The determination to become wealthy of a veteran.

(Baonghean) - Mr. Hoang Van Giao, from Bac Phuc Hoa hamlet, Hung Tay commune, is one of the exemplary veterans of Hung Nguyen district in the movement to develop farm-based economy. Thanks to knowing how to properly exploit the potential and strengths of the locality, he has risen out of poverty and become wealthy from scratch.

TWelcoming us into his spacious house, amidst a busy work schedule, Mr. Hoang Van Giao from Bac Phuc Hoa hamlet (Hung Tay) recounted the hardships of his early days back in his hometown. In 1993, he left the military and returned to his birthplace to make a living. Starting with nothing, his elderly and impoverished parents, and five siblings still in school presented significant challenges in his economic development. After researching the situation, he realized his hometown had abundant land, readily available water resources, and a diverse range of agricultural by-products. He chose livestock farming as his economic livelihood.

In 2001, to secure a suitable plot of land for his farm, Mr. Hoang Van Giao and his family decided to consolidate 7 sao (approximately 0.7 hectares) of their rice paddies in the Dat Khoai, Doi Mien, and Nu Cao areas and acquire land near their home in the Bac Phuc Hoa area. He mobilized his neighbors to borrow land and also leased public land from Hung Tay commune. As a result, he acquired over 1 hectare of flat land to begin building his farm according to his vision. Initially, he faced numerous difficulties, from borrowing capital to lacking expertise in livestock farming techniques. However, with perseverance and a thirst for learning, Mr. Giao and his wife worked and learned simultaneously to accumulate experience and capital. In the first five years, he cultivated two rice crops combined with fish farming and duck breeding. Initially, the model yielded an average net profit of 80 million VND per year.

According to him, while the results aren't high, they are acceptable because they still surpass the traditional agricultural production methods of farmers. From 2007 to 2013, realizing that rice production required a lot of effort and was prone to crop failure due to floods, especially during harvest season, he switched to building a livestock farm based on the model of laying ducks, fish, and pigs for meat. To secure sufficient capital, he mortgaged his assets to borrow hundreds of millions of dong from the Agricultural Bank of Hung Nguyen district to invest in the farm. Through renovation and upgrading, he now has 10 acres of fish ponds, specializing in raising traditional fish species. He also raises 1,500 laying ducks and 5 sows, annually producing around 120 pigs for sale. Mr. Hoang Van Giao's integrated duck-fish-pig farming model is structured as follows: Pig farming supports fish farming, and fish farming is combined with duck farming to effectively utilize surplus feed.

Mr. Hoang Van Giao at his farm.

After much deliberation in finding a suitable path for his circumstances, Mr. Hoang Van Giao has achieved many successes from his farm model. According to his calculations, he harvests an average of over 3 tons of commercial fish annually. With the current price of 25,000 VND/kg, he earns over 75 million VND per year from fish farming. Due to careful investment in feed, breeding stock, and vaccinations for his livestock, his ducks and pigs are well-protected from disease. His pig farming averages 9.6 tons of pork per year, with market prices ranging from 3,800,000 to 4,000,000 VND per quintal, resulting in a net income of nearly 40 million VND per year after deducting expenses. His duck farming for egg production provides a steady income. On average, his flock lays 1,200 eggs per day, with eggs selling for 2,500 VND each. After deducting expenses, he can earn over 30 million VND per year from raising ducks. The net profit of the farm model reaches nearly 150 million VND per year, two to three times more than before.

To generate additional income, Mr. Giao invested 100 million VND in an egg incubator, enabling him to purchase 1,500-2,000 duck eggs per day from several farms in the commune. In addition, he also supplies animal feed. His agency distributes no less than 20 tons of feed per month, ensuring the needs of local farmers are met. These services provide him with an additional income of 80-100 million VND per year. Thus, thanks to developing his farm economy and expanding and maintaining good livestock services, the economic development model of veteran Hoang Van Giao has brought in a total income of over 230 million VND per year.

Veteran Hoang Van Giao believes that running a livestock farm inevitably involves risks. However, the most important thing is to appropriately apply crop and animal models to the local conditions, and at the same time, farmers must invest in the right direction, scientifically, and persistently to ensure success.

Luong Mai