Developing sustainable livelihoods in ethnic minority areas.

Livelihood support models not only help people change their production mindset but also create motivation to strive for economic development and stabilize their lives.

Changing the mindset in production

After the merger, Tam Giang commune has over 5,800 households with more than 25,300 inhabitants belonging to 21 ethnic groups living together; of which, ethnic minorities account for more than 51%. Previously, the lives of many households were still difficult due to small-scale production, heavily dependent on traditional experience, resulting in low economic efficiency.

Since the implementation of Program 1719, the locality has intensified propaganda and guidance for people to transform the structure of crops and livestock to suit the climate, soil conditions and market demand. Along with that, many households have received support in terms of plant seeds, fertilizers, production machinery and access to preferential loans to invest in economic development.

The integrated economic model of Mr. Y Nop Nie's family (Trap hamlet, Tam Giang commune). Photo: Van Anh

The family of Mr. Y Nop Nie (Trap hamlet, Tam Giang commune) is one of the exemplary households that have risen out of poverty thanks to boldly transforming their production. Previously, his family was classified as poor, their lives mainly depending on a few plots of old, low-yielding coffee trees. In 2022, with 116 million VND from government policy funds, he boldly invested in planting durian and improving his coffee plantation using sustainable intensive farming methods.

Not only did he receive financial support, but he also actively participated in technical training courses and learned from successful production models to apply to his own practice. Thanks to proper care, his orchard thrived, yielding significant economic benefits from the very first years. By 2023, his family had escaped poverty and become one of the households with positive economic transformation in the locality. Currently, his family owns 3 hectares of sustainably produced coffee and over 200 durian trees that are already bearing fruit. In the last harvest alone, his family's economic model brought in over 400 million VND in revenue.

Mr. Y Nop Nie shared: “Previously, my family relied solely on coffee, resulting in unstable income. Thanks to loan support and guidance on production techniques, my family boldly switched crops and invested in proper care, leading to increasingly stable economic conditions.”

Participating in the production linkage project has helped ethnic minority households in Ea Na commune gradually change their farming practices and improve economic efficiency. Photo: Van Anh

Formed by the merger of three communes – Ea Bông, Ea Na, and Dray Sáp – from the former Krông Ana district, Ea Na commune now has many coffee replanting models with a survival rate of over 80%. From 2021 to the present, the commune has implemented many production linkage projects, which have initially yielded positive results.

A prime example is the project supporting linkages in coffee production and consumption in Ea Na commune, implemented with resources from Project 3 under Program 1719. The project is currently being implemented on an area of ​​69 hectares with the participation of 71 ethnic minority households in the villages of Kla, Tuôr A, and Tuôr B. Êđê Café Joint Stock Company is the lead agency and is committed to purchasing all the produce from the farmers.

Participating households receive 50% support for the cost of standard fertilizers and pesticides; they also receive guidance on cultivation techniques, production planning, and coffee preservation according to VietGAP standards. As a result, coffee yield and quality are gradually improving, and the average income of farmers is expected to increase by more than 10% per harvest.

A pillar for economic development.

Suoi Trai commune is one of the localities where ethnic minorities constitute the majority of the population across 15 villages and hamlets. The lives of the people are largely difficult, and production methods remain backward.

Through various funding sources, Suoi Trai commune has so far distributed nearly 200 cows to poor households in 15 villages and hamlets. As a result, many households have diligently raised cattle, developed their herds, and are gradually escaping poverty.

Mr. Ksor Y Thu (Kien Thiet village) said: “My family is grateful to the Suoi Trai commune government for providing breeding cows to improve our livelihoods. Currently, the herd is thriving. My family considers this a foundation to gradually transition to other economic models, aiming for economic development in the future.”

The people of Suoi Trai commune are gradually switching to different crops to develop their economy. Photo: Nhat Huy

In addition to providing cattle, Suoi Trai commune also uses funds from various projects to support people with plant varieties, combining crop conversion to help people escape poverty, develop a sustainable economy, and join hands with the locality in building new rural areas and achieving socio-economic targets.

Mr. Cao Minh Sang, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Suoi Trai commune, said: "Besides supporting people's livelihoods, the commune government is determined to gradually transform economic models to suit the specific conditions of the locality. The goal is to help people escape poverty and develop the economy. This is one of the important contents of the locality in the coming time."

Residents of Ea Ly commune are now able to grow wet rice after the government invested in a pumping station and irrigation canal system. Photo: Nhat Huy

In Ea Ly commune, utilizing funding sources to support localities with ethnic minority populations, the government has built the Ea Lam 1, Ea Lam 2, and Tan Lap irrigation canal and pumping station systems. This has enabled people to cultivate rice on 300 hectares, meeting their food needs before considering other crops. Alongside this, Ea Ly commune has developed fruit-growing areas such as macadamia, durian, and lychee, helping people develop a sustainable economy.

“In ethnic minority areas like Ea Ly commune, the locality prioritizes stabilizing people's lives and supporting livelihoods for economic development. At the same time, we are building national unity, creating strength for the locality in implementing plans and achieving upcoming goals,” said Mr. Nay Y Ton, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ea Ly commune.

During the period 2026-2030, the entire province will have 81 out of 102 communes in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, including 51 out of 81 communes classified as extremely difficult; and 704 extremely difficult villages.

Over the past period, the province has focused on effectively implementing national target programs with a prioritized investment approach, giving priority to remote, disadvantaged, and difficult areas. This includes supporting the construction of 481 projects to support production development and diversify livelihoods, providing assistance to 7,278 households/groups of households. To date, these projects have basically proven effective, creating additional resources and livelihoods for households to improve their lives, gradually escape poverty, and develop economically.

Van Anh - Nhat Huy

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/kinh-te/202605/phat-trien-sinh-ke-ben-vung-trong-vung-dong-bao-dan-toc-thieu-so-1534e6f/