Applying science and technology to production helps people escape poverty

Ms. Quach Thi Anh in Luan Thanh commune develops OCOP products from natural herbs, creating jobs for many local female workers.

In Trung Ly commune, the local Party Committee and government have promoted the application of science and technology in agricultural production to build and replicate economic models, transform the structure of crops and livestock, and help people achieve high economic efficiency. A typical example is Mr. Thao A Thai, a Mong ethnic in Ta Com village, who is a typical example in developing household economy with the profession of raising cattle and buffaloes for breeding and commercial purposes.

Once a pure farmer, attached to rice fields and corn hills, all year round "selling his face to the land, selling his back to the sky". However, since 2020, Mr. Thai has boldly applied science and technology to switch to livestock farming, opening an important turning point in the journey to become rich legitimately.

With a sharp eye and an economic mindset, Mr. Thao A Thai realized the potential of raising large cattle, because he could take advantage of available food sources and the family's labor force. At the same time, the locality had a policy to encourage the conversion of crop and livestock structures, so Mr. Thai decided to make a "big" investment, buying 3 pairs of buffalo and cows to raise. In the early days, he and 4 members, the main force in the family, were busy from early morning to late night, taking care of the livestock like "children". With perseverance and patience, Mr. Thai diligently learned techniques and accumulated experience in the process of raising cattle. Gradually, the herd of buffalo and cows grew day by day. Up to now, the family has increased the herd to more than 50 cows and 20 buffaloes, making it the household with the largest number of cattle in Ta Com village.

To develop a sustainable herd of cattle, Mr. Thai chose the method of breeding combined with commercial farming, based on market demand to sell at appropriate times. In addition to raising cattle, Thao A Thai also implemented a forest planting model, enclosing over 15 hectares of production forest with timber trees such as xoan, lat... From his comprehensive economic model, after deducting expenses, each year Mr. Thai's family earns a profit of about 300 million VND.

Applying science and technology to production helps people escape poverty

People of Thuong Xuan commune apply science and technology to produce Kim Hoang Hau melon in greenhouses and net houses, bringing high economic efficiency.

Not only is he a typical example in family economic development, as a prestigious person, Mr. Thao A Thai has promoted, guided, and helped the villagers develop their economy; guided and supported knowledge and production experience for 10 families in the village, helped 6 poor households develop production, and stabilize their lives...

Not only the economic model of Mr. Thao A Thai's family, in recent times, Trung Ly commune has implemented many effective agricultural economic models, contributing to job creation and sustainable poverty reduction for local people. Typical examples include the cinnamon planting model on an area of 20 hectares with 20 participating households; the "High-yield cassava" planting model; the cooperative model of raising ducks; raising commercial chickens; the model of growing medicinal herbs, developing fruit trees, specialty trees... Through these models, the poverty rate in Trung Ly commune has gradually decreased every year. If in 2023 the poverty rate of the commune accounted for 51.94%, then by 2024 it will decrease to 39.71%.

In Xuan Binh, Thuong Ninh and Thanh Phong communes, we also focus on disseminating and guiding people to apply science and technology to production in order to change farming practices and transform production models, in order to exploit the potential and advantages of local land. Typical examples are the high-yield, high-quality rice production models TBR279, Bac Thinh, TBR225, TBR45, Nhi Uu 986, GS9, GS55... contributing to ensuring local food security.

In addition, the communes also focus on converting low-yield rice growing areas to growing crops with higher economic efficiency, linked and guaranteed products, such as oranges, passion fruit, mangoes, guavas... applying cutting and grafting technology to improve and produce according to VietGAP standards, limiting the use of pesticides... In the field of animal husbandry, science and technology have been transferred and high-yield, high-quality breeds have been introduced, such as Luong Phuong chickens, crossbred fighting chickens, sugarcane chickens, Lac Thuy chickens, restoring Thanh Quan ducks, Co Lung ducks; improving cattle herds by artificial insemination, using Zebu bull semen, artificial insemination with local yellow cows, new purebred Landrace breeds... These models contribute to changing small-scale animal husbandry methods to concentrated animal husbandry in the direction of commodity production.

The survey shows that there are still many agricultural economic models that apply science and technology to production, thereby contributing significantly to the socio-economic development and sustainable poverty reduction in ethnic minority areas of Thanh Hoa. According to the results of the periodic review of poor and near-poor households in 2024, up to now, the rate of poor households in the mountainous areas of the province has decreased by 4.43% (from 11.04% to 6.61%); the rate of near-poor households has decreased by 2.66% (from 14.01% to 11.35%). The achieved results have multiplied the trust of ethnic minorities in mountainous areas in effective agricultural economic models, which will be applied and replicated in the coming time.

Article and photos: Xuan Minh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/dua-khoa-hoc-ky-thuat-vao-san-xuat-giup-dong-bao-thoat-ngheo-256428.htm