(VOVWORLD) - Loans provided by farmers' associations and the Farmers’ Support Fund have helped many farmers in Lai Chau province to develop their household economy, escape poverty, and stabilize their life.
 The first model of raising spotted deer in the border commune of Dao San in Phong Tho district.
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Ly A Phu’s family in Phong Tho district, used to be poor because there were many children and not enough money. After years of struggling with traditional plants and breeds, in 2000 Phu obtained a loan from the Bank for Social Policies to raise deer.
Phu used the loan of 4,240 USD plus a little of his own money to buy 10 breeding deer, including one male deer. His family was the first in Dao San commune to breed deer.
After 3 years, one deer gave birth to 5 fawns, increasing the herd to 15, and the herd had produced antler velvet worth 425 USD. This success has encouraged Phu to persevere in raising deer to escape poverty and perhaps become well-off.
Phu recalled, “To develop the deer farming model, the Farmers' Association has helped its members get loans from the Bank for Social Policies. We recently borrowed an additional 4,300 USD from the bank to develop the family's deer herd.”
 The deer farming model has helped Ly A Phu’s family in Hop hamlet 1 in Dao San commune become better off. |
Last year, Giang A Chay’s family in Tam Duong district got a loan from the Farmers’ Support Fund. He used the initial loan to repair his barn and buy a breeding horse. This investment has paid off, said Chay.
“Last year we borrowed 2,100 USD from the Farmers’ Support Fund and bought a horse for reproduction. Now we already have one foal. I’ll continue to care for it to increase the herd and develop my family’s economy,” he said.
Farmers associations at the grassroots level have sent personnel to show the farmers new farming techniques.
Phan A Em, Chairman of the Ta Leng Farmers' Association, said the commune has 9 sub-associations with more than 700 members.
Last year 42,500 USD from the farmers’ support fund was loaned to 20 households to implement buffalo and horse breeding models. This has given the farmers more income and reduced local poverty, said Em said.
“Last year, the communal Farmers' Association supported 2 projects, one to raise buffaloes and the other to raise breeding horses. These two projects are developing very well,” said Em.
Over the past 2 years, hundreds of poor households in Lai Chau province have increased their income and escaped poverty sustainably thanks to loans and economic development models.