“Cow Bank” helps to escape poverty

The “Cow Bank” project has been effective in helping ethnic minorities have a “fishing rod” to develop the economy. From the initially supported cow, people have built their own herd of cows, thereby having the conditions to build houses and escape poverty.

The "Cow Bank" project supported Mr. Y Ka (Thang Loi ward, Pleiku city, Gia Lai province) with a cow so that he has the opportunity to develop his economy.

The poor are supported with cattle breeding.

The “Cow Bank” project has been implemented by the Gia Lai Provincial Red Cross Society for all levels since 2013, aiming to support the poor and those in difficult circumstances with the means of raising and producing livestock through supporting breeding cows. The criteria for selecting the recipients of the cows are poor households and households in difficult circumstances who do not have the means of production or do not have a stable source of income. The households eligible for the project will be called upon by the local Red Cross Society to support 1 female cow for breeding.

After receiving the breeding cows, the beneficiary household must continue to care for the first litter until they are grown, then transfer them to the Red Cross to continue to rotate to other poor households to raise. After handing over the first litter, the beneficiary household will fully own the breeding cows that were initially supported. In Gia Lai province, the project has been effective when ethnic minorities in difficult circumstances have been supported and have a livelihood to develop their economy.

In November 2024, Mr. Y Ka (Chuet 2 village, Thang Loi ward, Pleiku city, Gia Lai province) received support from the Pleiku City Red Cross Society with a cow in the "Cow Bank" project. After 5 months of care, the cow grew plump and had a round belly. When we arrived at his house, we saw him focusing on taking care of the cow. He filled the barn with food.

“My family is still in a difficult situation. Sometimes we want to develop the economy but have difficulty because we don’t have capital. I am very happy to receive a cow from the Pleiku City Red Cross Society. The cow is a chance for the family to increase their income. In the past few months, I have focused on taking care of the cow, hoping that it will reproduce to expand the herd,” said Y Ka.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Dam, Chairwoman of the Red Cross Society of Thang Loi Ward, in 2024, 2 households in the ward received cows from the project. People are excited, hoping that the project will help them develop their economy. The above cows are currently being well cared for by 2 households, the cows 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 same excitement when receiving support for cows. Mr. On's family is a poor household, living on a small amount of land for production. In March 2025, his family received support from the Phu Thien District Red Cross Society for breeding cows. "The family is very happy to receive support for cows. Currently, the family is focusing on taking care of the cows so that they can breed quickly, helping the family escape poverty. After only 2 months of adoption, I see that the biggest cow is growing quickly," Mr. On happily said.

More opportunities to escape poverty

Phu Thien District is one of the bright spots in implementing the “Cow Bank” project. Mr. Vu Quang Nam, Chairman of the Phu Thien District Red Cross Society, said that in order for the project to help many ethnic minority households, the unit has mobilized donations from agencies, units, organizations and individuals to participate in supporting. From the mobilized resources, the association has made a list of eligible households to give each household a breeding cow worth 10 million VND.

After more than 10 years of implementation, the unit has called for support to provide 49 cows to households in difficult circumstances in 10 communes and towns. From the number of cows provided to the people, the cows have bred, helping the households assigned to raise cows to expand their herds, benefiting from hundreds of cows.

“The “Cow Bank” project is a project of solidarity, of love and mutual support, of sharing livelihoods to develop the economy. The project has received high consensus and has brought about practical results. From the project, many households have had a “fishing rod” to develop their family economy. Many households have had money to build houses, build auxiliary works, and escape poverty,” said Mr. Nam.

According to the Gia Lai Provincial Red Cross Society, in the "Cow Bank" project, in 2013 alone and the period 2020-2025, the local Red Cross societies at all levels called for 226 new cows worth more than 2 billion VND. The initially newly granted cows continued to reproduce, helping households receiving cow support to continue to expand their own herds. The "Cow Bank" project has helped people escape poverty and have conditions for economic development. The unit will continue to maintain the project so that more households can benefit.

HAPPY

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