Hue City chose the right livelihood model, exceeding poverty reduction targets

Mr. Le Xuan Hai, Deputy Director of the Department of Internal Affairs of Hue City happily stated: “The poverty reduction rate among ethnic minorities has averaged over 6% per year, exceeding the set target by 200%”. ​​Furthermore, over the five years of implementing National Target Program 1719, 100% of communes and villages in ethnic minority and mountainous areas of the city have completed basic technical and social infrastructure. More than 1,890 houses for poor households have been built, far exceeding the set target.

In order to achieve these results, Hue City chose the approach of “Diversifying poverty reduction methods and supporting sustainable livelihood development”. Livelihood models were supported according to the strengths of each locality. Specifically, yellow cattle and native pigs were selected to support ethnic minority communities in A Luoi 1, A Luoi 2, A Luoi 3, A Luoi 4 and A Luoi 5 communes (formerly A Luoi district). To date, 1,816 cattle and 776 pigs have been distributed to 1,044 ethnic minority households.

For example, the family of Mr. Le Thanh Ban (Bru Van Kieu ethnic minority) in A Luoi 2 commune escaped poverty thanks to livelihood support in the form of yellow cattle breeds. In 2022, Mr. Ban’s family was classified as a poor household and received two breeding cows. After two years of good care, Mr. Ban’s family increased the herd to two mother cows and two calves, achieving sustainable poverty alleviation.

Mr. Ban confided: “Now I have four cows, I’ve escaped poverty. Before, my family only farmed and raised a few chickens and ducks, so we remained poor”.

Thanks to the selection of the right livelihood model, the cattle and pigs provided to poor households have quickly proven effective. From 1,816 cattle initially provided as livelihood support, the herd size has now multiplied many times over.

According to statistics from the People’s Committee of the former A Lưới district, as of June 2024, the entire A Luoi district had more than 13,000 cattle. Notably, the processing of beef products has developed along the value chain. A Luoi yellow beef has become one of the most popular items among tourists.

Thanks to the selection of the right livelihood model, the poverty rate in the former A Luoi district has decreased significantly. While the poverty rate was 49.49% in 2021, it has fallen to only 14.34% by the end of 2024. Average per capita income has also increased rapidly, reaching 27.5 million VND/person/year at the end of 2021 and 40 million VND/person/year by the end of 2024. These are the decisive indicators that will help A Luoi escape the list of the 74 poorest districts in the country by July 2024.

The communes of Thuong Lo, Thuong Long, Thuong Nhat and Thuong Quang (formerly Nam Dong district) are areas where over 70% of the population are ethnic minorities. When implementing National Target Program 1719, the local authorities chose cinnamon trees to build a livelihood model to support ethnic minorities.

Uo to now, 10 cinnamon cultivation livelihood models have been implemented in the aforementioned communes, covering an area of ​​over 300 hectares. Of these, 281 ethnic minority households have participated in and benefited from the models.

When the two-tiered local government system officially came into operation, Hue City continued to approve the plan, allocating 4.9 billion VND to implement a natural forest protection model. Accordingly, 2,633 hectares of natural forest were contracted to 613 ethnic minority households. This model not only contributes to protecting the ecological environment but also creates additional income from forest services, helping ethnic minorities have the opportunity to escape poverty sustainably.

Following a period of widespread poverty reduction, Hue City is now moving towards a more targeted and focused approach to poverty reduction. Policies are not limited to providing livestock and crops, but also include vocational training, technical guidance and product marketing strategies, creating a foundation for people to prosper and build a comfortable life.

Thanks to the right livelihood choices and effective implementation, the lives of ethnic minority people in Hue City have undergone a significant transformation. The poverty rate among ethnic minority households has decreased by an average of 6% per year, exceeding the assigned plan by 200%. Average per capita income has increased from 28 million VND (in 2021) to 45 million VND/person/year (in 2024). It is projected that by the end of 2025, average per capita income in ethnic minority areas of Hue City will reach 52 million VND/person/year./.