Rising out of poverty by growing durian

The mountainous district of Khanh Son, Khanh Hoa province has very suitable soil for agricultural development, especially crops with high economic value. Since the brand "Khanh Son durian - yellow flesh, small seeds" was affirmed, this fruit not only brings economic value but is also the key to helping many local households escape poverty and develop sustainably.

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Bo Bo Thuong and his wife Mau Thi Tam, of the Rac Lay ethnic group in Lien Hoa village, Son Binh commune, Khanh Son district, escaped poverty at the end of 2021. Thuong confided that when they first got married, their economic situation was difficult due to lack of capital to do business. The family's main source of income was growing about 1 hectare of cassava, but the price of cassava was very low, about 2,500 VND/kg, so the income was not enough to cover the family's living expenses. In 2014, the family switched to growing 1 sao of purple sugarcane. At this time, the sugarcane also sold at a stable price. With the income, he expanded to grow another 1 sao of sugarcane, earning about 45 million VND each year. In 2016, the locality had a policy of converting durian crops according to the "1609 program", the state supported the counterpart at a rate of 70% non-refundable state investment including seeds, fertilizers, irrigation systems, and the production household invested 30%. Mr. Thuong's family was supported by the locality to grow 200 durian trees, he tried to invest in planting 400 more durian trees, a total of 600 durian trees (about 3 hectares, the land he accumulated from growing sugarcane and his parents left).

The additional investment capital for the family growing durian comes from Mr. Thuong's savings from growing sugarcane and preferential credit loans from the Social Policy Bank for poor households in a total of 3 installments, from 15 million VND, 50 million VND and 100 million VND (2022-2025 period). Up to now, Mr. Thuong's family's durian garden has been harvested for 3 years. Each year, about 2-3 tons are harvested. After deducting the costs of investing in fertilizers and pesticides, the family earns about 100 million VND/year. Mr. Thuong shared that the village and commune cadres here are very interested in poor households, especially ethnic minority households because the lives of the people here are still difficult, from capital to knowledge and production experience. Therefore, each poor household here has a village and commune cadre assigned to be in charge of supporting production to escape poverty. Specifically, the family was consulted and guided to change the crop structure, supported with preferential credit loans from the Social Policy Bank, and attended training courses organized by the locality on how to plant and care for durian trees. Thanks to that, my family now has a durian garden with a stable income, the family escaped poverty by the end of 2022, and it is expected that my family will also escape the near-poor household status by the end of this year.

Mr. Bo Bo Thuong in Lien Hoa village, Son Binh commune, Khanh Son district is fertilizing and taking care of his durian garden.

Like Bo Bo Thuong's family, Cao Thi Dinh's family also escaped poverty in 2021. Dinh shared that her family had fallen into poverty before because her husband died early from illness, leaving her to raise three children alone. In addition, the family's economy relied on 6 sao of cassava and coffee. The prices of cassava and coffee were sometimes very low, and the productivity was not high, so the income was not enough to cover the family's living expenses. Seeing that her family was a poor household with land for production but unstable income, village and commune officials came to persuade the family to switch to growing durian. She was invited to attend a training course on planting and caring for durian trees organized by the locality. With the knowledge and skills acquired, as well as support for preferential credit loans from the Social Policy Bank for the poor, with two loans of 30 million VND in the first installment and 50 million VND in the second installment, Dinh was ready to gradually switch to growing durian. Up to now, in 1 hectare of durian of Chi Dinh's family, some crops have been harvested, some have just started to be harvested. The first crop harvested in July 2023 also brought her family an income of 50 million VND.

Ms. Cao Thi Dinh is next to the durian garden that is bearing fruit, hoping that next year will bring a high income.

Ms. Dinh confided that although the current income from durian is not much, next year the income will definitely be higher because the number of trees in the main harvest next year is double this year. If the price is stable as it is now, the annual income of 100 million VND from the durian garden is within reach. It is because of the stable production development foundation from the durian income that Ms. Dinh's family escaped poverty in 2021. The family is still a near-poor household, so they still receive support from the State in terms of preferential credit loans to develop production, along with the family's determination to rise up to escape poverty sustainably. Ms. Mau Thi Thuy, a staff of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Son Binh commune, said that the commune currently has 1,023 households and 3,635 people, including 6 ethnic groups: Kinh, Muong, Tay, Nung, Cham and Raglay living together, of which the Raglay ethnic group accounts for 75% of the commune's population. Regarding poverty reduction, according to the results of the review of poor households at the end of 2022, the commune currently has 307 poor households, accounting for 30.01%, and near-poor households in the commune are: 202 households, accounting for 19.75%. The People's Committee of the commune has also directed departments and branches to coordinate with mass organizations to strengthen propaganda and mobilize people to use loan sources for the right purposes, actively develop the economy, and strive to escape poverty sustainably.

Son Binh strives to have 127 households escape poverty by the end of 2023:

Mr. Ta Quoc Phong - Chairman of Son Binh Commune People's Committee also said that, with the direction and attention of the District Party Committee and Khanh Son District People's Committee, up to now, Son Binh Commune People's Committee has had positive changes in most areas, many targets have been achieved and exceeded the plan, notably in the following aspects: The economy continues to grow, agricultural production has developed stably, mainly growing fruit trees, typically durian, grapefruit, tangerine, etc. Cultural and social fields basically meet the set goals and tasks; social security policies are fully and promptly implemented, ensuring the lives of the people, especially poor households, social protection beneficiaries, and families with meritorious services to the revolution. The current poverty rate in the commune is 307 households, accounting for 30.01%, the commune strives to reduce 127 poor households (down 12.64%), to 180 poor households, the poverty rate is 17.37%. Since the beginning of the year, the commune has focused on implementing policies to support poor households in developing production. Such as supporting preferential credit policies so that poor and near-poor households and loan recipients have access to capital to develop production and escape poverty sustainably. 17 poor households received preferential loans of 750 million VND, 7 near-poor households received loans of 420 million VND, and 22 other policy beneficiaries received loans of 890 million VND. In addition, 58 poor households received support to build new houses with a total amount of 3.98 billion VND, including 50 households from the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group and 8 households from Vietcombank. Electricity bills were supported for 307 poor households with a total amount of nearly 102 million VND.

Durian trees are considered a strength and the key to helping many households escape poverty.

“It can be said that the implementation of policies and regimes on poverty reduction and social security has always been of interest to the commune, actively directing all levels, sectors, and mass organizations to implement, promoting socialization to promote the sense of responsibility and mobilize resources of the State and the community. With the participation of the entire political system and the community, many poor people and social protection beneficiaries have been supported and helped to overcome difficulties to integrate into the community. In general, the poor households assigned by the Commune People's Committee to monitor and help them escape poverty are mostly hard-working households, and the production models provided to poor households are well taken care of by most households. The commune focuses on creating conditions for the poor to borrow capital at low interest rates, lending to the right subjects and using capital for the right purposes. Helping those who need to borrow capital have conditions to do business and develop the economy, promoting the local goal of hunger eradication and poverty reduction. Departments, sectors, and mass organizations closely coordinate in organizing propaganda and reviewing households "We will closely monitor the poor and near-poor households during the household screening process in the locality," said Chairman of Son Binh Commune People's Committee Ta Quoc Phong.

NGOC MINH

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