Can Tho: "Rice Seed Billionaire" is twice an Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer

Enriching his family, creating jobs for local workers, and actively contributing to social security activities, Mr. Ho Ba Phieu in Can Tho has been honored twice as an Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer.

Mr. Ho Ba Phieu (born in 1973, in Lan Thanh 2 area, Trung Kien ward, Thot Not district, Can Tho city) started his career in rice seed production. After many ups and downs, he has now become successful and is considered a "billionaire farmer" with an income of 2-5 billion VND/year.

He also actively contributes to local social security work. In 2014 and 2024, he was awarded the title of “Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer”.

Starting a business from growing rice seeds

In mid-September, receiving us at the 3,000m2 rice seed production workshop, Mr. Ho Ba Phieu shared that he has today's business starting from rice seed production nearly 20 years ago.

In 2006, after getting married, his parents gave him 3 hectares of rice fields (3,000m2), but he did not produce commercial rice but grew rice seeds because the price of rice seeds was twice the price of commercial rice.

Luckily, in 2007, he was taken by the local Agricultural Extension Center to the Mekong Delta Rice Institute to visit and receive training in rice seed production.

From then on, he firmly practiced rice seed production with the most popular original rice varieties at that time, Jasmine 85 and IR504.

With the active support of the Agricultural Extension Center and the locality, his first rice crop was successful and brought high profits. However, in the second season, the rice crop was infected with pests and diseases, leading to low yields. Although there was still profit, it was not high.

Not giving up, Mr. Ho Ba Phieu continued to learn more about techniques, monitor the weather, diseases, market demand... before planting. This rice crop, in addition to the available area, he invested capital to rent 2 more hectares to grow, thanks to his experience, the rice crop was successful, the price was good and the market sought after and bought it all.

In 2010, when the rice seed consumption market expanded to many localities such as An Giang, Hau Giang, Vinh Long..., Mr. Ho Ba Phieu cooperated with neighboring farmers to produce 30 hectares of main rice varieties such as Jasmine 85, IR 504, OM4218.

Depending on the season and the farmers' sowing needs, Mr. Ho Ba Phieu produces different types of rice seeds. The households that cooperate in producing rice seeds and techniques provided by Mr. Phieu are purchased at a price 500-700 VND/kg higher than the market price.

Currently, his rice seed production facility covers an area of ​​92 hectares; including 12 hectares of family land and 80 hectares associated with 50-100 farming households, producing key rice varieties such as OM5451, OM18, Jasmine 85, and Dai Thom.

Since 2010, Mr. Phieu has switched from manual drying of rice seeds to renting dryers to increase capacity. Gradually, accumulating capital, by 2015, farmer Ho Ba Phieu invested more than 10 billion VND to build a 3,000m2 rice seed processing, packaging and service facility, including 4 drying ovens (capacity of 20 tons/oven/24 hours), 2 seed separator machines with a capacity of 800kg/machine/hour..., supplying about 2,000-3,000 tons of rice seeds of all kinds to 50 wholesale customers in several provinces, cities and neighboring Cambodia.

Farmer Ho Ba Phieu's rice seed production and trading facility contributes to creating regular jobs for 20-40 local workers with an income of 7-15 million VND/month/person.

Realizing that the rice seed market was saturated and it was difficult to expand competition, in 2017, Mr. Ho Ba Phieu took up the job of growing ornamental apricot trees. He is currently growing 10,000 yellow apricot trees with an investment capital of billions of dong.

Deduct 10% of profits for social security

Mr. Ho Ba Phieu is very modest and reserved when talking about himself, but when talking about social security work and helping the disadvantaged, the farmer's face lights up and he shares enthusiastically.

Seeing people in the northern provinces being severely affected by natural disasters, Mr. Ho Ba Phieu immediately donated 1 billion VND, calling on some friends near his house to buy 20 tons of rice, 1,000 boxes of instant noodles, and sew 1,000 blankets (curtains) to transport to Lao Cai to support the people.

“I cannot help but feel the loss and pain that my fellow countrymen have suffered after the recent historical natural disaster. As someone who has also come from difficult circumstances and has come from a difficult background, I understand…”, Mr. Ho Ba Phieu shared.

As a farmer who has gone through difficult times, Mr. Ho Ba Phieu sympathizes with the hardships of people in the same situation, so he does not hesitate to donate 10% of his business profits to support social security activities.

In addition to growing rice seeds, Mr. Ho Ba Phieu also grows 10,000 yellow apricot trees with an investment capital of billions of dong. (Photo: Thu Hien/VNA)

As a farmer member, Mr. Ho Ba Phieu is aware that building new rural areas and civilized urban areas is a necessary need, helping everyone benefit, including his family.

Therefore, he himself plays a pivotal role in the locality, contributing to the construction of new rural areas and civilized urban areas through supporting and giving gifts to poor and near-poor households, contributing to the Farmers' Support Fund, the Education Promotion Fund, building rural roads, and building "Farmers' Warm Homes."

Referring to the "rice seed billionaire" Ho Ba Phieu, Mr. Nguyen Van Dan, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Thot Not district, affirmed that he has been a typical farmer of the city for many years.

2024 is the second time he has been recognized by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union as an "Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer."

Not only does he enrich his family, create jobs for local workers, and help them have a stable income, every year he enthusiastically contributes to social security activities.

Through his dedication, Mr. Ho Ba Phieu has been awarded many Certificates of Merit such as: Certificate of "Golden Rice of Vietnam - Golden Quality Brand" in 2010 awarded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Certificate of "Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer 2014" voted by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union; Certificate of Excellent Farmer and Business Household at the Central level for the period (2012-2016); Certificate of Merit from the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union for outstanding achievements in labor, production and new rural construction, contributing to building a strong peasant class and the Vietnam Farmers' Union in the renovation period in 2017; Certificate of Merit from the Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City for outstanding achievements in studying and following the ideology, morality and style of Ho Chi Minh (2016-2018).

Vietnamplus.vn

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/can-tho-ty-phu-lua-giong-hai-lan-la-nong-dan-viet-nam-xuat-sac-post979374.vnp