Phu

Phu is a 56-year-old woman from an ethnic minority community in the mountainous district of Thach Thanh, Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Widowed for many years, she raised her son on her own. He is now married with a family of his own, and today Phu lives with her son and two grandchildren, helping to support the household and contribute towards the children's upbringing and education.

Like many families in this remote and economically disadvantaged region, Phu relies on agriculture and forestry as her main sources of income. In her area, acacia cultivation plays an important role in local livelihoods because it is well suited to the hilly terrain, has a relatively short growing cycle and provides a valuable source of income for farming households.

Despite the challenges of living in an area with limited economic opportunities and difficult transport links, Phu and her son work hard to support their family. Household income is largely dependent on agricultural production, making sustainable forestry activities particularly important to their long-term financial security.

Over the past nine years, Phu has gained extensive experience in acacia cultivation and developed a strong understanding of local growing conditions. With support from local forestry officers, she has adopted improved farming methods, selected suitable planting materials and applied modern agricultural techniques to increase productivity and improve returns from her land.

Acacia is typically grown on a cycle of five to seven years before harvesting and replanting. The harvested timber is supplied to local wood-processing facilities and paper mills, providing an important market for growers in the area. Phu follows this model and has successfully managed several production cycles on her family's land.

Encouraged by the results achieved through previous loans, Phu has applied for her seventh loan cycle through THMFI, Lendwithcare's local development partner in Vietnam. She plans to use the funding to purchase 17,000 acacia seedlings and 27 bags of organic fertiliser to replant areas that have recently been harvested.

By investing in high-quality seedlings and soil improvement, Phu hopes to establish a healthy new crop, maintain the productivity of her land and generate stronger returns in the future. She remains committed to improving her family's livelihood while creating greater stability and opportunities for her grandchildren.