Proud farmers of Thanh Hoa in the new era.

High-tech orchid cultivation model of farmer members in Thuong Xuan commune.

In the peaceful countryside of Thieu Hoa commune, Mr. Le Van Than's rice milling and processing plant stands as a new symbol of rural vitality. The journey of this man, who only completed the 5th grade and once earned a living selling pigs, to now owning a 6,200m² factory with a production line capable of processing 100 tons per batch, is a testament to the aspiration for modern agriculture . The factory not only improves the quality of local rice but also transforms the production habits of the entire region, freeing farmers from the constant worry of weather. Harvested rice has a ready market, eliminating concerns about unpredictable weather and the degradation associated with manual drying.

When asked about the secret to his success, Mr. Le Van Than shared: "I have nothing but 'boldness' and a sincere desire to do something for farmers." It was this spirit that led him to the title of Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer of 2025, making his establishment a shining example in the journey of modernizing agriculture and rural areas.

Beyond his economic endeavors, he also considers community responsibility an integral part of his life. Between 2019 and 2024, his family and company donated 2.9 billion VND to the construction of the village communal house; contributed over 1.5 billion VND to the New Rural Development program; provided Tet gifts, built houses for poor households, and supported students and people with disabilities. He directly assisted 10 poor households in developing their production, with 5 of them achieving sustainable poverty alleviation. Locals affectionately call Mr. Than "Mr. Than of the village."

By 2025, the entire province will have 29,289 households achieving the title of "Excellent Production and Business Household" at various levels, including 125 households at the central level, 1,327 households at the provincial level, and 27,837 households at the commune level; 105 households have successfully established effective businesses in rural areas. To promptly encourage and support farmers to boldly invest in production and business, and to achieve legitimate wealth, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Farmers' Association has signed cooperation programs with 42 departments, agencies, businesses, and vocational schools inside and outside the province to implement many activities supporting farmers.

From this movement, many exemplary farmers have emerged, representing the spirit of hard work, creativity, self-reliance, and self-improvement. Typical examples include farming households engaged in production and business activities, farm owners, and directors of agricultural enterprises who have made significant contributions to the economic development and livelihoods of the locality.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Luu, from Ha Long commune, was recognized as an Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer in 2022. His model of integrated rice production and processing, utilizing automated and semi-automated production lines, generates annual revenue exceeding 70 billion VND, with profits ranging from 800 million to 1 billion VND. He has created jobs for 35 permanent and 30 seasonal workers, with an average income of 70 to 75 million VND per person per year. Mr. Nguyen Van Tu, from Van Loc commune, was recognized as an Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer in 2023 and is the Director of Thanh Hoa Bird's Nest Production and Trading Company Limited. With a model of raising swiftlets and processing 12 bird's nest products, collaborating with 16 agents, 3 distributors, and hundreds of agents nationwide, his business generates revenue exceeding 10 billion VND per year, providing employment for 20 workers with an average income of 10 million VND per person per month. Ms. Nguyen Thi Bien from Hoang Thanh commune, an Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer in 2024, has a model of raising clam seedlings and commercial clams on over 1,000 hectares, producing 100,000 tons per year, creating jobs for 80 workers, with an income of 8 to 10 million VND per person per month. Mr. Le Dinh Tu from Tho Binh commune, an Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer in 2023, Director of Binh Son Agricultural and Forestry Cooperative, has developed a model of beekeeping and producing and processing clean tea. The cooperative has developed 10 hectares of VietGAP-certified tea, with 4 OCOP 3-star products (bud tea, green tea in filter bags, Gynostemma pentaphyllum tea, and four-season honey). Sales volume reaches 45 tons of dried tea per year, with a profit of over 100 million VND per year.

Alongside this, many collectives and individuals have been honored with prestigious titles such as "Scientist for Farmers," "Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer"; and many cooperatives have been recognized as exemplary nationwide. In particular, in the "Technical Innovation for Farmers" competition, Thanh Hoa farmers won many important awards, affirming the intelligence, resilience, and creativity of Thanh Hoa's farmers. Hundreds of outstanding provincial-level agricultural products and OCOP products have been recognized and upgraded, contributing to establishing the brand of Thanh Hoa agricultural products in the market.

The various levels of the association have mobilized members and farmers to help each other with capital, food, goods, seedlings, and livestock, totaling over 186 billion VND and more than 239,000 man-days of labor for over 40,270 farming households; creating jobs for nearly 1.2 million workers, including nearly 1 million with regular employment and over 195,000 with seasonal employment; and supporting over 89,000 farming households to escape poverty. Many farming households engaged in production and business are willing to share their experiences and directly provide hands-on guidance to poor households to develop production, create jobs, and stabilize their lives. The spirit of "helping each other to get rich and sustainably reduce poverty" has become a profound humanistic feature, uniting rural communities.

In the context of the province's vigorous transformation, the image of Thanh Hoa farmers today emerges not only with the sweat of their labor in the fields, but also with their vision, resilience, and aspiration for progress. From the plains to the mountains, from rice paddies to high-tech farms, they are continuing the tradition of hard work, unity, and creativity of their ancestors with confident steps. These humble people have contributed and continue to contribute to the new face of Thanh Hoa's agriculture – modern, dynamic, and integrated – ensuring that today's and future harvests are filled with joy and hope.

Text and photos: Hoang Lan

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/tu-hao-nong-dan-thanh-hoa-thoi-dai-moi-271597.htm