Anh

Anh is a 52-year-old widow, who has single-handedly raised her two grown children. She belongs to an ethnic minority group and lives in a small house in Cam Thuy district in the remote and mountainous Thanh Hóa province of Vietnam's North Central Coast region. Her main source of income is cultivating industrial trees, which she then sells to local wood factories. Additionally, she raises chickens and ducks and also takes on odd jobs to make ends meet.

Despite the challenges she faces, Anh is determined to improve her livelihood and provide a better future for her family. Recognising the potential for higher profits, she has decided to expand her tree woodlot by purchasing high-quality seedlings. These superior seedlings will yield better-quality timber and fetch higher prices in the market. Industrial trees are important in the region as they help with deforestation and fight soil erosion, especially in the rainy season when they stop landslides. As the trees mature, she can sell the timber to factories, providing her with income and also employment opportunities for others in the community.

However, the cost of purchasing these premium seedlings is beyond Anh's current financial means. Therefore, she has decided to request her fourth loan from Thanh Hoa MFI. The previous loans were used to invest in her farm and were repaid on time. She will also use the loan to hire some labourers to take care of the woodlot. This loan will not only benefit her financially but also contribute to the local economy.