Thao

Thao is a woman from an ethnic minority group in Ngoc Lac mountainous district, Thanh Hoa province. She is 51 years old, married, and has two grown children who work far from home.

In this region, especially in the disadvantaged districts, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries remain the main 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 reduction.

Forestry not only contributes to ecological balance but also creates jobs for workers, especially those living in mountainous areas. Acacia is considered a key crop that boosts the highland economy with characteristics such as low maintenance requirements and high economic value. In particular, planting large timber trees helps balance the forest ecosystem and mitigate natural disasters.

With extensive experience and a deep understanding of local climate and soil conditions, coupled with the support of advanced agricultural knowledge from local forestry officials, Thao has selected suitable seed sources to develop forest-based economic activities, changing farming methods, applying scientific and technological advancements to production, and increasing income per unit area.

Encouraged by the success of the previous loan cycle, for the current planting cycle, Thao boldly applied for a loan from the Thanh Hoa MFI, our local development partner, to purchase 12,200 acacia seedlings and 3 tons of organic fertilizer to expand his family's acacia plantation.