The teacher sowed knowledge and seeds of sustainable poverty reduction in a place where there are more rocks than soil.

TPO - In Phieng Cam land, Son La province, where people used to say "there are more rocks than soil", life has been associated with corn and cassava for generations, working hard all year round but poverty still clings to it. However, thanks to the pioneering step of teacher Hoang Van Quy (born in 1975), bringing crispy persimmons to grow, he has "sowed" the belief in sustainable poverty escape for people right from their hometown's fields and gardens.

Teacher Hoang Van Quy.

A teacher's "gamble"

Nearly ten years ago, during a chance trip to Moc Chau, Mr. Quy first enjoyed crispy persimmons, a sweet, crunchy, cool fruit that might be suitable for the climate and soil in Phieng Cam. From that experience, he came up with a bold idea: why not try growing them in Phieng Cam, where the climate and altitude are similar?

Thinking is doing, the teacher spent half of his salary and money borrowed from relatives to put into 600 seedlings. When the first rose roots took root on the land that was only used to corn and cassava, many people in the village shook their heads: "This land is only suitable for corn, planting strange plants will kill you and you will be left with nothing". Indeed, it was a big "gamble" not only about money, but also about the reputation of a teacher.

The first three years, he taught and tended the plants, with constant worries. But then, in the fall of the third year, the first persimmons ripened, crisp and sweet, signaling success. His sweat was exchanged for a smile, and from that moment on, he knew he had opened a new direction for his homeland.

If it had only stopped at escaping poverty for his own family, Mr. Quy’s story would have been a valuable example. But what is special is that from his success, an entire community has changed their way of thinking and doing.

Teacher Hoang Van Quy harvests persimmons.

Seeing that rose gardens bring in 20-30 times more income than growing corn, and require less care, the Mong and Thai people boldly learn. From a few initial households, the whole commune now has dozens of hectares of crispy roses. The faded corn fields have gradually turned into lush green gardens, bringing in a stable source of income.

Sustainable poverty reduction began from then on, people no longer relied on short-term, high-risk crops, but instead turned to long-term commodity production. Persimmon trees became the “rich tree” of the whole community, creating a stable livelihood for many generations.

“The value of persimmon trees lies not only in the fruit output, but also in paving the way for a new value chain. During the harvest season, dozens of local workers have more jobs picking, transporting, and packaging. Traders from many places come to connect Phieng Cam with the large market,” Mr. Quy shared.

The one who ignites the desire to reduce poverty

According to Mr. Quy, crispy persimmons also have the potential to be processed, preserved, and diversified. If cooperatives, brands, and geographical indications are developed, persimmon trees will not only help people "eat sweet fruit" for a few years, but also ensure a sustainable, long-term livelihood. "If the local government invests properly, crispy persimmons will become the core of a poverty reduction model based on commodity agriculture ," said Mr. Quy.

Not only a pioneer farmer, Mr. Quy is also first and foremost a teacher, who has been attached to the simple podium of the village for nearly 30 years. Mr. Quy once believed: "Only with letters and knowledge can we escape poverty." Now, he continues that journey in a different way, sowing more faith and aspiration to rise up in the people.

The image of a teacher holding chalk in class while rolling up his sleeves to work in the garden has become a shining example. His success affirms that sustainable poverty reduction is not a distant dream, but begins with daring to think, daring to do, and knowing how to take advantage of local advantages.

In the middle of the rose garden at the peak of its golden ripening, Mr. Quy shared: “In just a few years, when the trees enter the main harvest cycle, the yield can reach 20-30 tons/ha. With stable prices, the billion-dollar dream is not far away.” But more importantly, he believes that this dream is not only for himself, but also for the entire Phieng Cam commune - a land that is wearing a green coat of prosperity and hope.

In a place where only corn and cassava once fed people, now crispy persimmons have become a symbol of change. That is sustainable poverty reduction based on the labor, knowledge and initiative of the community itself.

Mr. Dang Tien Dung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Phieng Cam commune, said that teacher Hoang Van Quy, with his intelligence and heart, wrote a special story, from sowing letters to sowing trees, from one household escaping poverty to the whole community rising up together. That story not only warmed the highlands of Son La , but also left a message about sustainable poverty reduction that is only truly successful when it arouses aspirations and gives people the tools to stand on their own two feet.

Crispy persimmons are being grown by Phieng Cam people, bringing stable income to their families.

"Thanks to the creative application of the crispy persimmon growing model, Mr. Quy not only helped his family escape poverty but also motivated and accompanied many other households to expand their growing area to change their lives," said Mr. Dang Tien Dung.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/nguoi-thay-gioo-chu-gioo-mam-giam-ngheo-ben-vung-o-noi-da-nhieu-hon-dat-post1783242.tpo