeding.

The "Cattle Bank" project, implemented by the Gia Lai Provincial Red Cross Society at all levels since 2013, aims to support the poor and disadvantaged by providing them with means of livestock farming and production through the provision of breeding cows. The criteria for selecting recipients are poor households and those in difficult circumstances who lack means of production or a stable source of income. Each household eligible for the project will receive one breeding cow from the Red Cross branches in the area, with the support of various organizations.

After receiving the breeding cows, the beneficiary household must continue to care for the first litter until they are mature, then transfer them to the Red Cross to be rotated to other poor households for raising. After handing over the first litter, the beneficiary household will fully own the breeding cow that was initially provided. In Gia Lai province, the project has proven effective in supporting disadvantaged ethnic minority communities and helping them develop their livelihoods economically.

In November 2024, Mr. Y Kă (Chuét 2 village, Thắng Lợi ward, Pleiku city, Gia Lai province) received a female cow from the Pleiku City Red Cross Society as part of the "Cow Bank" project. After 5 months of care, the cow has grown plump and its belly is full. When we visited his house, we saw him focused on caring for the cow. He had piled up plenty of feed in the barn.

“My family is still struggling financially, and sometimes we want to develop our economy but face difficulties because we lack capital. I'm very happy that the Pleiku City Red Cross Society donated a cow to my family. The cow represents an opportunity for my family to increase our income. For the past few months, I've focused on caring for the cow, hoping it will reproduce to expand the herd,” Y Kă shared.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Dam, Chairwoman of the Thang Loi Ward Red Cross Society, in 2024, two households in the ward received support in the form of cows from the project. The residents are delighted and hopeful that the project will help them develop their economy. The cows are currently being carefully cared for by the two households and are growing quickly.

These days, the family of Mr. Trieu Van On (Nam Ha village, Ia Ake commune, Phu Thien district, Gia Lai province) shares the joy of receiving support in the form of cows. Mr. On's family is classified as a poor household, their lives depending on a small plot of land for production. In March 2025, his family received a breeding cow from the Phu Thien District Red Cross Society. “We are very happy to receive the cows. Currently, we are focusing on caring for them so they can reproduce quickly and help us escape poverty. After only two months of receiving them, I see that the largest cow is growing very fast,” Mr. On happily said.

More opportunities to escape poverty

Phu Thien District is one of the bright spots in implementing the "Cattle Bank" project. Mr. Vu Quang Nam, Chairman of the Phu Thien District Red Cross Society, said that to help more ethnic minority households, the organization has mobilized donations from agencies, units, organizations, and individuals. From these donations, the society has compiled a list of eligible households to receive one breeding cow worth 10 million VND each.

After more than 10 years of implementation, the unit has solicited support to provide 49 cows to disadvantaged households in 10 communes and towns. From the cows provided to the people, the cows have reproduced, helping the households entrusted with raising the cows to expand their herds and benefit from hundreds of cows.

“The ‘Cattle Bank’ project is a project of solidarity, of love and mutual support, sharing livelihoods to develop the economy. The project has received high consensus and has yielded practical results. Through the project, many households have been given the ‘fishing rod’ to develop their family economy. Many households have had money to build houses and outbuildings, escaping poverty,” Mr. Nam said.

According to the Gia Lai Provincial Red Cross Society, in the "Cattle Bank" project, in 2013 alone and during the 2020-2025 period, Red Cross branches at all levels in the province have solicited donations of 226 new cows worth over 2 billion VND. The initial number of newly provided cows have continued to reproduce, helping the households that received support to further expand their herds. The "Cattle Bank" project has helped people escape poverty and develop their economy. The organization will continue to maintain the project so that more households can benefit.

HỮU PHÚC

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/ngan-hang-bo-tro-giup-thoat-ngheo-post798685.html