"Support" farmers

Through the support of Tuoi Tre Newspaper and GREENFEED Joint Stock Company, many farming households in difficult circumstances in Vinh Tu and Vinh Thai communes, Vinh Linh district have been supported to rise up. From here, they have the opportunity to escape poverty and build a better life.

Thanks to support from the program "Supporting Farmers", the family of Ms. Tran Thi Lan, in Thu Luat village, Vinh Thai commune, Vinh Linh district, has overcome difficulties and stabilized their lives - Photo: TP

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thang (born in 1975), in Mach Nuoc village, Vinh Thai commune, is one of the households that received "support" from Tuoi Tre Newspaper and GREENFEED Joint Stock Company. Ms. Thang's situation is quite difficult. For many years, she has been struggling everywhere, doing all kinds of jobs to raise 2 school-age children; and taking care of her elderly parents who are over 90 years old.

Unstable job, unstable income, life became more difficult when her eldest child passed the university entrance exam. Then through the program "Supporting Farmers", Ms. Thang was able to borrow 20 million VND without interest for 2 years. This amount was carefully calculated by her to use it most effectively.

“With the capital, I spent a portion on building materials and renovating the chicken farm; the rest was invested in breeding stock, food, and paying for my children’s school fees,” said Ms. Thang. Recently, through the Zalo application, she happily informed that her flock of chickens had been sold after 4 months of care. The chickens grew well and were heavy, so many households in the area ordered them for use during Tet. Thanks to that, this year’s Lunar New Year for her and her children was more prosperous and fulfilling.

Similarly, the family of Ms. Tran Thi Lan (born in 1979), in Thu Luat village, Vinh Thai commune, also received support for loans for livestock farming and economic development. With the capital, she invested in building barns and bought 200 chickens to raise. Up to now, her chickens have grown well, reaching a weight of 1.8 - 2kg/chicken.

“Thanks to the farming techniques taught by GREENFEED Vietnam Joint Stock Company, my family’s farming has become easier. My chickens are currently being sold for 100,000 VND/kg. The money from selling chickens has helped my family overcome difficulties,” Ms. Lan said emotionally.

Because she has no job and all household expenses depend on her husband’s meager income from his construction work, the family of Ms. Le Thi Dieu (born in 1995), in Thuy Tu village, Vinh Tu commune, is always in poverty. “My biggest wish is to have an income to take care of my family, so that my children can study properly and help my husband to have less hardship,” Ms. Dieu shared.

Previously, she also had small-scale livestock farming, but due to lack of capital and technology, the farming was not effective. Through the “Supporting Farmers” program, her family was supported with piglets and loans to invest in livestock farming. “When we heard that we would be supported with interest-free loans, my husband and I were very happy.

This money has created the initial conditions to help my husband and I gradually escape poverty. Currently, my family's pig herd is growing healthily. Thanks to the knowledge I have received from training, I feel that raising pigs is no longer as difficult as before. My husband and I plan to expand our breeding model after this herd of pigs is sold," said Ms. Dieu.

The families of Ms. Thang, Ms. Lan, and Ms. Dieu are 3 of 40 farming households in Vinh Thai and Vinh Tu communes, Vinh Linh district, supported by the "Supporting Farmers" program with interest-free loans in 2023. The total amount awarded is 920 million VND, including 800 million VND in cash and 120 million VND for animal feed support costs. The 40 households mentioned above are all farming households (priority given to women) with difficult circumstances but determined to become economically self-sufficient and improve their lives.

In addition to providing capital, GREENFEED Vietnam Joint Stock Company also organizes many training sessions, knowledge consultations, and product consumption to help farmers use capital effectively. Initiated in 2010, “Supporting Farmers” is a program jointly implemented by GREENFEED Vietnam Joint Stock Company and Tuoi Tre Newspaper with the aim of bringing a better life to farmers; helping farmers, especially poor female farmers, have the opportunity to develop their livelihoods.

Since then, through support for loans, animal feed costs and training in animal husbandry skills, the “Supporting Farmers” program has helped improve the livelihoods of 2,540 farming households in 23 provinces and cities across the country with a total budget of VND 74 billion, of which the proportion of women participating in the program accounts for 95%. The majority of households receiving capital support have been doing business effectively with a return rate of over 94%.

A representative of GREENFEED Vietnam Joint Stock Company said that the company wishes to provide practical support in terms of loans, knowledge and skills in animal husbandry; to accompany farmers, especially women in difficult circumstances in Quang Tri province, so that they have more conditions to improve their livelihoods, become economic masters, escape poverty sustainably, and help their children go to school with peace of mind.

At the same time, aiming for the further goal of promoting the sustainable development of the local community. “The support capital cannot immediately bring a full life, but we believe that this timely “support” combined with the determination to overcome poverty will help these hard-working farmers have a better future,” said a representative of GREENFEED Vietnam Joint Stock Company.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial Farmers’ Association Le Van Man said that with its profound humanitarian meaning, the “Supporting Farmers” program has made a strong impression on public opinion and local authorities. “Despite the attention of leaders at all levels and local authorities, many farming households in Quang Tri province still face many difficulties.

Therefore, “Supporting Farmers” is a very meaningful and timely program. Through the program, farmers have more capital to develop livestock and crops, thereby having the opportunity to develop the economy and escape poverty. Hopefully, in the coming time, many disadvantaged farming households in the province will be “supported” by the program to have the conditions to become self-sufficient in the economy, contributing to the development of their homeland,” said Mr. Man.

Nam Phuong

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