Promoting the effectiveness of the Farmers Support Fund

Having access to capital from the Farmers Support Fund, Mr. Tran Van Luc in Xuan Canh commune (Song Cau town) has invested in developing a grouper farming model, bringing in a good income. Photo: NGOC HAN

Practical capital

The model of breeding cows in Son Phuoc commune (Son Hoa district) has been implemented since 2022. Up to now, many farmer members in the commune have developed livestock farming to increase income and improve their lives. From the loan capital of the Provincial Farmers' Support Fund (HTND), with a total amount of 400 million VND, the commune has provided loans to 14 members to invest in breeding cows. In addition to borrowing capital to buy breeding cows, members are also trained in breeding techniques, care, how to build barns, and how to prevent and treat diseases for cows. From the initial number of 14 cows, the total herd has now grown to nearly 50 cows, many households have increased by 4-5 cows.

From raising beef cattle, after receiving a loan from the People's Credit Fund, Ms. So Thi Trinh in Son Phuoc commune switched to a model of raising breeding cows. Up to now, after nearly 3 years of borrowing capital, she has expanded and developed a herd of more than 10 cows, valued at about 250 million VND at market price.

“I clearly knew that if I wanted to increase my income, I had to expand my scale. However, the capital to buy breeding cows and invest in building barns is not a small amount for a farmer in a remote area like me. Therefore, when I had access to the fund, I invested in expanding my breeding cows earlier than planned, so the productivity was higher than every year. From the money I sold the calves, I will save it. When the maturity date comes, I will repay the capital according to regulations,” Ms. Trinh shared.

Also supported with a loan of 50 million VND from the Farmers' Association Fund, Mr. Tran Van Luc's family in Xuan Canh Commune (Song Cau Town) boldly invested in buying fish fry and renting ponds to expand the grouper farming area to nearly 2 hectares. Mr. Luc excitedly said: Although the loan capital is not large, the Farmers' Association Fund has helped my family have the conditions to develop production and business. Participating in the project, I was trained in techniques for raising commercial grouper in earthen ponds, how to care for and manage, and I was able to interact, exchange and learn grouper farming experiences from many other households in the area. Currently, my family's grouper farming ponds are growing, earning more than 300 million VND in profit each year.

Continue to accompany

According to the Provincial Farmers’ Association, in recent years, the Farmers’ Association Fund has become a practical capital support channel to help thousands of farmer members in the province borrow capital to develop production and increase income. However, compared to the capital needs of members, the current fund size cannot meet them.

As a locality that has mobilized a relatively high number of District-level Farmers' Association Funds compared to other districts in the province (nearly 1.4 billion VND), along with the central and provincial entrusted capital, Dong Xuan District Farmers' Association has implemented more than 10 loan projects for nearly 150 participating households, with a total capital of more than 3.1 billion VND. However, compared to the district's current 9,389 members, this capital source only meets a small part.

Mr. Nguyen Van Kim, Chairman of the Dong Xuan District Farmers' Association, said: Although we have made efforts to increase the fund, this capital has not yet met the needs of members in the localities. We hope to continue to supplement this capital source, increasing the level of investment loans for households.

According to the Executive Board of the Provincial Farmers' Association Fund, after 12 years of establishment and operation, up to now, the Association at all levels has mobilized the Farmers' Association Fund with a total capital of nearly 50 billion VND in the province, supporting 176 projects with 1,397 farmer households borrowing. Of which, 65% is for crop and livestock farming, 25% is for aquaculture; the projects focus on cooperatives, cooperatives, branches, and professional associations; providing capital support, creating jobs for more than 8,124 poor households, 915 households have escaped poverty and created jobs for more than 2,000 rural workers.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Tai, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Son Thanh Tay Commune (Tay Hoa District) said: With a loan of 30-50 million VND/household, many families only have enough to invest in initial plants and seedlings. Moreover, farmers have difficulty accessing other sources of capital, many households do not have collateral or are not policy beneficiaries, so they are not eligible to borrow capital from other credit institutions. Therefore, if the capital of the Farmers' Association Fund is increased and expanded, it will help farmers have the opportunity to develop production.

Faced with this reality, in early 2025, the Provincial Farmers' Association developed a project to improve the organization and operation of the Provincial Farmers' Association Fund. Specifically, in the 2024-2025 period, it will continue to use the existing capital of more than 9.6 billion VND; in the 2026-2030 period, it is proposed to provide an additional 25 million VND (5 million VND/year) from the provincial budget for development investment expenditure. In addition, the fund is allowed to mobilize cadres, farmer members, organizations and individuals at home and abroad to support and donate non-refundable gifts... to increase the level of support capital.

According to Mr. Huynh Van Dung, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Association, in recent times, the Farmers' Association Fund at all levels has effectively organized lending activities for production development, thereby making an important contribution to promoting socio-economic development to implement the National Target Program on sustainable poverty reduction and new rural construction.

“The Standing Committee of the Provincial Farmers’ Association is directing the Provincial Farmers’ Association Fund and the Farmers’ Association Funds of districts, towns and cities to urgently carry out the work of handing over the finances and assets of the district-level Farmers’ Association Fund to merge into the provincial-level fund for management. At the same time, we will continue to advise and propose specific programs and contents and organize the mobilization, construction and development of the Farmers’ Association Fund capital at two levels to meet the borrowing needs of farmers after the province’s merger,” Mr. Dung affirmed.

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/kinh-te/202506/phat-huy-hieu-qua-nguon-quy-ho-tro-nong-dan-00b12a8/