From small breed to big ambition in Huu Lien

LANG SON Poor households in Huu Lien are changing every day, starting with the first pig, a symbol of will and belief in self-improvement.

Escape poverty with your own hands

Not long ago, Dinh Van Anh's family in Lien Hop village, Huu Lien commune was still considered a near-poor household. Poverty followed them all year round because of their small fields and unstable jobs. Then in 2023, his family received support for a breeding horse from the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction.

From that first horse, Anh’s family diligently took care of it, learned breeding techniques, and proactively provided additional capital to buy more breeds. After a short time, his herd of horses had 6, of which 2 were ready to breed. Each year, his family could sell breeding horses and earn tens of millions of dong, enough to stabilize their lives and have enough to eat and save.

Every year, Mr. Anh can sell breeding horses for tens of millions of dong. Photo: Hoang Nghia.

“Before receiving the support for livestock, my family was considered a poor household. After receiving the livestock, my family tried to take care of them and buy more livestock to develop the economy . Now I have escaped poverty, my life is much less difficult, and my children can go to school regularly,” Anh happily shared.

His success is a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of focused support policies, linked to local advantages. In Huu Lien, many poor households have overcome difficulties like that.

Promoting advantages, implementing policies in the right direction

Huu Lien commune is currently merged from two communes Huu Lien (old) and Yen Thinh, with 16 villages and nearly 1,950 households. Being a remote area, bordering a nature reserve, Huu Lien has a large natural grazing area, favorable for the development of large livestock farming, especially horses, buffaloes and cows.

Grasping that strength, from 2023 - 2024, the commune has synchronously implemented projects under the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction, of which project 2 on livelihood diversification and project 3 on supporting production development are prominent.

Specifically, in 2 years, Huu Lien commune supported 25 households with a total budget of 950 million VND under project 2 and 16 households with 600 million VND under project 3. Each household selected to participate was supported with a breeding horse along with technical guidance, vaccination, and breeding.

According to Mr. Nguyen Quang Hoa - Chairman of Huu Lien Commune People's Committee, the commune determined that the implementation of projects must be based on natural advantages and the wishes of the people. Huu Lien has a large grazing area, suitable for horse breeding, so when choosing the right direction, people responded very positively. Currently, most households have successfully bred horses, some have multiplied their herds and expanded their scale. More importantly, people have been proactive, no longer relying on support from the State.

Mr. Anh (left) excitedly shared with Huu Lien commune officials about the economic benefits of his horse herd. Photo: Hoang Nghia.

Resonant resources pave the way for sustainable poverty reduction

Capital from poverty reduction programs and projects not only provides seeds and crops, but also creates a clear change in people's awareness and self-reliance.

In Doan Ket village, Mr. Leo Van Quay is also one of the households that benefited from the project. Previously, Mr. Quay was a poor household with an unstable life. In 2024, his family was supported with a breeding horse. After a year of care, the horse mated and was ready to give birth.

“We were poor before, then near-poor. The family was very excited to receive a horse from the government. Now that we have a foal, I have planted more trees and built more barns. Hopefully we will escape poverty by the end of this year,” Mr. Quay said emotionally.

According to statistics, the poverty rate of Huu Lien commune has decreased sharply, from 18.34% in 2020 to 5.39% in 2024. That number not only shows the effectiveness of the policy, but also reflects the strong will of the people to rise up.

In the process of implementing support programs for poor and near-poor households, the commune coordinates with relevant agencies to open training courses on livestock and crop breeding techniques, household financial management, helping people know how to plan and effectively use support funds, avoiding misuse or selling of breeding animals.

Change from the people's inner strength and belief

Walking along the Huu Lien villages today, it is easy to see solid barns, healthy horses and cows, and the cheerful smiles of the people. There is not only the result of a correct policy but also a new belief in a sustainable future of poverty reduction.

According to Chairman Hoa, the commune is continuing to focus on replicating effective models and strengthening the role of the people as the main subject. The government only provides direction, so the results will be substantial and long-term.

Thanks to the right resources and the spirit of self-improvement, Huu Lien is changing day by day. Concrete roads run through the village, spacious houses are gradually built, children can go to school, and the spiritual life of the people is also richer.

Each stallion and each livelihood model is not only a material asset, but also a symbol of faith and the will to not give up on poverty of the people of Huu Lien. Photo: Hoang Nghia.

From a difficult area, Huu Lien is affirming the right direction in sustainable poverty reduction, combining state resources and people's will. Each stallion, each livelihood model is not only a material asset, but also a symbol of faith, of the will not to give up on poverty.

Today, Huu Lien is embarking on a new journey, a journey of self-reliance, cooperation and sustainable development, where each household and each village is contributing to writing the story of poverty escape with their own hands.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/tu-con-giong-nho-nuoi-khat-vong-lon-o-huu-lien-d783892.html