(VOVWORLD) - A project to support the livelihoods of people in Gia Lai province with breeding cows has been implemented since 2022 under the national socio-economic development program for ethnic minority and mountain areas until 2030 and the national program on sustainable poverty reduction.
 A cowshed in Ia Pet commune (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
Ia Pet, an extremely disadvantaged commune, is inhabited by 9,200 people of 1,800 households, most of them members of Vietnam’s Jrai and Bana ethnic minorities. To boost their livelihood, the local administration gave each poor or near-poor household a breeding cow. Three years later, many of the recipients have benefited from the policy and the commune’s cow farming is growing.
A beneficiary named Rmah Thim, a Jrai ethnic in Alphun hamlet, thanked the government to have helped people raise cows to reduce poverty. “Many villagers are now raising breeding cows. My family does and our cow gives birth to a calf every year,” said Rmah Thim.
A public hamlet meeting evaluates each household’s eligibility to receive a cow. After making a list of the beneficiary households, the commune hires a car to take the beneficiaries to a breeding cow supplier so each one can choose a cow they like.
Lu Quoc Tuan, Chairman of the Ia Pet commune People's Committee, told VOV, “The government gives people one cow worth up to 600 USD. Some people contribute their own money to buy a bigger cow. They might be given a cow that weighs 120-160 kilos, but most people prefer a cow that weighs 160-220 kilos, so, they contribute up to 120 dollars of their own money. So far, 109 households have benefited from the breeding cow project.”
 A farmer feeds breeding cows (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
The local government also gives participating households tips on raising livestock and preventing diseases. According to Le Minh Thu, an agricultural land officer for Ia Pet commune, during the project, participants are invited to discuss and reach consensus on a plan. “Once their plan is approved, they receive instruction on building cowsheds and raising cows. The commune authority has organized training courses on cow raising techniques,” said Thu.
Nek, an Ia Pet resident, says most of the cows grow well and give birth, and recalled that his family is raising a cow which has already given birth to a calf. “We’re very happy to have escaped poverty. I’ll work hard to improve our standard of living and increase our income,” said Nek.
A villager in Alphun hamlet said, “My family used to be extremely poor. Now, with the help of the State, we have a cow, making us better off. I’d like to thank the Party and the State.”
The breeding cow project has helped families in Ia Pet escape poverty and expand their economy. Ia Pet now hopes to be recognized as a new-style rural village this year.