Multiple livelihood support programs for ethnic communities in the highlands of Yen Bai
Yen Bai province has two of the 74 poorest districts in the country: Tram Tau and Mu Cang Chai.
Residents of Pung Luong commune, Mu Cang Chai district, actively transitioning to cultivating Taiwan pears over an area of approximately 80 hectares
In recent years, to alleviate poverty in these “core poverty” areas, Yen Bai has worked closely with these localities, focusing on finding economic development solutions through agricultural and forestry production.
Numerous projects have been implemented, including livestock and crop farming based on commercial models, and promoting value chain linkages. These efforts have created sustainable livelihoods and stable incomes for the local people.
Localities have effectively leveraged resources from national target programs, provincial projects, and initiatives to encourage residents to boldly develop household economic models and shift crop structures to meet market demands.
Specifically, under the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction, Tram Tau district has implemented the project “Support for the Development of Community-Based Cattle Breeding” in Ban Mu and Phinh Ho communes, benefiting 192 households with over 4.2 billion VND in financial support.
In addition, Tram Tau has carried out 11 projects under the “Support for the Development of Community-Based Commercial Pig Farming” initiative, with a total funding of 2.3 billion VND. The district has also provided support for seeds, fertilizers, crops, livestock, materials, tools, machinery, and production equipment, amounting to 3.247 billion VND in financial aid.
Hundreds of large-scale livestock farming models have been developed, yielding high economic returns, including the raising of large cattle and indigenous breeds of pigs and chickens, meeting market demands.
From 2021 to 2023, Tram Tau and Mu Cang Chai districts developed nearly 600 livestock farming models, upgrading small-scale farming into concentrated commercial production. Notably, under Provincial Council Resolution No. 69, businesses and cooperatives were encouraged to build production projects linked to value chains and product consumption, contributing to the creation of long-term, sustainable livelihoods for local communities.
Several crop cultivation projects have also shown great promise. For example, the 2023-2024 project linking the planting and consumption of temperate fruit trees (pear and seedless persimmon) in Mu Cang Chai district has been evaluated as highly promising. This initiative has supported local people in expanding the cultivation of these high-potential crops, covering a total area of 100 hectares.
Focusing on providing sustainable livelihoods for local communities, by the end of 2023, the poverty rate among ethnic minority and mountainous populations in Yen Bai is expected to be 12.14%, a decrease of 4.93% compared to 2022. Notably, Mu Cang Chai district saw a reduction of 9.83%, while Tram Tau district experienced a decrease of 6.95%.
Source: Yen Bai Newspaper – en.baoyenbai.com.vn
