The Da Nang Farmer Support Fund is one of the important sources of credit to help members develop production scale, increase income and contribute to poverty reduction. Thanks to the Fund-disbursed loans, many disadvantaged families were given more financial strength build up efficient and sustainable production and farming models, thereby contributing to ensuring a stable life.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam effectively used capital from the Da Nang Farmer Support Fund to invest in materials and plant varieties to develop production scale and increase income. Photo: N.Q

"Midwife" for farmer members

Mr. Le Minh Trung's family,44, was one of the poorest in Hoa Tho Dong Ward, Cam Le District. He and his wife took many different jobs, but the money they earn is only enough to cover the family’s daily expenses and raise three children.

In 2016, realising a fact that a pubic demand for consuming pre-processed onions and garlic is growing, Trung took the initiative to borrowed VND40 million from the Farmer Support Fund of the Cam Le District Farmers' Association to rent a kiosk at Hoa Cam Market and embarked upon buying raw materials for production. After a successful trade period, in 2017, his family was lifted out of the city’s poverty thresholds.

In 2019, with the need to expand his business, Trung continued to borrow VND50 million from the Farmer Support Fund to buy 3 kiosks at the Hoa Cam Market so as to expand the sale of agricultural products.

“The loan from the farmer support fund has significantly helped me to expand production and business activities and increase my income. Every month, excluding expenses, I earn from VND20 million to VND35 million and create jobs for 10 people, bringing in an income of about 250,000 VND/person/day. In the future, I will coordinate with related units in Cam Le District to create brands for my products so that they can be sold at stores and supermarkets”, said Trung.

In a similar vein, over the past years, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam, 50, a resident in Hoa Xuan Ward, Cam Le District has effectively used capital from the Farmer Support Fund to expand the production scale of ornamental pots and flowers. Previously, Mr. Lam had faced a difficult situation with his disabled legs and used to do many unsteady jobs but his income was still modest.

In 2014, Mr. Lam was facilitated by the local government to learn the profession of pot-casting, flower growing, and support to lease land for production development.

In 2019 and 2022, Mr. Lam borrowed twice from the Cam Le District's Farmer Support Fund with a total amount of VND100 million to invest in seedlings, materials, and expand production.

Currently, his establishment at the intersection of Dinh Gia Trinh and Van Tien Dung streets attracts a lot of people coming to buy ornamental pots. The price of each pot is from 30,00 VND to 500,000 VND, depending on their sizes and aesthetics.

Every year, he grows about 1,200 varieties of chrysanthemums, dahlias and marigolds for sales during the Tet season. Excluding all expenses, Mr. Lam earns about VND160 million per year.

Realising that people's demand for ‘cha ca’ fish cakes is increasing, in 2019, Mr. Cao Van Toi, 34, residing in Hoa Khuong Commune, Hoa Vang District borrowed VND50 million from the fund to support farmers in Hoa Vang District, investing in fish cakes processing.

In 2022, Toi borrowed VND50 million from the above-mentioned fund to start expanding 4 more fish-farming lakes with about 15,000 strabismus fish. The efficiency from the model of raising and selling calamari helps his family have a stable life, with an average income of VN25 million to VND30 million /month.

Mobilise resources to increase funds

According to Chairman of Hoa Vang District Farmers' Association Nguyen Van Van, through borrowing funds from the Farmer Support Fund, the district’s Farmers' Union has created favourable conditions for members to develop production, business, and restructure crops, and grow livestock, contributing to creating jobs for many workers.

In 2022, from the fund to support farmers, the Hoa Vang District administration disbursed a total of more than VND4.5 billion to 182 households; recovered more than VND5.2 billion worth of capital before maturity and due date.

Currently, there are many highly effective models thanks to loans from farmer support funds such as: farming fish and raising chickens in Hoa Khuong, raising cows in Hoa Nhon and Hoa Phu communes, growing flowers in Hoa Chau and afforestation in Hoa Phu Commune.

According to the Da Nang Farmers' Union, the total capital of the Farmer Support Fund is currently VND40.18 billion, of which VND 8.98 billion is from the national government budget and VND 31.2 billion is funded by the municipal budget and the remaining VND7.92 billion is from the district-level budgets.

In 2022, a total amount of VND37.75 billion was disbursed to 166 projects and 1,315 households. Chairman of the Da Nang Farmers' Association Nguyen Huu Thiet said that the fund to support farmers is increasingly effective, not only solving immediate capital sources but also helping farmer members to develop the livelihoods and increase income, and at the same time, contribute to consolidating a strong Farmer's Association and its performances.

“In the coming time, the Da Nang Farmers' Union will continue to promote publicity about the purpose and meaning of the Farmer Support Fund. At the same time, it is required that the Association’s chapters to focus on monitoring, guiding, identifying the right beneficiaries, ensuring the right purposes, the eligible people that need support, bringing long-term effects to farmer members. In particular, we will mobilise even more resources to increase funds and help more difficult members get loans to for production development targets.”, said Thiet.

Reporitng by NGOC QUOC - Translating by A.THU