Farmers of Lien An Do commune: Compete in production and good business

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Uan, Kim Chau 2 village, harvests winter vegetables.

With the motto "While still strong, still working", Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hoan and her husband, Ba Vi village, although over 70 years old, are still actively developing livestock farming. Borrowing 100 million VND from the People's Credit Fund (TDND) of Lien Giang, investing in building 2 closed barns, buying super lean pigs to raise, they take care of the pigs day and night, strictly following the instructions on barns, food, vaccinations... so the pigs grow quickly. While raising pigs for meat was going well, African swine fever appeared, causing tens of millions of VND in damage. Not discouraged, with the encouragement and support of the Commune Farmers' Association, they repaired the barn, disinfected it, and then bought Egyptian chickens to raise for eggs. Mrs. Hoan said: Currently, in my barn, I raise over 400 Egyptian chickens, collecting more than 300 eggs per day, after expenses, I still have a profit of about 150 million VND/year. In the near future, I will increase the total number of chickens to 1,000. Mrs. Hoan is a typical farmer with good economic development in the commune.

Previously, the income of Mr. Pham Trong Huy's family in Kim Ngoc 3 village was quite unstable. To have a stable source of income, he boldly borrowed 200 million VND from the Lien Giang People's Credit Fund to invest in developing pig farming. Mr. Huy shared: Previously, I raised 7-10 pigs, the income was not very high; in 2021, I boldly borrowed capital to build 2 closed barns to raise sows and pigs. Up to now, the family is raising more than 80 sows, pigs and piglets. After giving birth, I only keep a few litters to raise into pigs for meat, the rest are sold as breeding pigs to people in the area. Raising pigs brings in an income of over 100 million VND/year, thanks to which the family has the conditions to build a spacious house and send their children to school.

Responding to the local winter crop planting movement, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Uan, Kim Chau village, every year borrows more fields from relatives who do not grow crops to grow 1.6 hectares of cold-loving winter crops, mainly cabbage, cauliflower, and kohlrabi. Mr. Uan shared: For many years now, I have been growing winter crops because this is a traditional crop of the locality. The crop only lasts for 3 months but I earn 50 - 60 million VND, 3 - 4 times more than growing rice. Winter crops have long been the main source of income for my family.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngan, Chairwoman of the Farmers' Association of Lien An Do Commune, said: The commune has just merged from 3 old communes of An Chau, Lien Giang, Do Luong, with a large number of members (nearly 2,400 people). Right from the beginning of the year, the Association launched the movement "Farmers compete in production, good business, unite to help each other get rich and reduce poverty sustainably", organized 8 classes to transfer science and technology in animal husbandry, cultivation, and instructions on fertilizer use and plant care, attracting over 800 members to participate. The Association also guaranteed loans with banks for nearly 400 members of over 45 billion VND, introduced members in need of loans at the Lien Giang People's Credit Fund to invest in production and business development. Along with the efforts to overcome difficulties, the spirit of daring to think, daring to do of the members, in 2024, nearly 600 members achieved the title of good farmers in production and business at the commune level.

In the coming time, the Farmers' Association of Lien An Do commune will continue to play a good role as a bridge to provide capital and knowledge to members; do a good job of mobilizing and guiding members to exploit the potential and strengths of land, traditional occupations and effectively use capital sources; proactively transform the structure of crop and livestock varieties, introduce high-value crop and livestock varieties into production. At the same time, mobilize members to help each other overcome difficulties through forms such as interest-free loans, support for seeds, investment capital for production and livestock breeding.