Duy

Duy is a 34-year-old woman from an ethnic minority community. She is married and has two school-aged children: her eldest, 16, attends secondary school, while her younger child, aged 13, is in lower secondary education. Duy’s family also cares for her elderly father-in-law in their modest home in Cam Thuy District, Thanh Hoa Province.

Within her community, Duy is recognised as a model of diligence. She balances her work as a domestic assistant with the demanding management of her family’s acacia plantation. In this mountainous district, forestry plays a central role in the local economy. Acacia cultivation is particularly important due to the tree’s resilience in rugged terrain and its relatively short growth cycle, making it an effective tool for poverty reduction.

In line with regional practice, Duy manages her woodlot on a five- to seven-year rotation, harvesting timber for local processing factories and paper mills before immediately replanting. Now in her fifth loan cycle with Thanh Hoa MFI, she has joined the institution’s Green Credit programme. Through this loan, Duy purchased 22,500 high-quality acacia saplings and 100 bags of organic fertiliser.

Building on specialised training, she is adopting sustainable silviculture practices, including improved irrigation methods and reduced use of chemical inputs to protect soil fertility and long-term land health. By combining her experience with modern ecological standards, Duy is confident her plantation will deliver stronger yields, secure her family’s income, and support a healthier environment for future generations.