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| In addition to growing rice and foresting, Mrs Mai is also building up a herd of cattle |
Upon entering the home of A Viet May and A Viet Thi Mai in A Roang 2 Village, A Roang Commune (A Luoi District), we were surprised by the cool, green environment. The garden yard was immaculately cleaned, with a fragrant hint of wildflowers. Even though they were raising nearly a dozen pigs, the cleanliness and freshness of the house left visitors pleasantly surprised. In the kitchen, the pigs were separated into two dry and clean pens, their shiny coats gleaming as they slept after a hearty lunch.
Mrs Mai shared that every year she raises two to three batches of hybrid pigs to reinvest in other ventures. Sometimes, the pigs are sold to tourist groups or to traders. To support their livestock, she grows vegetables, cassava, and bananas around the house to provide reserve feed during the rainy season.
Every day, she wakes up at 4 a.m. to clean the house and prepare meals for her husband and children before they head off to work and school. After breakfast, she straps a large basket to her back and heads into the forest and fields to gather vegetables to cook pig feed. With each pig weighing over 30kg, she has to gather over 10kg of vegetables each day.
Mai's father was once a model village leader, well respected by the local people. He worked diligently and responsibly for the community, but he was also hardworking in developing his own household's economy, purchasing equipment and machinery as he worked his way up from nothing. "My father was amazing, working hard and acquiring everything we have today. I’ve learned a lot from him," Mrs Mai proudly shared.
Reflecting on the past, Mrs Mai recalled how she and her husband once worked as laborers in southern farms. Every year, they saved up a significant amount of money, but they realized that their children were growing up without their parents, and their home and fields were being neglected. They decided to return to their hometown to start their own business.
Gradually, with the money they made from selling pigs, they invested in a rice mill worth nearly 10 million VND to mill rice for local villagers and to use the bran for their livestock. They also farmed 7 plots of rice, over 1 hectare of acacia forest, and raised 3 cows. They considered raising fish in a freshwater pond in front of their house, but due to the distance from the stream and the high cost of installing pipelines, they are discussing with other households to collaborate.
Each time they invested in economic development, Mr. May was always enthusiastic, eager to try new models, but Mrs Mai was more cautious about taking out bank loans. “If we borrow, we need to have a good foundation so we don't get stuck in long-term debt”. When asked if they've gotten rich, Mai shyly replied, “Not yet, we’re striving to get out of poverty first. We're still hesitant about big ventures, so when it comes to borrowing from the bank, I think carefully. I want everything we do to be solid and sustainable."
Not only are they successful in their economic endeavors, but the couple are also generously donated 350 square meters of land to build a concrete road in front of their house. They sacrificed a plot of rice fields, but having a clean and beautiful road for the children to go to school and for vehicles to easily access the village was worth it. Mai's parents had also donated land for the construction of local public buildings, so she believes that contributing to the community is something without regret.
Speaking about the couple, Ho Thi Phanh, the head of A Roang 2 Village, remarked, "This family is a model in all their activities. They are well known for their hard work and determination in economic development, continually investing in crops and livestock. If every household worked as hard as they do, many families in the village would be able to escape poverty.
In the eyes of Ho A Lua, chairman of A Roang Commune, Mai and May are a remarkable couple because they strive to succeed even in a difficult land. "In 2023, the local government supported their family with a machine for grinding animal feed. What’s commendable about this family is that they don’t rely on loans or outside help. Through their own hands and minds, they’ve actively farmed and raised livestock, becoming masters of their own lives," said Mr Lua.