The distinctive path of outstanding Vietnamese farmer Tran Xuan Son

Dare to think differently, dare to do things differently.

In Nghia Hung commune, where people are traditionally accustomed to growing sugarcane to supply the sugar factory, Mr. Tran Xuan Son's household has little land and no advantage in growing sugarcane. However, instead of accepting a low income, Mr. Son chose a completely different path: raising chickens for egg production.

In 2001, with a meager capital of 50 million VND borrowed from the bank and relatives, he built a simple 300m² coop to raise 800 chickens. With almost no experience, disease outbreaks caused the flock to die off, resulting in significant losses for his family. At times, he even considered giving up. Particularly during the 2004 avian flu outbreak, Mr. Son had to move his flock into the forest to escape the disease. For over a month, no one would buy his eggs or chicken meat, so he resorted to using the eggs themselves, cooked with cassava and corn, as feed to sustain the flock. But then, after the outbreak subsided, egg prices unexpectedly skyrocketed, and his 800 chickens started laying eggs regularly, helping him recoup his losses and rekindle his dream of becoming wealthy.

Instead of being discouraged, Mr. Son became even more determined to learn. He attended basic veterinary courses, scientific and technical training courses organized by the Farmers' Association, researched through books, newspapers, and the Internet, and visited many successful farming models. After careful observation, he realized that large-scale livestock farming required concentrated land. So he thought about land consolidation. At that time, this was still a novel concept, and few people considered it. He persistently went from house to house, persuading each household, and finally managed to gather 0.6 hectares of contiguous land to build his farm.

“I realized that to raise livestock on a large scale, you need land for a farm. But my family's land was scattered in many places. I came up with the idea of ​​consolidating and exchanging land. My family had several plots of land scattered in different fields, so I negotiated with the neighbors to exchange them to concentrate the land in one place for production. I went from house to house, met with each person, and persuaded them as much as I could. Everyone understood and agreed to the exchange, and in the end, my family acquired 0.6 hectares of land to build a centralized farm,” Mr. Son shared.

In 2014, while most people in the area were still raising chickens in open coops, Mr. Son boldly invested in a 1,000m² cold-storage coop to raise 5,000 egg-laying chickens. This audacious move surprised many, even raising some skeptical. But it was precisely because he dared to do things differently that Mr. Son became a pioneer in applying modern technology to chicken farming in Nghia Dan. “The cold-storage coop maintains stable temperature and humidity, keeping the chickens healthy, reducing disease, and producing high-quality eggs. Although the initial investment is costly, the economic efficiency is far superior to raising chickens in open coops,” Mr. Son shared.

Through these unique steps, Mr. Son's cold storage chicken farm model gradually proved its value. In 2022, he continued to expand, building another cold storage facility, increasing the total farm area to 3,000m², raising 23,000 chickens, including 17,000 laying hens.

When differentiation becomes effectiveness

Thanks to bold investments, the Luong Son chicken farm now produces nearly 3.9 million eggs annually, generating revenue of 10-11 billion VND and a net profit of 1.5-2.5 billion VND. In addition to eggs, the family also sells approximately 8,000 broiler chickens per year and supplies 120 tons of composted chicken manure to local farmers for fertilizing crops. On average, each family member earns 500 million VND per year.

Not only does Mr. Son's product generate significant revenue, but it also possesses unique value. He applies herbal preparations to the feed, supplementing it with probiotics to ensure the chickens are healthy, and the eggs are rich in omega-3, DHA, vitamins A, B1, B12, high in protein, low in cholesterol, and free of antibiotic residue. As a result, the farm's eggs received VietGAP certification in 2024 and were recognized as a 3-star OCOP product from the end of 2023. Through social media, trade fairs, and exhibitions, the product quickly established its brand and sold well both within and outside the province.

Alongside his economic activities, Mr. Son always prioritizes community responsibility. Each year, he allocates tens to hundreds of millions of dong to support social welfare funds, the "Warm Winter" program, and rural development initiatives. His farm provides regular employment for 7 workers with incomes of 5.2-5.5 million dong per month, along with 12-14 seasonal workers earning 3-3.5 million dong per month. Notably, he also supports many poor households with livestock, feed, and technical assistance to help them escape poverty sustainably.

As the Vice Chairman of the Farmers' Association, Mr. Son enthusiastically shared his experience at training courses and workshops. He directly guided farmers on how to raise laying hens using biosafety practices, disseminated knowledge on disease prevention, and helped reduce the risk of disease outbreaks in the area. Many households, after learning from his model, have achieved success, contributing to the spread of modern and safe livestock farming practices.

Those tireless efforts have been recognized. From 2020 to the present, Mr. Son has consistently achieved the title of "Excellent Farmer in Production and Business" at the district and provincial levels; his family has been recognized as a "Culturally Exemplary Family" for many years; and he is a model of "effective grassroots mobilization" at all levels. In 2025, he will be honored with the title of "Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer," a well-deserved reward for an elderly farmer who dares to think, dares to act, and knows how to share.