Veterans who are good at business

The red Siamese coconut tree brings veteran Truong Van Thanh (Nhon Hau neighborhood, Tan Khanh ward, Tan An city) an income of approximately 100 million VND per year.

Economic stability achieved through the cultivation of red Siamese coconuts.

Following the Chairman of the Veterans Association of Tan Khanh Ward, Tan An City, we visited the home of veteran Truong Van Thanh, a member of the Veterans Association of Nhon Hau neighborhood, Tan Khanh Ward. Mr. Thanh said that he enlisted in 1986 and fought in Siem Reap Province (Cambodia). In 1989, he was discharged and returned to his hometown, where he started a family and developed his economic situation.

Previously, the family of war veteran Truong Van Thanh cultivated nearly 1 hectare of rice, but the yield was not high. Recognizing the potential of red Siamese coconut trees and their suitability to the soil, he decided to invest in planting them. Initially, he planted a few dozen trees as a trial. After some time, realizing that the cost of seedlings and fertilizer was low, the labor was minimal, and the income was higher compared to rice cultivation, Mr. Thanh continued to plant more red Siamese coconut trees. To date, he owns 0.6 hectares of red Siamese coconut trees that are currently bearing fruit.

Mr. Thanh shared: “For red Siamese coconuts, we spray pesticides once every two weeks on average, fertilize every 30-40 days, and start harvesting after about 2.5-3 years. I have about 270 red Siamese coconut trees that are currently in the harvesting stage. On average, the coconut garden brings in about 100 million VND in income each year.”

In addition, Mr. Thanh also utilizes the grass in his coconut garden to raise breeding goats. Currently, his herd has about 15 goats, including 10 breeding goats that are in their reproductive period. Each month, the goat herd provides his family with an additional income of 2-3 million VND.

“I actively participate in science and technology transfer classes and courses on plant and animal care organized by the neighborhood and ward. In addition, I regularly research and learn new production methods to apply to growing red Siamese coconuts and raising goats,” Mr. Thanh further shared.

Instead of keeping his experience to himself, Mr. Thanh shared it with other farmers, especially members of the Veterans Association of Tan Khanh Ward. The Chairman of the Veterans Association of Tan Khanh Ward, Tran Thanh Thuy, said: “Over the past time, the Veterans Association of the ward has developed many effective economic models. Among them, the model of growing red Siamese coconuts by member Truong Van Thanh is one of the exemplary cases, helping Mr. Thanh to have a stable income, rise to legitimate wealth and contribute to the socio-economic development of the locality.”

Developing the economy from black snail farming.

On average, veteran Nguyen Van Xay harvests about 20kg of snail eggs each month.

Introduced by the Veterans Association of Nhon Hoa Lap commune, Tan Thanh district, we visited Nguyen Son hamlet to meet veteran Nguyen Van Xay. Through long-term efforts and the shared hardships of his wife and himself, Mr. Xay's family life has gradually stabilized and they have risen out of poverty with their model of raising black snails and pond snails.

According to CCB Nguyen Van Xay, he enlisted in the army in 1984 and fought in Cambodia. He was discharged in 1987 and returned to his hometown to focus on developing his family's economy. After many years of unsuccessful rice farming, he decided to dig ponds to raise catfish fingerlings. However, raising catfish fingerlings was also not easy; in several consecutive seasons, the price of catfish fingerlings dropped, causing Mr. Xay to suffer heavy losses.

“After many failed attempts at raising catfish fingerlings, I researched and switched to a model of raising black snails and pond snails. Initially, I bought 10,000 snail fingerlings from Cai Be district, Tien Giang province, and released them into the pond. I also planted jackfruit trees on the pond banks to utilize the discarded jackfruit as food for the snails. After about 4-5 months of raising them, I harvested the snails to sell, weighing about 20-30 snails per kilogram, at a price of about 60,000 VND/kg, bringing in a profit of about 50,000 VND/kg,” Mr. Xay said.

After two years of raising black snails and edible pond snails, Mr. Xay began trying his hand at breeding snail hatchlings. On average, he harvests about 20kg of snail eggs per month, selling them for 300,000 VND/kg, and about 40,000 snail hatchlings (2 weeks old), selling them for 200 VND/each. On average, he earns tens of millions of VND per month from selling snail hatchlings and edible snails.

“In the future, I will increase the number of breeding snails to harvest 4-5 kg of eggs per day and produce 400-500 kg of snail meat per month to meet market demand. Besides that, thanks to selling on social media, many customers from within and outside the province have come to buy snails and ask me for advice on farming techniques,” said veteran Nguyen Van Xay.

According to Lu Minh Hai, Chairman of the Veterans Association of Nhon Hoa Lap commune, Tan Thanh district, the commune's veterans have demonstrated a strong spirit of self-reliance and self-improvement, as well as a thirst for learning. Upon returning from war, when participating in labor and production, the veterans have made efforts to learn, proactively applying science and technology, contributing to the economic development of their families.

Thanks to his efforts, veteran Nguyen Van Xay has received many commendations and certificates of merit from various levels and sectors for being an outstanding farmer in production and business; and for his contributions to the veteran movement to help each other reduce poverty and excel in economic activities.

Returning to civilian life, former soldiers like veterans Truong Van Thanh and Nguyen Van Xay continue to uphold the fine qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers, overcoming difficulties and striving to develop their family economies.

Minh Tue

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