Rising from adversity

In the 1980s, the couple moved from Tien Giang (now Dong Thap province) to Thuy Dong commune (now Tan Tay commune) to reclaim barren land and build a new economy .

After spending time together, they fell in love and got married, and have been together for almost 36 years.

The family of Mr. Tran Van Quy and Mrs. Le Thi Kim Loan (Tan Tay commune, Tay Ninh province) always strives to build a happy home and stabilize their economic situation.

The early days of the newlywed couple were full of hardships. Mr. Quy recalled: “Back then, both our families were struggling, so we had to be self-reliant. There was a lot of forest and wasteland, so nothing could be grown. Sugarcane and pineapple crops were both ruined, and the fields were often flooded, yielding nothing. In those years, we didn't dare cook rice with regular rice; we had to buy broken rice to save money.”

After many setbacks, the couple decided to switch to growing yam. Following a recommendation from an acquaintance, they borrowed money to buy seeds, and some years they had to buy fertilizer and pesticides on credit due to financial difficulties.

Thanks to his diligent learning, applying experience from friends and neighbors, and combining it with knowledge gained from technical training sessions organized by the local authorities, Mr. Quy's family's yam farming model gradually achieved success.

From just a few plots of land initially, the family now has 3.7 hectares planted with taro. Mr. Quy mainly sells taro seeds to regular customers and traders.

In 2021, the price of sweet potatoes peaked at 21,000 VND/kg, bringing the family over 1 billion VND in revenue. In addition, Mr. Quy actively supports the surrounding community, readily sharing techniques and methods for soil preparation and pest and disease control to help people cultivate more effectively.

In their daily lives, the grandparents set a good example for their children. Marital life inevitably involves conflicts, but they know how to compromise and work together to care for their children.

The couple vividly remembers the time when their children were studying far from home, and the whole family had to save money and try to earn enough each week to send to them. "Every time I went to visit my children, I brought rice, braised fish, and braised meat for them to eat gradually," Mr. Quy recounted.

Now that all the children have stable jobs, and the family has welcomed two grandchildren, it's even more lively. On free afternoons or weekends, the extended family gathers around the dinner table, chatting about the harvest, agricultural product prices, and everyday life.

For many years, his family has been recognized as a "Culturally Exemplary Family". Mr. Quy was also awarded the title of "Excellent Farmer in Production and Business" at the provincial level in 2023 and 2024.

Besides taking care of their family, Mr. and Mrs. Quy also actively participate in social activities. In 2018, their family voluntarily donated 322 square meters of land for the construction of the 5000 North East canal road.

In 2024, he mobilized each household to contribute 2 million VND to complete the electrical system for a 2km stretch of road and called on friends and philanthropists to donate 100 gift packages (worth approximately 30 million VND) to help disadvantaged households, contributing to social welfare work in the locality.

Orchid

Source: https://baolongan.vn/vuon-len-tu-gian-kho-a198123.html