Hoa

Hoa is a 65-year-old widow and mother of four adult children, all of whom are now employed. She currently lives independently in an ageing home in Xuan Phong, a traditional agrarian community located in Nghi Son town, Thanh Hoa province, where livelihoods centre primarily on wage labour, rice farming, and animal husbandry.

Despite her children having stable jobs, Hoa refuses to rely on their financial support, choosing instead to sustain herself through dedicated physical work. She skillfully utilises household agricultural by-products and forages wild vegetation along field ridges to raise livestock and poultry for commercial sale.

Although animal husbandry carries inherent environmental and disease risks, Hoa consistently safeguards her herd’s vigour and output through diligence, meticulous care, and up-to-date veterinary practices. Furthermore, she methodically collects and treats animal manure using microbial agents to produce high-grade organic compost for her upcoming planting cycles.

Eager to expand her breeding operations, Hoa faces a critical financial hurdle due to a lack of capital. As a result, she submitted a microfinance loan application to Thanh Hoa MFI, our local development partner in Vietnam, to purchase 3 breeding calves. Her strategy is to raise these cattle to maturity, then sell them to regional livestock traders for substantial returns. Hoa is optimistic that under her careful management, the herd will thrive and command premium market prices.