Empowering Co Tu women in economic development.

Thanks to policy-based loans, many Co Tu women have confidently engaged in economic activities, risen out of poverty, and contributed to the economic development of the border region.

Besides livestock farming and grocery business, Ms. Coor Thi Ban also grows organic vegetables for consumption in the local area and neighboring communes. Photo: HIEN THUY

Previously, the family of Ms. Coor Thi Ban, from Ga'nil village, Hung Son commune, was one of the poorest households in the area. Their lives depended solely on a small plot of land for farming, resulting in unstable income and constant financial struggles. In 2017, with the support of the Women's Association of the commune, Ms. Ban borrowed 50 million VND from the Tay Giang Social Policy Bank and invested in an economic model with the hope of achieving sustainable poverty alleviation.

After participating in technical training courses and learning from successful economic models, Ms. Ban boldly invested in raising breeding sows, chickens, and Muscovy ducks, combined with growing fruit trees, cinnamon trees, and clean vegetables. She also opened a milling service and supported local people in selling their agricultural products. To date, from a poor household, Ms. Ban's family has achieved a stable income and become a prime example in the "Women Helping Each Other Develop Economically" movement.

While Ms. Ban found success with her livestock farming model, Alang Thi Mi, from Ariing village, Hung Son commune, chose to develop her economy by focusing on local agricultural products. Through participating in numerous fairs and promoting local specialties, Ms. Mi realized that local products were favored by consumers.

From then on, she boldly used policy loans to purchase and trade local agricultural products such as dried bamboo shoots, forest honey, ginseng, hawthorn, and clean vegetables. After a period of effort, Ms. Mi built a stable customer network, signed production linkage contracts with farmers, and ensured an outlet for their products. Not only did she create a stable job for herself, but Ms. Mi also encouraged local people to produce high-quality goods, increasing their competitiveness in the market and raising their income.

Ms. Hoih Blui, from Agrong village, Tay Giang commune, livestreams to sell local agricultural products. Photo: Hien Thuy

Policy loans have also motivated many women in border areas to boldly invest in products and apply information technology and social media to expand their markets. A typical example is Ms. Hoih Blui from Agrong village, Tay Giang commune. Initially, she only posted photos introducing agricultural products and valuable medicinal herbs, but gradually she learned how to livestream and record videos introducing the production and purchasing process at the farm.

Thanks to her genuine and approachable personality, Ms. Blúi has earned the trust of her customers, leading to steadily increasing revenue. She also introduces traditional Cơ Tu cuisine such as bamboo rice, buffalo horn-shaped cakes, smoked dried meat, snails cooked with dried cassava, dried fish, etc., generating income while contributing to the preservation and promotion of ethnic culture to tourists from near and far.

Ms. Le Kim Vy, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Tay Giang commune, said that along with preferential capital, the union has implemented many practical activities such as poverty reduction programs, support for seedlings and livestock, and organizing women's online sales events, thereby helping women become more confident in economic development. "From small amounts of capital, the women have created significant changes, not only improving their family lives but also contributing to the prosperity of their border region," Ms. Vy said.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/tiep-suc-phu-nu-co-tu-lam-kinh-te-3310119.html