Mau

Mau is a 60-year-old woman from an ethnic minority group. She is married and has two grown children who are also married. She currently lives in Cam Thuy district, a mountainous area of ​​Thanh Hoa province, where agriculture and forestry remain the primary livelihoods for the local population.

In this area, particularly in disadvantaged districts, agriculture, forestry, and fishery remain the primary livelihoods. Among these, acacia cultivation plays a central role due to its adaptability to hilly terrain, relatively short growth cycle of 5 to 15 years, and its contribution to both economic efficiency and poverty alleviation.

Mau balances short-term and long-term income generation by working as a domestic helper for local families while managing her family's acacia plantation. With over 10 years of hands-on experience and a deep understanding of local climate and soil conditions, she has consistently maintained healthy and productive forest growth. She is eager to enhance both the sustainability and yield of her plantation by adopting environmentally friendly farming techniques that conserve water and improve timber quality.

Typically, acacia is cultivated over a 5 to 7-year cycle before being harvested, mostly through clear-cutting, and replanted using new seedlings. The harvested timber is supplied to local wood processing factories for export or to paper mills. Mau’s forest follows this model. In previous loan cycles, she used funds effectively to expand her cultivation area and replant after harvesting. For the current planting cycle, she has applied for a loan from Thanh Hoa MFI, Lendwithcare's local development partner, to purchase 6,000 acacia seedlings and 60 bags of organic fertiliser to reforest her recently harvested land.

Mau is also an active participant in the local "green credit" program, where she receives guidance on modern, sustainable cultivation techniques. The use of loan capital is closely monitored by credit officers and local authorities to ensure it is directed toward its intended purpose.

With training, community support, and a strong personal commitment to learning and improving, Mau is confident in the long-term success of her forest.