Building a pilot model from the Farmers Support Fund

Xây dựng mô hình điểm từ nguồn vốn Tiếp sức nhà nông- Ảnh 1. — Leaders of Bac Kan Provincial Youth Union and Cho Don District Party Committee give capital to farmers

On August 15, 40 poor farming households in Binh Trung commune, Cho Don district (Bac Kan province) received more than 900 million VND from the Farmers' Support program organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper and GREENFEED Vietnam Joint Stock Company in collaboration with the Farmers' Association and Bac Kan Provincial Youth Union.

Interest free loans and cash rewards

Each household will receive 20 million VND in interest-free support and 3 million VND in animal feed for two years. If the loan is repaid on time, the borrower will also receive a bonus of 20% of the capital (4 million VND).

Children of households with good academic performance will also receive scholarships for two years. The total support cost is 920 million VND, including 800 million VND in capital support and 120 million VND for animal feed.

Xây dựng mô hình điểm từ nguồn vốn Tiếp sức nhà nông- Ảnh 2. — Standing Deputy Secretary of Bac Kan Provincial Party Committee Phuong Thi Thanh and representative of GREENFEED Vietnam Company presented capital to farmers.

This is the 15th year the Farmers Support Program has been organized. The program has supported 2,620 farming households in 24 provinces and cities across the country. The percentage of women participating in the program is 95%. The majority of households receiving capital support have been doing business effectively with a return rate of over 94%.

In addition, with the desire to bring practical values to the lives of farmers, ACECOOK Vietnam Joint Stock Company supports farmers participating in the program with gifts of boxes of noodles from the company.

Speaking at the capital handover ceremony, Ms. Phuong Thi Thanh - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairwoman of the People's Council of Bac Kan province - said that Bac Kan is the most difficult province in the country. The Standing Deputy Secretary of the Bac Kan Provincial Party Committee thanked Tuoi Tre newspaper and sponsor GREENFEED for having a practical and humane farmer support program.

Xây dựng mô hình điểm từ nguồn vốn Tiếp sức nhà nông- Ảnh 3. — Chairman of Bac Kan Farmers' Association (white shirt) and representative of GREENDFEED presented gifts to farming households

Ms. Thanh said that Bac Kan is the most difficult province in the country. The rate of poor and near-poor households is still over 30%. The whole province has 67 communes and 148 villages in Zone 3 - the extremely difficult area. In Binh Trung commune alone, the rate of poor and near-poor households is over 40%.

The program's support is a great motivation for these households to escape poverty and develop the economy .

Support for farmers in economic activities

Ms. Thanh suggested that the leaders of the Farmers' Association and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Bac Kan province coordinate with the locality to build a model from this resource.

Ms. Thanh believes that if these same resources are left to farmers to mobilize individually, the effectiveness will not be widespread.

"I suggest that the departments, branches and localities here must sit down together to discuss this content in depth. We must build a model, promote propaganda, orientation, technical training and finally calculate the output for the people. Regularly follow and accompany the people to build an effective model" - Ms. Thanh said.

Journalist Nguyen Duc Binh - deputy head of the Tuoi Tre newspaper representative office in Hanoi - said that through the program, Tuoi Tre newspaper hopes to motivate farming households to overcome difficulties and develop the economy.

In addition to providing capital, the program always accompanies people throughout the loan process so that they can gain more techniques and experience, thereby creating a long-term livelihood.

Xây dựng mô hình điểm từ nguồn vốn Tiếp sức nhà nông- Ảnh 4. — Representatives of Tuoi Tre newspaper awarded scholarships to children of farmers receiving capital from the program.

Journalist Nguyen Duc Binh also suggested that the Farmers' Association and the local Youth Union continue to closely monitor and accompany the loan capital to make the most effective use of it. "When households raise livestock effectively and repay the capital on time, this capital will continue to circulate to other farming households so that more farming households can benefit from the program," said journalist Nguyen Duc Binh.

Mr. Nguyen Doan Hoi - assistant director of the Northern Farm 1 project - said that the capital allocation is just the starting point. GREENFEED continues to send technical staff to closely monitor and guide farmers in effective farming.

"In reality, people in remote areas not only lack capital but also lack experience and business techniques. We have partners who are professional breeders, they have new and modern ways of doing things, so they will help people change their business thinking. From there, they will have effective ways of doing things, improving their lives and incomes," said Mr. Hoi.