Loan efficiency in Cam Muon

(Baonghean) -For a commune with over 60% poor households like Cam Muon (Que Phong), the issue of improving the lives and taking care of economic development for members is something that the Commune Women's Union always worries about. In particular, the Union focuses on mobilizing entrusted loans to support women to borrow for production and business, gradually building the economy, and escaping poverty...

Ms. Lang Thi Hoa, Chairwoman of the Commune Women's Union, said that the commune has nearly 600 members in 12 branches, mainly Thai and Khmu ethnic women. With little arable land, the women's family life faces many difficulties and shortages. Therefore, how to help members use capital effectively is always a concern. In that situation, the Union has organized 60 training sessions on family economy for over 1,000 members to participate, and at the same time introduced experiences of effective loan capital use models in the commune for women to learn. On the other hand, the Union also coordinated with the executive committee of 12 villages and hamlets to help dozens of families in especially difficult circumstances receive support in terms of seedlings, animals, and knowledge to develop secondary jobs. From these methods, in addition to forms such as establishing a savings credit fund, the Union is currently managing nearly 5 billion VND from the Social Policy Bank for 243 members to borrow. Through appraisal, 90% of women who received loans used them for the right purpose and effectively.

Previously, Ms. Vi Thi Viet's family (Na Cho village) was in extremely poor circumstances. "Difficulty binds intelligence", so she wanted to expand production and raise livestock but had to give up because she had no capital. A few years ago, through the Women's Union of the commune, she was able to borrow more than 10 million VND to do business. With the money, she invested in buying ducks to raise. Since then, she has sold many litters, repaid both the principal and interest to the Union's fund, bought household amenities, and her family's life has gradually improved. In the same situation as Ms. Viet, Ms. Lu Thi Than in Mong 2 village borrowed capital to raise sows. Also thanks to learning from the experience of her predecessors, her 3 sows have given birth to many litters safely and grown quickly. Not only has she repaid the capital, but she also has interest to pay off the previous debt.

Ms. Lang Thi Hoa, President of the Women's Union of Cam Muon Commune (Que Phong) guides members on how to use loan capital.

Many women borrow capital to develop side jobs, improve income such as brocade weaving, silkworm farming, poultry farming... effectively. Typical examples are: Lo Thi Than, Vi Thi Diep in Mong 3 village, Ms. Lan, Ms. Dai in Mong 2 village, Ms. Vi Thi Hoai in Pha Phat village. For women who borrow capital but are "unsure" about how to do business, the Commune Women's Union coordinates with the village executive committee to discuss solutions, share experiences, and instruct on breeding and production techniques.

Currently, the whole Cam Muon commune has 3,700 buffaloes, 850 goats, nearly 4,000 pigs, 12,000 ducks, and more than 20,000 chickens being raised by households headed by women. Mr. Lu Thanh Binh, Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, said: "Although there are still many difficulties in helping households escape poverty, through loans from the Commune Women's Union, hundreds of households here have been helped to improve their lives. That has had a positive impact on the commune's efforts to mobilize people to quit their gold mining jobs in Pu Huong to return to their family economy. These results of the Commune Women's Union are very commendable."

Article and photos: Viet Long