Growing chili for export - Solutions for poor families along coastal areas
Finding appropriate sources of livelihood for poor farmers along coastal areas is a challenging task for local authorities as those communities suffer from increasing impact of climate change in Vietnam. Their local agricultural land is often small with the majority being degraded and intruded with salt or aluminium. Due to low income from cultivation, most local households live on small-scale fishing on the sea.
To deal with the situation, World Vision’s Coastal Areas of Thanh Hoa Province Resilient to Natural Disasters (CATREND) grant project has worked with authorities at different levels to initiate several livelihood models for those living in two coastal districts of Hoang Hoa and Quang Xuong. Among them is planting and exporting chili, which can bring higher income to local farmers.
“Our family started planting our chili crop in an area of 1,750 sqm. After four months, we earned nearly 20 million Vietnam dong (950 US dollars) from selling our first fruits to an agro-processing company. When this crop is finished, our total income will be 25 million Vietnam dong (1,190 US dollars), which is three to fourfold higher than selling other plants. We’re so happy,” says Tran Van Nam, a farmer from Quang Xuong district.
Nam, a local farmer, says their total income will be three to fourfold higher than selling other plants when this chili crop is finished.
Nam and many others in his village have achieved initial success with support from the CATREND project.
“With the project’s assistance, we had a study tour in June 2014 to Nong Cong district to learn their model of planting chili and selling their products to a processing company for export. Equipped with cultivation techniques, we started planting chili on our own,” he adds.
Apart from the study tour, the project supported materials for Nam’s community to build a canal irrigation system for their chili fields. Staff of the project as well as the agro-processing company visited the farmers very often and provided them with necessary technical guidance.
“Despite some difficulties, local farmers have gained better income from planting chili this crop. This is our initial success. We will encourage other villagers to replicate the model next year to improve their families’ financial situation,” says Mr Bui Ngoc Thuy, a local leader.
The CATREND project aims to reduce impact of natural disaster under climate change’s effects for communities in Thanh Hoa province. The project lasts from 2011 till 2016 and benefits more than 73,000 people in Quang Xuong and Hoang Hoa districts. It’s funded by the Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Photos and text: Ha Van Dat