The man who brought the sturgeon to the Na Hau forest

Sturgeon farming area of ​​Mr. Giang A Chau's family

Born and raised in the Na Hau forest, more than anyone else, Mr. Giang A Chau understands the poverty and hopelessness of his people. Remembering clearly the miserable situation of the villagers, he said: “The life of our people in the past was very poor, constantly hungry, hungry all year round, the villagers only knew how to go into the forest to dig bamboo shoots and cassava to eat. They seemed to have no way out.”

Admitted to the Party, then became a village cadre, a commune cadre and when he was the Party Secretary of Na Hau commune, Mr. Chau still did not lose his will to get rich as well as change his family's life, nurturing the desire to bring a bright color to the village in economic and social development. Mr. Chau boldly brought sturgeon breeds to raise in streams, under the primeval forests. For the people where he lived, this was a bold, innovative act, because for generations, the Mong Na Hau people had nothing else to do except raise chickens and pigs, grow upland rice, grow wet rice, and pick wild vegetables.

Mr. Giang A Chau shared: “After many years of witnessing the poor, hopeless life of my fellow countrymen, I thought I had to do something to help my people reduce poverty and suffering. In addition to working days at the commune People's Committee headquarters, I spend 2 weekends going to Sa Pa, Lao Cai to visit, learn, and explore cold-water fish farming methods.”

Located in the middle of a nature reserve with primeval forests, Na Hau commune, Van Yen district has a humid and cold climate with an average humidity of about 84%, a temperature of about 23 degrees Celsius and many streams and waterfalls. Seeing that the climate and water temperature are quite similar, in 2017, Mr. Chau used his salary to build a tarpaulin tank, buy 3,000 Sturgeon fish to raise experimentally with the hope that this fish will grow well and open up a new direction for the people.

Mr. Chau recounted the process of raising sturgeon in the green Na Hau forest: “Realizing the potential and advantages of this fish, suitable for raising cold-water fish, a specialty fish with much higher economic value than other types of fish, I spent a lot of time researching through books, newspapers, television, and then went to Sa Pa (Lao Cai) to learn how to raise and care for it. The first batch I brought home to raise was also worrying because of the amount of capital invested here. Fortunately, right from the first days of testing this type of fish, it showed good growth. In the first year, after deducting all investment costs, I earned a profit of nearly 200 million VND. For the first time, I had a source of income thanks to knowing how to exploit the advantages of nature, I was so happy that I cried . ”

Mr. Chau and his wife take care of sturgeon fish

When he was retired, Mr. Chau still worked hard to raise sturgeon and invested in expanding the scale. After many years of effort, Mr. Chau has now formed the largest sturgeon farming model in Van Yen district with 16 large and small tanks with an area of ​​about 1,500m2 ^with about 30,000 fish/batch, the average output is nearly 25 tons/year. With the current selling price of about 260,000 VND/kg of commercial sturgeon, on average, each year, after deducting all expenses, Mr. Chau also earns over 1 billion VND.

Not only does it help his family have a stable source of income and employment, Mr. Chau also creates jobs for many local Mong workers. He said: “Compared to growing rice and corn, the value of raising this sturgeon is 10-15 times higher. My family's model has created regular jobs for 5-10 local workers with an income of 5-6 million VND/month” .

In order for the fish to grow and develop well, produce high quality yield, and have a solid position in the market, Mr. Chau has constantly researched and studied scientific and technical advances to raise fish according to VietGap standards. At the same time, he and the locality have actively built a successful 3-star OCOP brand for the Na Hau sturgeon to ensure price and stabilize output.

Mr. Chau and his wife take care of sturgeon fish

Mr. Sung A Sa - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Na Hau Commune, Van Yen District said: "Mr. Giang A Chau's family is the first Mong family in Na Hau Commune to raise a sturgeon. This fish has helped his family have a stable economy, becoming a rich household in the village and the commune. Seeing the economic efficiency of raising sturgeon that Mr. Chau has achieved, many Mong people in Na Hau Commune, Van Yen District have come to learn and build a model for their families."

Mr. Mua A Pao in Ban Tat village used to be a poor household, his family did not have a stable income, he learned from Mr. Chau how to raise fish and was guided by him wholeheartedly, now Mr. Pao's family has a more stable income every month. Especially, everyone in the family has a job, no longer goes into the forest to cut trees, hunt wild animals illegally. More importantly, everyone has become familiar with the production of goods and tourism services.

Mr. Mua A Pao said: “Before, life was difficult, simply growing rice and raising chickens and pigs, on March 8th, we went into the forest to find bamboo shoots and vegetables to eat, so life was very poor, lacking food all the time. Seeing Mr. Chau raising sturgeon effectively, easy to sell, and generating income, I went to Mr. Chau's house to learn from his experience, boldly borrowing 100 million VND from the Social Policy Bank to invest in building tanks and raising fish. The first batch only dared to raise 1,800 fish and the first year also brought in an income of about 130 million VND. Life has really improved a lot, my wife and children have jobs, no longer have to go into the forest to find food every meal, now we have escaped poverty thanks to raising fish" .

Not only Mr. Mua A Pao but also Ms. Sung Thi Tenh's family in Ban Tat village a few years ago still had many difficulties and shortages, in the morning they went to the forest to pick wild vegetables, hunt, in the evening they returned home to stay in a dilapidated house, hunger and poverty followed all year round. Seeing Mr. Chau and many other households following Mr. Chau to raise fish effectively, her family learned from him. Although they have not yet become rich thanks to raising sturgeon, they are no longer poor, no longer have to eat breakfast, worry about dinner.

Ms. Sung Thi Tenh shared: “Seeing Mr. Chau raising this fish effectively, my husband and I went to Mr. Chau’s house to learn from his experience and was also enthusiastically instructed by Mr. Chau on how to choose breeds, care, prevent diseases, water sources, etc. So my husband and I boldly invested in building a tank and raising fish. The first batch brought a good income and stable jobs. My husband and I continue to raise this fish in the hope that thanks to it, our family’s life will be better.”

Exploiting the potential of clean water and cool climate in the Na Hau Nature Reserve, helping the Mong people gradually change their mindset, way of thinking, way of doing, knowing how to turn the potential advantages bestowed by nature into wealth and material to develop the economy, pushing back the hunger and poverty that have haunted the people for generations... that is what Mr. Giang A Chau has done in the great Na Hau forest. The sturgeon raised by the hands, the mind, from the desire for change, from the love and help of each other has brought the Mong people here a prosperous and happy life.

Mr. Giang A Chinh - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Na Hau commune said: "Up to now, the whole commune has 10 Mong households following Mr. Chau to raise sturgeon. The lives of the people have changed, reducing poverty. Sturgeon products of Na Hau have been recognized as 3-star OCOP products, with a brand and reputation in the market. In particular, the sturgeon farming model not only helps people in Na Hau commune have a stable source of income, improve their lives but also protects the natural environment, protects the majestic forests, caves, cool, pristine waterfalls, fresh air, ...".

With 99% of Mong people living, Na Hau has a large area of ​​primeval forest which is a nature reserve but the area of ​​production land is relatively small, so the problem of creating sustainable livelihoods has long been a difficult problem. Mr. Giang A Chau's sturgeon model has partly supported the Na Hau commune government to successfully solve the problem of creating livelihoods for the people. Sturgeon products in the near future will not only help the people of Na Hau commune but also the people of Van Yen district to promote the potential and advantages of the locality in economic development right under the canopy of the old forest, but also create a brand and promote the image of Van Yen district to all regions near and far.

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/nguoi-dua-con-ca-tam-len-dai-ngan-na-hau-1745723902203.htm