The old man of Mong ethnic group in Nghe An went to the top of the mountain to dig a pond to raise fish.

The hunger and poverty of the days of farming on the mountain top hauntGia and Lia Nhenh for a long time. Had to change, had to learn new things to revive the family economy. Gia Lia Nhenh thought so and decided to do it. 10 years ago, he and his wife and children went to Nam Can stream to start over.

Gia Va Lia Nenh dug a pond on Nam Can peak to raise fish and develop the family economy. Photo: Hien Chuong

After many months of non-stop work, his family reclaimed 6 hectares of hills. Here, Lia Nhenh built a pig and cow farm. With the support of the Nam Can Border Guard Station, he borrowed money to buy native black pigs and pigs from the lowlands to raise. He also diligently read books and newspapers to gain experience, and was guided by the border guards on farming techniques, so everything went smoothly.

“When the soldiers of Nam Can Border Post supported my family with 2 piglets, I raised them in a new way, not cooking a big pot of bran and feeding them for many days like the Mong people used to do in the old days. The fields were mainly used for growing grass to raise buffaloes and cows and for building pens to raise pigs and chickens. All the animals were fully vaccinated,” said old Lia Nhenh.

The elderly Va Lia Nhenh family currently raises dozens of cows, goats, and pigs. Photo: Hien Chuong

Currently, the family of old man Va Lia Nhenh has 30 pigs, 2 sows and a herd of dozens of cows and goats. He also works hard to grow cassava, bananas and elephant grass to provide food for his livestock. In particular, old man Lia Nhenh also dug 2 ponds on the mountain, the water source is brought from the stream. Here he raises many types of fish, and the pond also provides irrigation water for crops. Thanks to good implementation of technical processes in caring for crops and livestock, the economic model of old man Lia Nhenh's family has developed very well, with high productivity. In recent years, from raising pigs, cows and goats, he has earned 100-120 million VND each year.

In the economic development model of many Mong families in Nam Can commune, there is the support of officers and soldiers of Nam Can Border Guard Station. Photo: Hien Chuong

“We have identified this as an effective development model, so Nam Can Border Guard Station focuses on investing and expanding to other households in the area, thereby focusing on developing household economies to contribute to hunger eradication and poverty reduction.”Lieutenant Colonel Trinh Van Que - Deputy Political Commissar - Nam Can Border Post - Nghe An Border Guard shared.

Gia Va Lia Nhenh and his wife and children build a bank to bring water from the stream to grow rice. Photo: Hien Chuong

Not only is he a pioneer in raising fish on the mountain top, village elder Va Lia Nhenh also boldly brings water from the stream, builds banks, and digs rice fields. Soon, rice fields will grow green on the top of Nam Can hill, providing food for his family. Thanks to his diligence, hard work, and perseverance, up to now, Elder Nhenh's family has risen out of poverty and the family economy is increasingly stable./.