After a long time of training in the military environment, in 1992, when returning to his hometown, CCB Mai Chuc began to come up with the idea of ​​exploiting the potential of abandoned lands. In the beginning, he implemented many models for testing, but the most sustainable model was crops and livestock. "I had to learn a lot about farming experience as well as how to grasp the consumer market. Then I learned about the weather, soil and then researched to find suitable plant varieties with strong resistance," Mr. Chuc shared. Currently, the model has more than 2 hectares of cultivated land, growing many types such as green chili, papaya, pumpkin, cabbage... In particular, the green chili variety is sold on the market at 80,000 VND/kg, many times higher than that of regular chili varieties. With a bumper crop and a favorable output market, his family earns more than 300 million VND/season.

Veteran Mai Chuc regularly learns from experience to innovate farming.

Although he is 65 years old and has suffered from malaria during the war, his health is not as good as before, but he still directly participates in farming with the people. Mr. Chuc expressed: "As a soldier trained in a military environment, I do not allow myself to give up anything, as long as I have a strong mindset, I can do it."

Veteran Nguyen Van Kiet is mentioned by the people as a typical example in the Movement "Veterans with good economic performance" in Dien Ban town. Previously, in 1995, after returning from the army, he mobilized local youth to start a business from the straw mushroom production model. In 2003, with the desire to expand the scale of the model, Mr. Kiet decided to rent more than 1.5 hectares of production land to invest in an aquaculture model combined with raising chickens and cows. At its peak, his farm raised nearly 20,000 chickens, 200 cows and 30 tons of various types of fish. Currently, the farm generates an average annual revenue of nearly 1 billion VND, with a profit of 200-300 million VND/year.

Sharing about the difficulties, Mr. Kiet confided: “At first, I didn’t have much experience so the efficiency was not high. In 2004, I was affected by the bird flu epidemic, causing almost all the chickens in the farm to be damaged. There were even floods, overflowing ponds, and a large amount of fish lost.” At times like that, Mr. Kiet always stood up to encourage everyone and determined to borrow capital to rebuild from the beginning. “With all the effort that I and the people have put in, I cannot give up. Although agriculture is not as profitable as other fields, it still contributes to creating jobs for the people, so I always try to maintain and develop it,” Mr. Kiet expressed. Thanks to that, the farm has now stabilized, creating jobs for nearly 20 local workers, bringing the agricultural economy of my hometown to new results.

With his contributions to social activities and family economic development, for many consecutive years, veteran Nguyen Van Kiet has been awarded many certificates of merit for labor production by the President, the Prime Minister, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Veterans Association.

Article and photos: DIEM PHUC

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