Giving the Bru-Van Kieu people a 'fishing rod'

QTO - Acting as a bridge between the Party, the government, and farmer members, the Truong Son Commune Farmers' Association has continuously innovated its content and methods of operation, closely following the grassroots level and accompanying the people, especially the Bru-Van Kieu ethnic minority, in economic development. Many suitable livelihood models have been effectively implemented, contributing to improving people's lives and promoting socio-economic development in the locality.

New models are taking root in border regions.

Truong Son is a particularly disadvantaged mountainous and border commune in Quang Tri province, where nearly half of the population are ethnic minority people of the Bru-Van Kieu ethnic group. Harsh natural conditions, a vast territory, and fragmented transportation infrastructure pose significant obstacles to the economic development of the local people.

Faced with this reality, the Farmers' Association of Truong Son commune proactively sought suitable approaches, focusing on building livelihood models that closely match the local conditions, so that people, especially the Bru-Van Kieu ethnic group, can learn from and replicate them in production to improve their lives.

BLoang and Rin Rin are two villages inhabited entirely by the Bru-Van Kieu ethnic minority. Previously, the lives of the people mainly depended on the forest and slash-and-burn agriculture. However, cassava and corn crops are highly dependent on weather conditions, and prices are volatile, resulting in unstable incomes for the villagers.

In 2023, after conducting field surveys and assessing needs, the Provincial Farmers' Association decided to provide breeding stock and technical guidance on goat farming to local people. This is a community production development support project, under the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction.

A view of the center of Truong Son commune - Photo: PP

After more than 3 years of implementation, the project has yielded clear results. Based on the supported model, goat farmers in the two villages have established a Professional Farmers' Association for Goat Breeding with 34 participating households to continue supporting and assisting each other in the breeding process.

Mr. Ho Van Truong, from Rin Rin village, shared: “Previously, my family mainly worked in farming, with unstable income. Since receiving guidance from the Farmers' Association on goat farming, joining the professional farmers' association, and accessing preferential loans, our goat herd has grown significantly. Now, thanks to the breeding goats, my family has a stable income, and life is less difficult than before.”

Along with goat farming, the commercial chicken farming model in Co Trang village, supported by the Farmers' Association, is also proving effective. According to the locals, the hybrid chicken breed is suitable for the harsh mountainous climate, has good resistance, and is easy to raise. By participating in chicken farming, people can utilize their hillside gardens and readily available agricultural by-products, resulting in low costs and suitability to local conditions. Currently, the model is being replicated within the Bru-Van Kieu community in the area. Truong Son commune is developing "Truong Son chicken" into a specialty product of the border region, contributing to increasing the value of local agricultural products.

In addition, project models such as wild boar farming, beekeeping for honey production, reforestation, and planting medicinal plants under the forest canopy are also being implemented by the Truong Son Commune Farmers' Association, initially receiving attention from the people. These are considered suitable development directions for the local conditions.

Standing side by side with the people.

Mr. Truong Quang Tri, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Truong Son commune, shared: "We have determined that to help people escape poverty, we need specific and suitable models. The Association always stays close to the grassroots, provides on-site guidance, and selects easy-to-implement and effective models to replicate."

According to Mr. Tri, in the coming time, the associations at all levels in the area will continue to accompany and stand alongside the people in all aspects of life. Especially in providing capital, technical support and production guidance for members.

One of the key "leverages" helping local people develop their economy is preferential credit capital. Through entrusted activities with the Social Policy Bank and the Farmers' Support Fund, the Truong Son Commune Farmers' Association is managing outstanding loans of over 27 billion VND, with hundreds of households borrowing capital. In addition, the Provincial Farmers' Support Fund has also provided loans to 5 projects in the area with outstanding loans of more than 1.2 billion VND…

Thanks to preferential loan sources, many households, especially those of the Bru-Van Kieu ethnic minority, have had the opportunity to invest in livestock and expand production. Many households have escaped poverty and are gradually stabilizing their lives...

“In reality, suitable and highly effective farming and livestock models not only help people increase their income but also contribute to changing their production mindset. From fragmented farming dependent on nature, many households of the Bru-Van Kieu ethnic minority have learned to calculate and apply science and technology to production, thus achieving high efficiency,” emphasized Truong Quang Tri, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Truong Son commune.

Alongside financial support, training and technology transfer are also emphasized. The content focuses on livestock farming, crop cultivation, disease prevention, etc., tailored to the conditions and skill levels of the local people. Training sessions are organized flexibly, are easy to understand, and are closely linked to practical production. As a result, the people, especially the Bru-Van Kieu ethnic group, are gradually improving their knowledge, changing their farming practices, and enhancing economic efficiency.

Propaganda work has also been reformed to suit ethnic minority communities. Effective models and exemplary examples have been disseminated, creating motivation for many households to learn from and follow them.

The movement "Farmers competing in excellent production and business, uniting to help each other get rich and sustainably reduce poverty" continues to be promoted, contributing to strengthening the spirit of solidarity in the community. Many well-off households have proactively supported poor households with livestock, capital, and production experience to help them rise up, take control of their lives, and build a sustainable future in the border region.

Phan Phuong

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202604/trao-can-cau-cho-dong-bao-bru-van-kieu-b125e84/