Tho ethnic people in Nghe An become 'Outstanding Farmers of Vietnam'

(Baonghean.vn) - In the list of 63"Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer" 2017has just been announced by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' UnionMr. Truong Dinh Thong, a Tho ethnic group in Nghia Long commune (Nghia Dan-Nghe An). He was honored for his many efforts in developing a comprehensive farm model (VAC) with high economic efficiency.

» Announcing the list of 63 outstanding Vietnamese farmers in 2017

Mr. Truong Dinh Thong is one of 6 farmers nominated by Nghe An province and he was honored for his excellent results. He boldly contracted forest land, dug ponds to raise fish, raised pigs, and planted oranges and tangerines. Up to now, his farm has generated tens of billions of VND/year in income; creating jobs for more than 13 regular local workers and about 30 seasonal workers.

In 1982, after being discharged from the army and returning to his hometown, the soldier always had the urge to do something to improve his family's life. At the same time, Nghia Long commune had a policy of allocating land and forests to households. He pioneered in receiving 11 hectares of land for forest planting and contracted 3 hectares of dam lakes from the agricultural cooperative for fish farming.

The pig farm brings high income to Mr. Truong Dinh Thong's family. Photo: Minh Thai

In 2006, he converted 1 hectare of fruit-growing land to build a livestock farm with a scale of 1,200m2 to raise 100 sows, 500 pigs and 3 boars, with a total capital of 1.2 billion VND.

He invested in building a closed biogas tank system, using pig waste as fuel, running generators, and heating pigs in winter... Each year, the total income from the pig farm brings his family about 5.6 billion VND, after deducting expenses, the profit is 1.2 billion VND.

The orange and tangerine garden is carefully tended by Mr. Truong Dinh Thong. Photo: Minh Thai

He also renovated 5.5 hectares of land to grow oranges and tangerines. So far, after 3 years of planting and caring, the tangerine garden has yielded a harvest. According to Mr. Thong: "The first tangerine harvest, after deducting expenses, brought in an income of about 600 million VND. So far, his family's annual income from livestock farms and fruit trees has brought in a net profit of more than 2 billion VND/year."

Sharing his business experiences, Mr. Truong Dinh Thong said that as a farmer, first of all, one must save on the smallest things, and at the same time, one must know what to plant and what to raise to suit the local natural soil conditions and boldly expand the scale and develop diverse types of production.

In addition, it is necessary to update information on prices, farming techniques, and livestock breeding to bring about the highest economic efficiency. "One of the factors that create success is to be bold and persistent, you cannot give up if you lose today and lose tomorrow!" - Mr. Thong affirmed.

Not only developing the economy for his family, Mr. Truong Dinh Thong also transfers technical advances, shares experiences in raising livestock and growing crops for households; goes to each household to guide on how to prevent diseases, how to choose good breeds so that people can raise livestock effectively; supports breeds and experience in raising livestock for households in difficult circumstances.

Mr. Truong Dinh Thong instructs farmers on how to take care of fruit trees. Photo: Minh Thai

Mr. Truong Dinh Thong has always been a pioneer in the farm economic development movement of Nghia Long commune in particular and Nghia Dan district in general. For many years, Mr. Thong has been awarded many Certificates of Merit and Certificates of Merit from the district and province for his achievements in economic development and social work./.

Minh Thai