Giving people the 'fishing rod' to escape poverty.

PHU THO - Following the motto "give a fishing rod, not a fish," the poverty reduction program, which provides buffaloes and goats as livestock, helps people in Tien Phong commune rise out of poverty.

People escaped poverty thanks to "starting a business".

For farmers, the buffalo has been considered the "foundation of their livelihood" for generations. In Tien Phong commune, a mountainous area in Phu Tho province, the poverty reduction program has not only donated buffaloes to disadvantaged families but also provided technical guidance on buffalo care and management, helping people make effective decisions, improve their livelihoods, and gradually escape poverty.

Pointing to the healthy, well-fed buffalo in the corner of the barn, 67-year-old Ban Van Giao (Duong hamlet, Tien Phong commune) couldn't hide his joy. Mr. Giao recounted that in the past, his family only cultivated rice, corn, and cassava on the hillsides. The work was arduous year-round but still not enough to eat, and the lack of technical information on animal care and management made production even more difficult.

The buffalo farming project helps people earn an additional livelihood in their journey towards poverty reduction. Photo: Trung Dung.

“In April 2024, under the poverty reduction program, my family was given a healthy buffalo. Since receiving the buffalo, my family has gradually escaped poverty. Besides helping with plowing and pulling carts, the buffalo has also given me the opportunity to learn about animal husbandry techniques, disease prevention, and how to monitor animal health. Through training courses organized by the commune, I've learned how to use information to optimize care and maximize the value of the buffalo,” Mr. Giao shared.

Speaking with a reporter from the Agriculture and Environment Newspaper, Mr. Ban Van Linh, head of Duong hamlet, said that the commune has four households receiving buffaloes from the poverty reduction program. The program prioritizes disadvantaged households, providing guidance on buffalo care techniques, disease prevention, and how to record and monitor the health and reproductive status of the buffaloes, helping households make effective decisions in raising them.

"Buffaloes are easy to care for and serve the people's farming needs, such as plowing fields and pulling carts. The buffalo donation program helps disadvantaged households in the village gradually rise out of poverty," Mr. Linh shared.

To keep their buffaloes healthy, families take advantage of their spacious gardens to grow sugarcane and elephant grass for feed. After a period of care, the buffaloes are now thriving. It is expected that the breeding buffaloes will give birth soon. Thanks to this, the families who raised the buffaloes will have some money to pay off debts and have additional capital to invest in livestock development, helping them escape poverty.

Ms. Ban Kim Quy, Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Tien Phong commune, said that donating breeding buffaloes is one of the production support models in the commune to help people escape poverty.

“The People's Committee of the commune directs agricultural officials to regularly guide households on techniques for caring for and preventing diseases. After receiving the buffaloes, the households actively participate in training courses on livestock farming techniques and allocate land to grow grass as a food source for the animals. Currently, the buffaloes of the households are developing well,” Ms. Quy said.

The goat herd reproduced from the assisted breeding stock.

The goat breeding support program has provided sustainable livelihoods for many households in Tien Phong commune. Currently, 16 households in the commune have received breeding goats, with 2 goats per household. Accompanying training courses provide information on breeding techniques, disease prevention, herd management, and market access, helping households make informed decisions, avoid risks, and optimize profits.

The goat breeding model helps people in mountainous areas develop livelihoods, increase income, and contribute to sustainable poverty reduction. Photo: Trung Dung.

In 2023, Mr. Ban Van Binh's family received two breeding goats from the poverty reduction program. After receiving the goats, with guidance on care and disease prevention from the commune's veterinary officers, Mr. Binh's goat herd is now healthy and rarely gets sick. Over time, the herd has grown rapidly; from the initial two goats, the family's herd has multiplied many times over.

“Realizing that raising goats was suitable for the terrain and climate of the highlands, my family borrowed capital to expand the barns and increase the number of goats in the herd. From being a poor household, my family's economy has gradually stabilized,” Mr. Binh said.

Feeding goats with leaves and wild vegetables as a natural food source, ensuring their healthy growth, is an economical and environmentally friendly solution for people in the highlands. Photo: Trung Dung.

Mr. Ban Van Linh, head of Duong hamlet, said that by this time, almost all households' goats have reproduced, and some households have even sold offspring. The goat breeding program creates livelihoods for the people, helping them escape poverty. Access to technical information and markets has helped people optimize their livelihoods and develop sustainably, instead of relying solely on luck. The goat breeding program creates livelihoods for the people, helps them escape poverty, and at the same time provides them with information to manage and develop their goat herds effectively.

It is known that the model of raising buffalo and goats for breeding has contributed to many positive changes in poverty reduction efforts in Tien Phong commune. In 2024, the poverty rate of the commune was 20.03%, and it is expected to decrease to 17.38% in 2025.

According to Ms. Ban Kim Quy, Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Tien Phong commune, donating buffaloes and goats along with providing information, technical guidance, and livelihood management is an effective approach to poverty reduction: “With the motto 'give a fishing rod, not a fish,' supporting livestock with technical information, management guidance, and market access helps poor and near-poor households strive to overcome difficulties, make the right decisions, and achieve sustainable development.”

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/trao-can-cau-de-nguoi-dan-thoat-ngheo-d787592.html