Ms. Ngữ, Mr. Rơn's wife, takes care of the ducks.

When leading us to the home of Mr. Le Ka Ron and Ms. Ho Thi Ngu, Mr. Hoang Van Doi, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Hong Thuy commune, kept praising the young couple for their boldness and decisiveness in leaving behind the poverty that had plagued them for so many years.

Living in the countryside, where farmers rely on farming for their livelihood, having little land like Rơn and Ngữ is a major disadvantage. Their only source of income is a small cornfield perched precariously on a hillside, with uncertain harvests. Rơn and Ngữ supplement their income by selling small items like salt, instant noodles, and cooking oil to neighbors. Their precarious income makes even providing enough food for their two children a heavy burden.

After many nights of thinking, discussing, and agreeing with his wife, Mr. Ron decided to borrow capital from the District Social Policy Bank through the Farmers' Association, with the aim of developing livestock farming and expanding his grocery store.

Arriving at Mr. Ron's house when the sun was high in the sky, he was returning from bathing in the stream after herding his ducks. His face was red from the sunburn, sweat was pouring down, but the man nimbly opened the net to let the ducks run into the enclosure. The pure white ducks rushed down into the small, cool, green pond under the shade of the trees.

“Every day I herd the ducks to the Cron stream twice, in the morning and afternoon, to bathe them. The stream has shrimp and small fish... which are a fresh food source for the ducks. The stream water is cool and refreshing, helping the ducks grow quickly, resulting in sweet and flavorful meat, and especially without the characteristic gamey smell of duck. Because of this, anyone who tries my ducks once loves them and keeps coming back to order more,” Ka Rơn shared with a gentle smile, wiping away the sweat running down his face.

From the chicken coop behind the house, the chickens began to beg for food. Leaving the grocery store, Ms. Ngữ hurried to help her husband feed the ducks and change the water for the chickens. She happily recounted that each year, she and her husband raise three batches of chickens and ducks, alternating to ensure a stable income throughout the year. “Each batch has about two hundred ducks and one hundred chickens. We mainly feed the chickens and ducks corn kernels and cassava pulp, without growth hormones, so the meat is sweet and fragrant, and the skin is crispy; some weigh over 3kg. With a selling price of 100,000 VND per kg, we earn nearly 100 million VND each year.”

Since shifting to livestock farming, in addition to utilizing their family's existing corn fields, Mr. Ron and Ms. Ngu also purchase corn from villagers to feed their chickens and ducks. From a simple model, they gradually expanded the scale, combining it with their small business to create a double income stream.

Ms. Ngữ recounted that they now have two more breeding cows grazing on the grassy hill behind the village, promising more calves to expand the herd. Every day, the couple is busy with their grocery store, tending to chickens and ducks, weeding, and cultivating the cornfield. Mr. Rơn confided that he feels happy knowing that no time is wasted.

"Le Ka Ron and Ho Thi Ngu, a married couple, overcame hunger and poverty, rising to a comfortable life thanks to their boldness and initiative. They are a prime example of overcoming difficulties, spreading the spirit of hard work and motivating people in the village and commune to strive for economic development and a better life," said Mr. Hoang To Ni San, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hong Thuy commune.

Text and photos: NGOC HA - QUYNH ANH

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/kinh-te/nong-nghiep-nong-thon/vuot-kho-de-thay-doi-cuoc-song-153732.html