Typical in using capital of Farmers Support Fund

Capital from the Provincial Farmers Support Fund helps Mr. Pham Van Tuyen in Dong Trai village (Dong Quang commune) develop livestock farming.

Strict process

The Farmers' Support Fund is considered a "midwife" that helps farmer members have capital for production and business. Therefore, the Gia Loc District Farmers' Association focuses on capital management, allocation, inspection and supervision. Every year, the district association develops a specific plan for capital use, allocates capital to each qualified unit and includes it in the emulation and year-end evaluation criteria. The selection of units to borrow capital from the district to the central level, the district association also has certain conditions. That is, the commune-level Farmers' Association must have a fund of 90 million VND or more; the association must be strong; the association's grassroots cadres must be enthusiastic, capable and responsible in inspecting, supervising, urging capital collection, and not letting debts overdue when lending capital to members.

The process for farmer members to borrow capital from the Farmers Support Fund at all levels is also carried out seriously and completely, from the branch meetings, reviews to the Provincial Farmers' Association's appraisal (for provincial and central capital). These steps are carried out publicly and democratically so that all members in need who meet the criteria can access the loan. "The lending process is strict, ensuring that the capital when delivered to members is used for the right purpose, with the ability to recover the capital and cannot be lost. When meeting the requirements, the disbursement is very fast, only 3-5 days for members to receive the money," said Ms. Trinh Thi Hong Thuyen, Vice President of the Gia Loc District Farmers' Association.

In order to have capital for members to borrow for economic development, in addition to the capital allocated by the central and provincial associations, the Gia Loc District Farmers' Association and communes and towns focus on building a fund. Every year, the Farmers' Association at all levels in the district promotes propaganda and mobilizes philanthropists and well-off households to donate and support the fund; deducting loan management fees that all levels enjoy and putting them into the fund. The Gia Loc District People's Committee also allocates a budget to build a district-level fund. Up to now, the Gia Loc District Farmers' Association is managing more than 7.3 billion VND of the fund, lending to 297 households. Of which, 4.4 billion VND from the central and provincial funds is entrusted to 140 households; the district-level fund is more than 2.9 billion VND for 157 households, an increase of 18.2 million VND compared to 2021. The capital is used effectively, with no cases of bad debt or overdue debt.

In addition to supporting farmers with capital for production and business, the Farmers Support Fund also helps members bond and share with each other. The whole district has 12,119 farmer households achieving good production and business at 4 levels. "This fund is not only for individuals but also for associated groups and organizations. At that time, the groups and organizations must work together to build production and business plans, share consumption markets... from there, farmer members will be more connected with each other," Ms. Thuyen added.

People are excited

In 2020, while facing difficulties due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, Gia Luong Hybrid Fighting Chicken Cooperative (Gia Luong commune) borrowed 500 million VND from the Central Farmers' Support Fund. Each member was able to borrow 40 million VND to buy breeding stock, build barns or feed. Mr. Dang Quoc Thai, Director of the Cooperative, said: "Through borrowing capital from the Central Farmers' Support Fund, I see that members are more connected to each other, regularly exchanging about farming techniques and consumption markets...".

Receiving a loan from this fund, Mr. Pham Van Nhiem in Luy Duong village said: "In 2020, the economy was difficult due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, so the loan capital was very meaningful, helping us overcome difficult times."

With 30 million VND borrowed from the Provincial Farmers Support Fund, Mr. Pham Van Tuyen in Dong Trai village (Dong Quang commune) has more money to buy food for chickens and fish. With an area of ​​2 hectares of ponds and chicken and fish coops, Mr. Tuyen's capital needs are very large. Therefore, although the loan is not much, it has helped him stabilize his livestock farming during difficult times.

Quick and easy loan procedures, effective capital use are what both members who receive loans and managers see from the Farmers Support Fund. In order for the Farmers Support Fund to be more effective, members recommend increasing the loan amount and extending the loan period. Only then will people feel secure in production and long-term investment.

THANH HA