Vietnam Phu Yen Farmers Supported to Escape Poverty
In 2022, Phan Tan Phat received a financial support of VND14.7 million ($577) from the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Committee to purchase a breeding cow. Soon after, the cow had a calf, and Phat was able to sell the calf and return 60% of the support money, escaping poverty in 2023.
Phat had lived in poverty for years, and his family was among near-poor households in Xuan Long Commune, Dong Xuan District, in the central province of Phu Yen. Currently, his family's cow has just had another calf and the family is very excited to have the additional income.
The family is among the poor and near-poor households receiving financial support to have a sustainable livelihood and escape poverty. The project providing breeding cattle in mountainous communes of Dong Xuan District, implemented by the provincial VFF Committee, has brought positive results as many households have gradually expanded their husbandry and raised their incomes.
A total of 23 poor and near-poor households have been financially supported to purchase 23 breeding cows, each receiving VND14.7 million. The total amount was VND338.1 million ($13,280).
After three years, there were 22 breeding cows, one having died from illness. Among them, 16 cows have given birth to 24 calves.
According to the provincial VFF Committee, the project supporting cattle breeding in Xuan Long Commune has achieved good results. Apart from financial support, these households have been trained with technical knowledge in husbandry development.
Following the initial success of the project in Xuan Long Commune, the provincial VFF Committee decided to expand the project in Xuan Lanh Commune.
As many as 14 households have joined the project, each receiving support of VN?15.5 million ($608), totaling VND217 million ($8,520).
Of the 14 breeding cows, eight having already given birth to calves and the rest are pregnant.
Bui Van Hiep, residing in Xuan Lanh Commune said his family was facing difficulties as he didn’t have a stable job.
In 2023, he was given VND15.5 million to buy a breeding cow and the cow gave birth to a calf. The livestock farming carried out by his family during leisure time has contributed to increasing their income.
Seeing the effectiveness of the cattle breeding model, Hiep said he would borrow more money to expand his production.
The project supporting cattle breeding for poor and near-poor households has been implemented over a period of three years. The project allows people to choose breeding cows according to their preferences and provides financial support for their purchase. After the rearing period, local authorities recover the funds to continue supporting people in other areas.
The repayment plan is 60% for near-poor households, and 75% for poor households.
So Minh Chin, Vice Chairman of the Xuan Lanh Commune’s VFF Committee, stated that the local authorities carefully assessed and selected the right beneficiaries for the project. Selected households must truly have the desire and determination to lift themselves out of poverty.
Nguyen Quoc Hoan, Chairman of the provincial VFF Committee, stated that the goal of the project is to help poor and near-poor households have a sustainable livelihood to escape poverty.
This project also helps people apply technical methods in animal husbandry, leading to effective changes in production methods.
Based on the success of the pilot project in the two communes of Xuan Long and Xuan Lanh in Dong Xuan District, in the future, the provincial VFF Committee will expand it to other areas.