Like most Van Kieu ethnic people in Chenh Venh village (Huong Phung commune, Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province), Ho Thi Hua’s family faced many difficulties in their daily life in the past because they did not know how to develop household economy.

However, in recent years, after receiving trees and breeding livestock from Regiment 52 of Defense-Economic Unit 337, her family has found suitable ways to run household business.

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Instructing local people on how to grow wet rice

From three breeding goats given by Production Team No.9 of Regiment 52 in 2018, so far, she has developed them into a herd of 35 goats. “Thanks to the support and instructions of the troops, the number of goats has increased. I have earned nearly VND 70 million to build a new house and invest in other kinds of breeding livestock,” Hua shared. She would like to send her sincere thanks to the troops.

In 2022, Hua continued to join the canna planting project launched by the construction company of the unit. Receiving free seeds and fertilizer, she planted nearly one hectare of canna trees. The tree is growing well and is expected to yield about 30 tons by the end of this year, bringing VND 50 million to her family. From then on, she will continue to expand farming and animal husbandry to help her children continue their study.

In Vinh Tien village, Hanh Dich commune, Que Phong district, Nghe An province, many Thai ethnic households used to hunt and harvest corn and rice in the fields; therefore, their life depended on weather conditions. Stationed in the area, Production Team No.6 of Defense-Economic Unit 5 has supported local residents with many livelihood models to escape poverty.

Thanks to the assistance of the team, Mac Thi Ha's family planted cucumbers in an area of 500m2. After more than two months, they harvested eight quintals from her cucumber garden, earning more than VND 10 million. Ha excitedly said, “I have never thought I would be able to earn such a large amount of money in my life. Thanks to the help of the troops, I now know how to develop household economy. In the near future, I will plant more beans and cabbage, and also raise chickens, ducks and pigs.”

Implementing the National Target Program for Socio-economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas in the 2021-2030 period, defense-economic units of Military Region 4 regularly hand over plants and breeding livestock; instruct people in border areas with methods and techniques to raise livestock and develop household economy, thereby improving their life. They also help the locals build barns.

Many livelihood models of the units have been carried out effectively, helping local people escape poverty.

Translated by Minh Anh