Small capital gains great momentum

(VBSP News) Despite working hard, many farmers in Sa De Phin commune, Sin Ho district (Lai Chau) cannot escape poverty due to lack of capital, knowledge of caring and disease prevention for plants and animals. In response to this fact, the Commune Farmers' Union has helped its members to access entrusted loans and transfer science and technology to the people.

Ms. Mua Thi May in Ma Sao Phin village, Sa De Phin commune takes care of the  herd of buffaloes and cows developed from preferential loans.

Provide funding and technical support for the people

Visiting the family of Mua Thi May in Ma Sao Phin village and witnessing the model of raising cattle with a total of 13 buffaloes and cows, we were more and more admired because this family was a poor household just 7 years ago. Mrs. May shared: “In the past, all year round, I had to work hard in the fields of maize and rice, but my family's economy was still not good. Through entrusted funds of Farmers' Association with VBSP in Sin Ho district, in 2012, my family borrowed VND 30 million. We bought 2 calves. The staff of the Farmers 'Association at commune level and in the village regularly visit my house to show me the way of taking good care of the calves and planting fountain grass for feeding them.

Supporting farmers, especially poor members to develop their economy, in recent years, the Farmers’ Association of Sa De Phin has implemented many solutions to help members build economic models associated with local economic strength.

The support focused on trust loans from VBSP, transfer of advanced science and technology, vocational training etc. Through support, consultancy, service and vocational training activities of the Farmers' Association, in the area of ​​Sa De Phin commune, many models of breeding, planting medicinal plants, developing temperate fruit trees for high income have appeared.

Reduce the number of poor households and increase the rich one

The family of Mua Sau Gi in De Phin village also used to be poor because of depending on just 4,000m2 of one-crop field. In the favorable weather, food is quite enough, in bad weather, natural disasters and floods, sometimes he lost all. With encouragement of the Sa De Phin Farmers' Association, in 2016, Mr. Sau Gi  borrowed VND 50 million from VBSP in Sin Ho district. Consulted by the Farmers' Association and the agricultural extension board, Mr. Gi invested the preferential loans to grow ​​over 2,000m2 of Dong Quai plant.

 With guidance from Farmers’ Association at commune level on techniques of nursery and care, the Dong Quai garden of Mr. Gi grew well. Right after the first harvest of the Dong Quai crop, his family earned VND 110 million. The effectiveness from growing medicinal plants, particularly the Dong Quai, is so high that Mr. Mua Sau Gi’s family so far has expanded the crop area to 3,000m2. Taking preferential loans for investment in livestock breeding such as buffaloes and cows, planting medicinal plants such as Dong Quai and planting fruit trees are choices of many poor households, near poor households and policy beneficiaries Sa De Phin commune.

The Sa De Phin Farmers' Association has a total of 405 members in 7 groups. The Association at commune level has entrusted with VBSP Sin Ho district for 365 households to borrow with total outstanding loans of VND 9 billion in various preferential credit programs. To ensure that loans are used for the right purpose, the Association coordinates with VBSP staff, SCGs to regularly guide and monitor. As a result, most households have used loans to serve economic development.

In addition, the Sa De Phin Farmers' Association also cooperates with the Association at upper level to organize agricultural training for 90 members; support scientific and technical transfer for members to grow peaches, pears, plums and tea in the area. From support activities of the association, each year, at least 40 members got out of poverty, helping the commune to well achieve the goal of sustainable poverty reduction and complete the new rural development program.

In 2019 and the following years, the Sa De Phin Farmers' Association continued to support farmers to develop their economy, focusing on solutions to support members to access loans from VBSP. The Association coordinates with its upper levels and district specialized agencies to organize classes for vocational training for members, regularly guide and transfer science and technology in developing strong economic models such as breeding cattle and medicinal plants development etc.

Ninh Tuyen