Hanoi (VNA)꧑ - Supported by loans from the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank), many farming households are working to expand their operations and increase incomes accordingly. Having harvested their successes, those farmers have in turn assisted their peers to develop livelihoods and also actively engaged in social security activities in their localities.

Vo Van Ten (a resident in Suoi Da commune) and Nguyen Tien Nam (a resident in Phuoc Minh commune) in Duong Minh Chau district of the southern province of Tay Ninh are among such farmers. In the 1980s, Ten came to settle down in Suoi Da commune. Struggling with hardships, he cultivated cassava and worked as a hired labourer at that time with the hope of improving his family’s living conditions. With his industriousness and aspirations toward providing for his family, he began borrowing capital from bank in 1990. He said that thanks to the loan and his savings, he bought more land, farming equipment, and fertiliser for cassava and soursop farming and afforestation. Since then, the farmer has viewed the Duong Minh Chau branch of Agribank as a faithful companion. At present, as Agribank is nearing 35, Ten has also been connected with this bank for almost 30 years. His outstanding loans at the bank now total more than 3 billion VND (127,200 USD). From the initial 1.2ha of land, Ten currently owns nearly 100ha of land thanks to Agribank loans and his industriousness. In particular, he has reserved more than half of the land area for forest planting. After 20 years of afforestation, his forest now covers over 60ha. He noted that he wants to plant and conserve forest for the future of his hometown and to help with environmental protection. With dozens of years of farm work behind him, his fondness for learning, and the ability of applying scientific and technical advances to cultivation to improve productivity, Ten said he has frequently watched television and read books and newspapers to acquire new farming techniques and learn about high-yielding varieties adapting to local soil conditions. As a result, the productivity and quality of his crops have stayed high and stable, earning him the recognition as an excellent farmer of Tay Ninh province for many consecutive years. He was also granted the “Excellent Vietnamese Farmer” title by the Vietnam Farmers’ Union Central Committee in 2018. In addition, he has also actively engaged in social security activities in his locality. Also in Duong Minh Chau district of Tay Ninh province, many other farmers have realised the dream of becoming wealthy with support from Agribank loans. Among those succeeding in animal husbandry, Nguyen Tien Nam in Phuoc Minh commune started his career in 1986 and is now running a 20ha farming complex including six farms of 5,000 pigs and 12 farms of 230,000 chickens. He also owns 5ha of rubber trees and 4ha of cajuput plants. He initially farmed 250 pigs but failed to advance his farm the way he wanted. In 2010, he switched to a chicken farming model using the closed cold cage technology. Before he applied this model, the C.P Joint Stock Company had helped him visit its farming models, given instructions in farming techniques, and signed a contract to purchase all of his poultry. He built cages in line with standards to carry out this model and since then, his animal farming has gradually developed. Up to 90% of the pigs and chickens are farmed under contract with the company, and the remaining 10% is for sale by his family. Though the contracted farming generates smaller profit, it is sustainable and can avoid numerous risks thanks to purchase guarantees. Since 2008, Nam has been assisted by Agribank to develop farming. His outstanding loans at the bank have surpassed 5 billion VND so far. The farmer said he is impressed with the professional and wholehearted staff of Agribank as well as its modern services meeting his demand. He attributed the fortune he has today partly to the considerable assistance from the Duong Minh Chau branch of Agribank, adding that whenever he needed capital to make investment, the bank helped him with procedures to seek loans for farming. Not only enriching himself, Nam has also frequently shared his farming experiences with other farmers, actively sponsoring many local movements, and supported many households to escape from poverty. Thank to achievements after years of struggling with difficulties, he has been recognised as an excellent farmer by the Tay Ninh Farmers’ Union and honoured with a certificate of merit by the provincial People’s Committee. Over the last nearly 35 years, farmers across the country have become familiar with Agribank, which has always accompanied the development of agriculture, farmers, and rural areas in Vietnam. Its capital has reached every far-flung area, village, and commune to support farmers, especially those facing difficulties but having a strong will to enrich themselves in their hometowns./.