Bao Nhai Commune: People have stable income thanks to goat farming

The goat trading area at Coc Ly market is not only a place for buying and selling, but also a convergence of cultural, economic and spiritual values of the highland people. Here, goats are livestock and assets, a source of life closely linked to the livelihood of the people.

For many households in Bao Nhai commune, goat farming has become a profession that brings stable income, helping to improve life.

A typical example is the family of Mr. Dang Van Ngoan in Lang Pam village - one of the largest goat farmers in the region. Having been involved with this animal for more than 20 years, Mr. Ngoan clearly understands the economic value that goats bring.

Mr. Ngoan shared: “Goats are easy to raise, just feed them grass, plants on the hills and mountains; give them a little salt water to drink at night. Initially, my family raised them in small numbers, but later when we saw the high economic value, we gradually expanded the scale. At one point, my family raised up to 70 goats, now there are about 30, of which more than half are qualified for sale.”

This is a typical mountain goat breed, raised on hillsides, eating leaves, wild grass and natural herbs, thanks to which the meat is firm and low in fat. Therefore, goats sold at Coc Ly market not only attract buyers in the province but also traders from neighboring provinces.

According to our observation, the goat selling area is arranged near the main gate of the market. Some sellers sell as few as 1-2 goats, while others sell as many as dozens. Traders from many places come by motorbike or truck to buy goats.

Mr. Nguyen Van Dai, a trader from Yen Lac commune, Phu Tho province, said: “I have been to many places to buy goats, but the goats sold at Coc Ly market have much better meat quality and reasonable prices. Every year, I come here several times to buy goats from the people.”

With the selling price of male goats at about 145,000 VND/kg, female goats at about 130,000 VND/kg, a goat weighing 20 - 25 kg can earn about 4 million VND. This amount of money not only helps people cover living expenses but also serves as a source of capital to invest in their children's education.

Mr. Tan Seo Din, in Lang Pam village, shared: “Thanks to raising goats, my family’s life has become better. I only need to bring 1-2 goats to Coc Ly market to sell and earn a few million VND to cover my living expenses.”

Although easy to raise and bring in a good income, goat farming is not always favorable. Mr. Dang Van Ngoan said: The biggest difficulty for goat farmers is grazing, so they must always be closely monitored. In addition, disease is also a constant concern, so it is necessary to closely monitor the health of the goat herd to have timely protection measures to avoid damage.

Currently, local authorities have clear directions to develop goat farming into an economic spearhead.

Mr. Trieu Phuc Huong - Vice Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Bao Nhai Commune, said: "One of the important solutions is to increase the number of goat herds and guide people to raise them on a large scale. Training courses on livestock raising techniques, how to build hygienic barns and disease prevention measures are being organized by the commune. This helps to minimize the risk of disease for the goat herd."

In addition, the promotion of the brand “Coc Ly market goat” is also focused on by the locality. Raised using natural methods, Coc Ly goat has great potential to become a typical local product.

From the simple stories of goat farmers, the income figures, to the development orientation of the local government, the future of goat farming in Bao Nhai promises, contributing to poverty reduction and improving the lives of local people.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/xa-bao-nhai-nguoi-dan-thu-nhap-on-dinh-nho-nuoi-de-post884651.html