The person who brought the sturgeon to the great Na Hau forest

Helping the Mong people gradually change their mindset, way of thinking, way of doing, turning the potential advantages bestowed by nature into wealth and material things, pushing back the poverty that has haunted the people for generations is the direction and also the goal that veteran party member Giang A Chau, born in 1960 in Trung Tam village, Na Hau commune, Van Yen district, Yen Bai province has been working on for many years.

The sturgeon farming area of ​​Mr. Giàng A Châu's family.

Born and raised in the Na Hau highlands, Giang A Chau understands better than anyone the poverty and hopeless plight of his people. Recalling the hardships of his villagers, he recounted: “Life in the past was very difficult for our people; they were constantly hungry, year after year. The villagers only knew how to go into the forest to dig up bamboo shoots and wild yams to eat. They seemed to have no way out.”

After joining the Party, becoming a village and commune official, and later the Party Secretary of Na Hau commune, Mr. Chau never wavered in his ambition to become wealthy and improve his family's life, nurturing the desire to bring a brighter future to his village in terms of economic and social development. Mr. Chau boldly brought sturgeon to raise in the streams and under the pristine forests. For the people in his community, this was a groundbreaking and daring undertaking, because for generations, the Mong people of Na Hau had nothing else to do besides raising chickens and pigs, cultivating upland rice, and gathering wild vegetables.

Mr. Giàng A Châu shared: “After witnessing the poverty and hopelessness of my people for many years, I felt I had to do something to alleviate their poverty and suffering. Besides my work at the commune's People's Committee office, I dedicate two days of my weekend to visiting Sa Pa, Lào Cai , to learn about and understand how to raise cold-water fish.”

Located amidst a nature reserve and pristine forest, Na Hau commune in Van Yen district has a humid and cold climate with an average humidity of about 84%, a temperature of around 23 degrees Celsius, and numerous streams and waterfalls. Seeing that the climate and water temperature were quite similar, in 2017 Mr. Chau used his salary to build a tarpaulin pond and buy 3,000 sturgeon fingerlings for experimental breeding, hoping that the fish would thrive and open up a new direction for the local people.

Mr. Chau recounted the process of raising sturgeon in the lush green forests of Na Hau: “Recognizing the potential and advantages of raising this cold-water fish species – a specialty fish with much higher economic value than other types of fish – I spent a lot of time researching through books, newspapers, and television, and even went to Sa Pa (Lao Cai) to learn how to raise and care for them. The first batch I brought back was worrying because I had invested so much capital. Fortunately, from the very first days of experimentation, this fish showed good growth. In the first year, after deducting all investment costs, I earned a profit of nearly 200 million VND. It was the first time I had a source of income from exploiting the advantages of nature; I was so happy I almost cried . ”

Mr. and Mrs. Chau take care of their sturgeon.

Even after retiring, Mr. Chau continued to diligently raise sturgeon and invested in expanding his operation. After years of hard work, he has now established the largest sturgeon farming model in Van Yen district, with 16 large and small ponds covering an area of ​​approximately 1,500 square meters ^, raising about 30,000 sturgeon per batch, with an average yield of nearly 25 tons per year. With the current selling price of around 260,000 VND/kg for commercial sturgeon, Mr. Chau earns over 1 billion VND annually after deducting all expenses.

Not only has Mr. Chau provided his family with a stable income and employment, but he has also created jobs for many local Hmong laborers. He said: “Compared to growing rice or corn, the value of raising sturgeon is 10-15 times higher. My family's model has created regular jobs for 5-10 local laborers with an income of 5-6 million VND per month . ”

To ensure the fish grow and develop well, yielding high-quality products and securing a firm position in the market, Mr. Chau has continuously researched and studied scientific and technical advancements to raise fish according to VietGAP standards. At the same time, he has actively worked with the local community to successfully build a 3-star OCOP brand for Na Hau sturgeon, ensuring stable prices and market access.

Mr. and Mrs. Chau take care of their sturgeon.

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 ethnic minority household in Na Hau commune to raise sturgeon. This fish has helped his family achieve economic stability and become one of the wealthiest households in the village and commune. Seeing the clear economic benefits that Mr. Chau has achieved from sturgeon farming, many Mong ethnic minority people in Na Hau commune, Van Yen district, have come to learn and build similar models 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 enthusiastically instructed by him, 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 or 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. We simply grew rice and raised chickens and pigs. On the eighth day of the third lunar month, we went into the forest to find bamboo shoots and vegetables to eat, so life was very poor, and we were always short of food. Seeing Mr. Chau raising sturgeon effectively, easily selling them, and generating income, I went to his house to learn from his experience. I boldly borrowed 100 million VND from the Social Policy Bank to invest in building tanks and raising fish. In the first batch, I only dared to raise 1,800 fish, and in the first year, it yielded an income of about 130 million VND. Life has really improved a lot. My wife and children have jobs, and we no longer have to go into the forest to find food every day. Now, we have escaped poverty thanks to raising fish . ”

Not only Mua A Pao but also Sung Thi Tenh's family in Ban Tat village, just a few years ago, faced many hardships and deprivations. They spent their mornings gathering wild vegetables and hunting in the forest, and their evenings confined to their dilapidated house, constantly plagued by hunger and poverty. Seeing that Mr. Chau and many other households had successfully followed his example in raising sturgeon, her family decided to do the same. Although they haven't become rich from raising sturgeon, they are no longer poor and no longer worry about their next meal.

Ms. Sung Thi Tenh shared: “Seeing Mr. Chau successfully raising this fish, my husband and I went to his house to learn from his experience. Mr. Chau also gave us detailed guidance on how to select breeds, care for them, prevent diseases, and find suitable water sources… So my husband and I boldly invested in building tanks and raising fish. The first batch brought in a decent income and provided stable employment. My husband and I continue to raise this fish, hoping that it will improve our family's life.”

Harnessing the potential of clean water and the cool climate within the Na Hau Nature Reserve, the Mong people have gradually changed their mindset, way of thinking, and way of doing things. They have learned to transform the potential advantages bestowed by nature into wealth and material resources to develop the economy, pushing back the hunger and poverty that have plagued them for generations… This is what Mr. Giang A Chau has achieved in the vast Na Hau forest. The sturgeon, raised with his hands, mind, aspirations for change, and love and mutual support, has brought prosperity and happiness to the Mong people here.

Mr. Giàng A Chỉnh – Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Nà Hẩu commune, said: “To date, 10 Mong households in the commune have followed Mr. Châu in raising sturgeon. The lives of the people have changed, and poverty has been reduced. Nà Hẩu's sturgeon product has been recognized as a 3-star OCOP product, with a brand and reputation in the market. In particular, the sturgeon farming model not only helps the people of Nà Hẩu commune have a stable income and improve their living standards, but also protects the natural environment, preserving the majestic forests, caves, cool, pristine waterfalls, and clean air,...”

With 99% of its population being ethnic Mong people, Na Hau boasts a large area of ​​pristine forest, serving as a nature reserve, but the area of ​​arable land is relatively small. Therefore, creating sustainable livelihoods has long been a difficult problem. Mr. Giang A Chau's sturgeon farming model has significantly assisted the Na Hau commune government in successfully solving the problem of creating livelihoods for the local people. In the near future, sturgeon products will not only help the people of Na Hau commune but also the people of Van Yen district to develop their local potential and advantages in economic development under the old-growth forest canopy, but also create a brand and promote the image of Van Yen district to the wider world.

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