Creating livelihoods for highland youth

(Baonghean) - After 3 years of implementing the "Sustainable Livelihood Project for Youth in Western Nghe An Districts" (Actinonaid), a number of effective livelihood models have emerged, creating stable jobs, contributing to economic development and social security in poor communes in the highlands...

Hand over the fishing rod

Among the economic development models of young people in Que Phong district, the most typical is the passion fruit growing model of the household of union member Vi Van Son (Yen Son village, Tri Le commune). Born and raised in a difficult border area, his wish is to escape poverty and have a stable life. However, life depends on slash-and-burn farming with a small area, poor soil, and harsh weather, so hunger and poverty always cling to him. His family's economy began to change when Que Phong District Youth Union coordinated with the Provincial Cooperative Union to implement a number of activities under the Project "Sustainable livelihoods for young people in the western districts of Nghe An" to help young people escape poverty, including training courses on passion fruit growing techniques.

Students attend a training class on growing aromatic roots in Quy Chau.

After applying the passion fruit growing techniques from the training course organized by the project, the productivity of this crop increased significantly, bringing high economic efficiency. In 2015, with 1.3 hectares of passion fruit, he harvested 16 tons of fresh fruit, sold at 10,000 VND/kg, earning 160 million VND. In 2016, with the knowledge he had acquired, Mr. Son took care of, prevented pests and diseases, and fertilized according to instructions, thanks to which the passion fruit trees grew well, and after deducting expenses, he earned an estimated profit of about 150 million VND. Up to now, his family has escaped poverty and has been able to buy many convenient items for life.

Previously, Loc Van Son's family (Co Ngu village, Chau Thon commune, Que Phong) only relied on income from farming corn, cassava and village chief's allowance. Although he was strong and hard-working, due to lack of knowledge and not being able to find a direction for what to raise and what to plant effectively, his family's life was always poor. In 2015, after participating in training and technical training on straw mushroom production from the project, he found a new way to make a living. He boldly invested in buying seeds and collecting straw to produce straw mushrooms. While working and gaining experience, up to now, his family has had over 600 bags of mushrooms, harvesting 5 - 6 kg per day, earning an income of 250,000 - 300,000 VND/day. Currently, in the village, there are over 30 households participating in mushroom growing, selling out as soon as they produce, so everyone is very excited.

Working together to create sustainable livelihoods

Along with training and building livelihood models, the Provincial Cooperative Union has proactively exploited the province's programs and projects such as Project 231 of the Provincial People's Committee on cooperative development in the period 2014 - 2020 to develop cooperatives in the area, associated with the consumption of agricultural products for young people and households for sustainable development models.

Many young people in the highlands of Que Phong have escaped poverty thanks to passion fruit.

In Que Phong district, there are currently 22 cooperatives with a variety of services; including Dong Tien Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Service Cooperative. Established in 2014, after 2 years of operation, the cooperative has made breakthroughs in production and business. According to Mr. Lo Van Tien - Director of the Cooperative, the cooperative is currently focusing on main activities such as: exploiting forest products in the Hua Na hydroelectric reservoir with an output of 200 m3/year, exploiting 300 - 400 tons of bamboo/year, catching fish in the reservoir with an average of 4 - 5 quintals/day, over 30 fish cages, plowing services for production for people and growing corn for livestock, and protecting forests. Currently, the cooperative is creating jobs for over 200 local workers with an average income of 4 - 5 million VND/month.

Comrade Nguyen Ba Hien - Chairman of Dong Van Commune People's Committee, Que Phong District said: "In 2015, the commune allocated funds to organize 2 study tours and called for joint ventures and product consumption associations. The current results include TH Milk Joint Stock Company signing a contract to purchase 30 hectares of corn for 20 households and Van Phan Fish Sauce Company signing a contract to purchase fish products caught from the lake area".

In 2016, the project was implemented in Quy Chau district. Surveying the current situation in Quy Chau district, the agarwood tree only meets 10% of the incense production needs of households, the project has built a model, replicated the agarwood tree planting model to meet the goals such as job creation, income, and social security stability. In 2016, a training course was organized with over 100 participants, at the end of the training course, over 80% of the participants fully grasped the planting, care, and harvesting process. Currently, the Provincial Cooperative Union has worked with the District People's Committee and the Quy Chau District Youth Union to support young people in planning raw material production areas, borrowing capital, building brands, etc.

After 3 years of implementation, the Project “Sustainable Livelihoods for Ethnic Minority Youth” has affirmed its role and effectiveness in eliminating hunger and reducing poverty for young people in the Western region with the method of giving them “fishing rods” so that they can be proactive in production. The positive results of the pilot implementation in Que Phong district are a positive signal for the model to be replicated in the Western districts of Nghe An in the coming time.

Mushroom products of Project students

Article and photos:Phuong Thao