Poverty eradication in Yen Thanh

With a proactive, flexible, and creative approach, especially focusing on diversifying livelihoods and creating livelihoods suitable to the local conditions, Yen Thanh commune has been making positive changes in recent years, helping many poor households rise up through their own efforts and contributing to sustainable poverty reduction.

Following the merger, Yen Thanh commune currently has 126 poor households, accounting for nearly 3.7%, mainly ethnic minorities. Recognizing poverty reduction as a key priority, the commune has proactively implemented many comprehensive solutions to achieve sustainable poverty reduction goals. Many practical and effective models have been implemented, such as: facilitating people's access to national target programs; supporting livelihoods through the provision of seedlings and livestock; transferring scientific and technical knowledge; and strictly managing bank loans to ensure capital for production, business, economic development, income improvement, and sustainable poverty alleviation.

Ms. Ly Thi Quy, from Khe Ngang village (seated in the middle), participates in the village's shrimp trap weaving group.

Specifically, the family of Ms. Ly Thi Quy in Khe Ngang village is one of the typical cases. In 2024, she received government support to build a house; however, her family's economic situation remains difficult. Over the past time, the commune's organizations and associations have actively supported and guided Ms. Quy in learning the craft of weaving shrimp traps to create a stable livelihood.

Thanks to her diligence and skillful hands, Ms. Quy can weave 70-80 baskets a day, bringing in an income of about 10 million VND per month. In addition, her husband participates in a stilt house construction team and has a stable income of over 10 million VND per month. Thanks to these two sources of income, Ms. Quy's family's economic situation has gradually improved significantly.

Sharing her joy, Ms. Quy said: “Before, my family was very poor, and we didn't know what to do to escape poverty. Since receiving government support to replace our dilapidated house, and being taught how to weave shrimp traps, and my husband also working as a construction worker, our lives have become much better.”

To help households escape poverty sustainably, Khe Ngang village has closely coordinated with local organizations to promote awareness, mobilize support, and assist people in implementing many practical poverty reduction solutions. Many effective economic models have been developed based on the local potential, such as: livestock farming, crop cultivation, community tourism development linked to traditional crafts like shrimp trap weaving, and processing timber from planted forests…

In particular, the village has established shrimp trap weaving groups and stilt house construction teams, creating more stable jobs for local laborers, especially poor and near-poor households belonging to ethnic minorities. These models not only provide income but also contribute to strengthening sustainable livelihoods for the people.

“Khe Ngang is a remote village, currently with 24 poor and near-poor households. Therefore, the village always prioritizes creating livelihoods for these households so they can rise out of poverty through their own labor. This year, the entire village is supporting 2-3 households to escape poverty,” shared Mr. Ly Quoc Dac, Head of Khe Ngang village.

Thanks to the dissemination of technical knowledge about livestock farming, the family of Ms. Chu Thi Huong in Trung Tam village has been able to care for their cows, ensuring they are healthy and growing well.

Officials from Yen Thanh commune visited the economic model of Ms. Chu Thi Huong's family in Trung Tam village.

In Trung Tam village, there are currently 8 poor and near-poor households. Determined to lift 2 households out of poverty by 2025, the village has closely coordinated with local organizations to implement many practical poverty reduction solutions. Effective economic models have been focused on, including: supporting poor households in accessing loan capital for production development; introducing laborers to work in companies; supporting the establishment of groups for building stilt houses; organizing training and workshops on scientific and technical knowledge applied to production and livestock farming… These solutions aim to create sustainable livelihoods, increase income, and help households gradually improve their living standards.

Specifically, the family of Ms. Chu Thi Huong in Trung Tam village is one of the most disadvantaged cases. Due to a previous stroke and poor health, her family's finances have been unstable for many years. In 2023, the family received a breeding cow from the government; at the same time, the local authorities mobilized organizations and people to help the family build a house.

Having a sturdy house and a livelihood suitable to her health condition, Ms. Huong is even more motivated to strive for a better life. The Farmers' Association of the commune also regularly provides guidance on raising cattle, pigs, and chickens, helping her apply this knowledge to care for and develop her livestock, improve her income, and enhance her living standards.

Ms. Huong shared: "My family has escaped poverty, and I will continue to produce and raise livestock well to improve our lives."

Local organizations and the police force in Yen Thanh commune are assisting residents in dismantling old houses and digging foundations for new ones.

Currently, Yen Thanh commune has 20 villages, nearly 3,400 households with approximately 15,500 inhabitants. Over the past period, the commune has developed a specific plan, assigning each group to be responsible for specific households to provide support according to the poverty alleviation roadmap. Along with the involvement of the entire political system, the commune has also mobilized resources from philanthropists and promoted the spirit of community solidarity in supporting housing construction and caring for poor, near-poor, and disadvantaged households.

In 2025, the commune aims to reduce the number of poor households by 50, bringing the poverty rate down to 2.1%. However, due to the unique characteristics of the population, which mainly consists of Dao, Tay, and Cao Lan ethnic minorities; many households lack initiative in changing production methods, are unfamiliar with new economic models, or are single-parent households, so the process of achieving the poverty reduction goal still faces many challenges.

Mr. Vu Quoc Hieu - Chairman of the People's Committee of Yen Thanh commune (second from the right) surveys the model of shrimp trap weaving village in Dong Tam 1 hamlet.

To continue implementing sustainable poverty reduction solutions in the area, Mr. Vu Quoc Hieu - Chairman of the People's Committee of Yen Thanh commune, said: "In the coming time, Yen Thanh commune will continue to focus on effectively and substantively implementing poverty reduction work; actively mobilize resources to carry out sustainable poverty reduction work, create favorable conditions to help poor households borrow capital to develop the economy; and implement many poverty reduction solutions for people through effective economic models."

At the same time, the locality continues to effectively implement policies supporting vocational training and job creation, especially national target programs on sustainable poverty reduction and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. The commune prioritizes the development of livelihood models based on local advantages; organizes training and education on science, technology, and market knowledge for the people. In addition, the commune strengthens efforts to attract businesses to invest in agriculture and rural areas to form concentrated commodity production areas, promote economic restructuring, and organize production in a rational manner, contributing to the goal of sustainable poverty reduction.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/xoa-ngheo-o-yen-thanh-post888515.html