Phú Yên farmers given financial assistance to escape from poverty
In 2022, Phan Tấn Phát received a financial support of VNĐ14.7 million (US$577) from the Provincial Việt Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) Committee to purchase a breeding cow. Soon after, the cow had a calf, and Phát was able to sell the calf and return 60 per cent of the support money, escaping poverty in 2023.
Phát had lived in poverty for years, and his family was among near-poor households in Xuân Long Commune, Đồng Xuân District, in the central province of Phú Yên. 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 Đồng Xuân 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 VNĐ14.7 million. The total amount was VNĐ338.1 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 Xuân 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 Xuân Long
Commune, the provincial VFF Committee decided to expand the project in Xuân Lanh Commune.
As many as 14 households have joined the project, each receiving support of VNĐ15.5 million ($608), totalling VNĐ217 million ($8,520).
Of the 14 breeding cows, eight having already given birth to calves and the rest are pregnant.
Bùi Văn Hiệp, residing in Xuân Lãnh Commune said his family
was facing difficulties as he didn’t have a stable job.
In 2023, he was given VNĐ15.5 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, Hiệp 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 per cent for near-poor households, and 75 per cent for poor households.
So Minh Chín, Vice Chairman of the Xuân Lãnh 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.
Nguyễn Quốc Hoàn, 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 Xuân Long and Xuân Lãnh in Đồng Xuân District, in the future, the provincial VFF Committee will expand it to other areas.