Creating livelihoods for the poor to rise up

The Farmers' Association of Ang Cang commune (Muong Ang district) collaborated with Viet Bac Coffee Import-Export Co., Ltd. to provide organic fertilizer to coffee growers in the commune.

Despite its favorable geographical location near the center of Muong Lay town, Huoi Min village in Song Da ward is one of the most disadvantaged villages. The reasons for this difficulty, besides the lack of infrastructure and roads, are primarily due to outdated production methods and mindsets. Instead of utilizing the terrain's advantages for livestock farming and crop cultivation, the villagers mainly practice low-yield upland rice cultivation.

Faced with this situation, and with the involvement of the local Party committee and government, the Provincial Farmers' Association, in coordination with the town's departments and agencies, has intensified propaganda and mobilization efforts to encourage people to pay more attention to livestock farming and production. In addition, they have coordinated the organization of short-term vocational training courses such as: techniques for caring for and preventing diseases in rice; techniques for raising livestock and poultry, and disease prevention and treatment... These training courses have helped farmers improve their awareness in farming and animal husbandry.

Mr. Lau A So, from Huoi Min village, happily shared that the village currently has over 20 households, all of whom are Mong ethnic people. Previously, the villagers faced great hardship, relying solely on their small plots of land for production year-round, often leading to food shortages. In recent years, thanks to the awareness campaigns and encouragement from the Farmers' Association and local authorities, the villagers have understood the benefits of changing crop and livestock structures, actively participating in vocational training courses for rural laborers and applying scientific advancements to production. As a result, the village has transformed over 10 hectares of barren rice paddies into terraced fields, producing two crops per year with yields ranging from 50 to 53 quintals per hectare.

Wishing to provide more members and farmers with vocational skills training, in recent years, farmers' associations at all levels have regularly coordinated with specialized agencies such as the Farmers' Support Center, the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the Continuing Education and Vocational Training Centers of the districts, and the People's Committees of communes and wards to conduct surveys and understand the vocational training needs of the people and the socio-economic development conditions of the locality, organizing vocational training classes for rural laborers. These vocational training classes focus on agriculture, such as: intensive fruit tree cultivation techniques; mushroom cultivation and preservation; safe vegetable cultivation techniques, etc.

Following the motto "hands-on training" and "learning by doing," through each vocational training course, the majority of trainees, especially ethnic minorities, acquire basic and practical knowledge in agricultural professions, gradually eliminating outdated production methods and promoting the application of science and technology in livestock farming and crop cultivation. From 2018 to 2023, the various levels of the Farmers' Association organized nearly 500 classes with over 15,000 farmer members participating, including 31 classes organized by the Farmers' Support Center and 425 classes organized in coordination with other associations.

Besides focusing on vocational training, the Provincial Farmers' Association also effectively coordinates with the Social Policy Bank to provide loans to poor households and families entitled to preferential policies, with a total outstanding loan balance of nearly 1.2 trillion VND to date, benefiting over 20,000 households. Furthermore, the Association is currently maintaining the operation of the Farmers' Support Fund at all levels. From this fund, the various levels of the Association are currently implementing 77 projects for 460 borrowing households.

Mr. Lo Van Thuan, from Thanh Luong commune, Dien Bien district, shared: "In 2014, my family was given the opportunity by the Farmers' Association to participate in the project for breeding buffaloes and cows. With a loan of 50 million VND from the Farmers' Support Fund, along with additional funds raised from relatives, I was able to buy 3 breeding buffaloes and 4 breeding cows. During the care process, with the support and technical guidance from the Farmers' Association officials, my herd of buffaloes and cows is now thriving. To date, I have repaid the loan, and my family's life is more stable."

To motivate farmers to overcome difficulties and improve their lives, along with activities supporting livelihood creation, the Provincial Farmers' Association regularly launches the "Farmers Competing in Excellent Production and Business" movement every year. Over the years, this movement has been maintained and developed extensively in all 129/129 branches with 1,444 sub-branches, attracting over 35,000 farmer households to register and over 3,000 farmer households to achieve the "Excellent Production and Business" standard at various levels. Each year, more than 1,000 farmer households escape poverty, and hundreds become well-off or wealthy.

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