Yen Binh Commune, Thai Nguyen Province: Lighting up the journey to escape poverty sustainably

In areas with fragmented terrain, scattered populations and livelihoods dependent on slash-and-burn farming like Yen Binh commune, Thai Nguyen, poverty reduction has never been easy. However, over the past time, thanks to the State's attention to developing transport infrastructure, along with support policies implemented synchronously and effectively, many poor and near-poor households in the area have gradually stabilized their lives and risen above poverty sustainably.

Livelihoods open the way out of poverty

Yen Binh commune has steep mountainous terrain, strongly fragmented; many villages are far from the center, the roads are degraded, making travel and trade difficult. The population is scattered, mainly ethnic minorities, production conditions depend on slash-and-burn farming, low productivity, lack of stable livelihood. These are factors that make Yen Binh always be in the group of localities with many difficulties in the province.

In that context, sustainable poverty reduction is a key political task to improve the quality of life and narrow the development gap compared to other communes.

Ms. Ma Thi Diu's family (Phieng Duong village) used to be a poor household for many years when the whole family only relied on a few fields and fields. In 2023, she was supported with a breeding cow from the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction and was able to borrow additional preferential capital from the Social Policy Bank to buy breeding goats and buffaloes.

Ms. Ma Thi Diu takes care of her family's goats.

Along with supporting resources, agricultural extension officers regularly guide her family on techniques for growing grass, composting food, preventing diseases and covering winter barns so that the livestock can withstand the harsh climate of the highlands. Thanks to that, the livestock grows well, becoming the main source of income to help the family gradually stabilize their lives.

Similar to Ms. Diu's situation, Ms. Ma Thi Cam's family also received support from the commune for breeding cows, preferential loans and guidance on livestock farming techniques. She boldly expanded her livestock farming. Up to now, her family's cows have reproduced well, helping the economy to become more and more prosperous. Livelihood models suitable to the terrain conditions and the right target are the key for Yen Binh to create a solid transition.

Vice Chairman of Yen Binh Commune People's Committee Luong Nhu Quang said: When the two-level government came into operation, the commune had completed the Poverty Reduction Steering Committee, assigned officials to be in charge of each village and issued specific operating regulations. The review of poor households was carried out by 20 teams in the villages, with the participation of the Fatherland Front and mass organizations, ensuring publicity and transparency.

Policy credit capital reached more than 94 billion VND, most of which was prioritized for poor, near-poor and households that had just escaped poverty to invest in production. By 2025, the commune set a target of reducing 81 poor households, equivalent to 5.23% of the total number of households. To realize this target, the commune flexibly implemented support programs and projects, suitable to the conditions of each village.

Replicating effective poverty reduction models

People in Yen Binh commune received breeding cows and were instructed in care techniques, creating a foundation for sustainable livelihoods.

Yen Binh effectively utilizes resources from three national target programs, linking infrastructure development with ensuring sustainable livelihoods for people, especially the Livelihood Diversification Project with a total capital of 925 million VND which is showing effectiveness. Many households are supported to expand livestock farming, plant trees suitable for hilly terrain, initially creating stable income.

Along with that, the housing support policy has received special attention from the commune. The 1,000-house project implemented by the Ministry of Public Security has helped 20 households in the commune have new, more stable houses. The program of removing temporary houses, repairing and building new houses for poor households has been accelerated, helping people in the highlands settle down to continue developing their livelihoods.

The national target program for new rural construction is implemented by Yen Binh in the direction of integrating resources to improve efficiency. Up to now, the commune has completed 11/19 criteria, including important criteria such as commercial infrastructure, education, health, culture, national defense and security. The disbursement rate of the new rural program reached nearly 68%.

Along with poverty reduction programs and development of ethnic minority areas, the appearance of Yen Binh's countryside is changing day by day, with improved traffic, more complete essential services, and people more confident in production.

With effective livelihood models, Yen Binh has further affirmed its determination to escape poverty sustainably, narrow the development gap and open up a brighter future for the people.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/xa-yen-binh-tinh-thai-nguyen-thap-len-hanh-trinh-thoat-ngheo-ben-vung-10395625.html