Spreading grass planting model, developing livestock farming in border areas

Efforts to develop commercial livestock farming

The family of Elder Song Thai, like many other poor Mong households in Doc May commune (Ky Son), was once a poor family. When they got married and had children, life became even more difficult. Elder Song Thai tossed and turned every night, thinking, asking the question: "How can I make sure my family has enough food and my children can go to school?"

In 2002, when the Party and the State had a policy of allocating forest land to each household to manage and protect for livestock production, Gia Song Thai, who was then a commune accountant, discussed with his family to request management of 8 hectares of forest land in Huoi Ngoat stream, Huoi Vieng village, of which about 2 hectares were sloping hill land that could be reclaimed for rice fields and short-season crops. The remaining area was mainly sloping land, with streams, so his family zoned off the land for livestock farming, planted short-term crops and grass for livestock farming. Overcoming the initial difficulties and harsh weather, Gia Song Thai's family both reclaimed rice fields and raised livestock to improve their lives, develop the economy and gradually create a stable income for the family.

By 2017, the District People's Committee and the Ky Son Department of Agriculture issued Decision No. 747/QD-UBND dated February 11, 2017 approving the budget and local cattle breeding model, supporting the family with 01 calf and 11 rolls of B40 nets. Elder Song Thai boldly built a comprehensive farm model focusing on raising livestock and poultry in the direction of commodities. Elder Song Thai researched, bought seeds, and planted 3 hectares of elephant grass to ensure food for livestock, especially during the dry, cold, and severe cold seasons. With the diligence of the couple, the life of Elder Song Thai's family improved day by day.

Currently, Gia Song Thai's farm has 44 buffaloes and cows, selling 10 to 15 each year. In addition, he also raises black chickens, grows wild pepper, and some short-term crops such as ginger, sticky corn, and cucumbers on an area of ​​3 hectares. Each year, the average income from Gia Song Thai's farm is about 160 to 180 million VND. Now, Gia Song Thai's family has built a spacious house, bought full amenities, and the children are well-fed and educated. From the success of Gia Song Thai's family, the Party Committee, the government, and organizations in Doc May commune have actively organized and mobilized people in the villages to develop commercial buffalo and cow breeding, gradually helping the villagers to sustainably eliminate hunger and reduce poverty.

Spreading the determination to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty

In the process of implementing the "Smart Mass Mobilization" model in economic development, the Party Committee, government, and organizations in Doc May commune always take the example of Elder Song Thai to "tell the people, tell them to believe". Elder Song Thai himself is very active in visiting families determined to develop livestock farming to disseminate experiences, helping many households master techniques, bringing higher livestock farming efficiency. "To truly become an exemplary, prestigious cadre who can speak so that people listen and believe, in addition to fulfilling the responsibilities and obligations of a commune cadre, the family strives to develop the economy, strive to become rich legitimately to set an example" - Elder Song Thai confided.

The family of Mr. Gia Giong Chua, in Huoi Vieng village (Dooc May commune) was supported by Mr. Gia Song Thai with a "loan" of 01 pair of breeding cows without interest and instructions on raising and planting elephant grass. Up to now, Mr. Chua's family has increased the herd to 06 cows, and their income has also improved thanks to that. "If Mr. Thai had not guided me on how to raise cows well, I would have been lost in the forest. Now, I know the techniques of raising and planting cows to make the buffaloes and cows healthier, the vegetables and grass plants more lush, helping my family escape hunger and poverty" - Mr. Gia Giong Chua happily shared.

As a commune cadre, comrade Gia Song Thai always strives to excellently complete all assigned tasks. Before 2008, comrade Gia Song Thai worked as an accountant in Doc May commune. In 2008, comrade Gia Song Thai was elected to hold the position of Deputy Secretary of the Commune Party Committee. From 2010 to present, he was elected to hold the position of Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee. With that responsibility, comrade Gia Song Thai has been going to the villages to encourage people to develop production and livestock, contributing to helping many households escape poverty. "As a cadre myself, I must always strive to fulfill my responsibilities, set an example for the people, encourage people to develop livestock production, so that people's lives can be more prosperous" - Mr. Gia Song Thai shared.

When evaluating the example of Elder Song Thai, comrade Vi Van Khuon - Secretary of the Commune Party Committee said: Elder Song Thai is a very prestigious commune cadre in the locality, respected by the people. He always performs his professional work well, and is a typical individual in economic development in the locality. He always grasps the economic development policies of all levels to propagate, orient, and share experiences with the people in the village and commune. The success of the family economic model of Elder Song Thai has become the driving force for many "Skilled Mass Mobilization" models in the economic field in the commune. Currently, people in the commune are actively changing the structure of crops and livestock, innovating production methods, increasing household economic income...:".

"Over the past years, on average each year, Doc May commune (Ky Son) has reduced the number of poor households by 5%. However, up to now, the number of poor households in the commune is still high, accounting for 64.3%. That is a great concern for myself and the Party Committee, government and organizations in the commune. I believe that more and more households in Doc May will overcome poverty and become rich legitimately" - Comrade Gia Song Thai shared.