The journey out of poverty of a Muong boy

Temporarily put aside the dream of university because of poverty

Born into a poor family in the highlands of Thanh Hoa , Bui Van Tu's childhood was associated with hard days, cassava-mixed meals and troubled sleep because of the poverty that never stopped. In 2006, although he was qualified to go to university, Tu had to close his dream of going to the lecture hall because of his family's difficult circumstances.

“My family is one of the poorest households in the commune. My father is in very poor health, leaving only my mother to work hard to raise the children. I could not bear to let my mother work harder, so I decided to drop out of school to stay home and help her with the economy ,” Tu said.

The following months were a journey of both working and nurturing hope. In 2008, Tu attended college, and in 2010, he continued his university studies in finance and accounting. And the dream of starting a business and developing the economy was always a smoldering fire in the young man's heart.

After completing his studies and returning to his hometown to live and work, Tu participated in the Youth Union, then became the Secretary of the Youth Union of Thanh An commune (old). While making efforts to complete the assigned work, Tu took the opportunity to build a comprehensive model of raising cows, goats, sows and growing sugarcane on more than 1 hectare of his family's land.

Bui Van Tu at the family economic development model

However, without experience and knowledge, the model failed repeatedly. There was a time when Tu was almost penniless, with poor crop growth, stunted livestock, and diseases.... "There were times when I felt discouraged, but I told myself that if I gave up, I would always be poor. So I got up and continued," Tu shared.

The real opportunity came in 2022, when Tu attended a training course on livestock farming techniques organized by the Thach Thanh District Youth Union (old). During a field trip, Bui Van Tu was convinced by the model of raising bamboo rats - a rodent species with high economic value on the market. Initially, Tu started with 6 pairs of bamboo rats using pig pens and cow pens for experimental breeding. When he started to raise bamboo rats, which was still unfamiliar, he took advantage of weekends to travel around the provinces and cities to learn from experience. By the beginning of 2024, having accumulated knowledge and capital, Tu boldly invested more than 500 million VND to build a modern barn system that met standards on temperature and humidity for bamboo rats to develop.

Inspiring local youth to start a business

Currently, Tu's farm has about 150 breeding bamboo rats and 20 commercial bamboo rats, mainly bamboo rats and peach-cheeked bamboo rats. The selling price ranges from 1 - 1.5 million VND/pair of bamboo rats, 3.5 million VND/pair of peach-cheeked bamboo rats, while commercial bamboo rats also reach 600 - 700 thousand VND/kg. According to Tu, the expected revenue in 2025 will bring in a profit of about 300-500 million VND.

Not stopping there, Tu continued to invest in planting 2 hectares of acacia. In addition, Tu also planted sugarcane, corn and more than 200 bamboo shoots to take advantage of the food source for the bamboo rats and to get the finished products to sell. “Difficulties are inevitable, but if you don’t commit, you will never go far. I am lucky because I always receive support from the local government and encouragement from relatives,” Tu said.

After the two-level government came into operation, Bui Van Tu became a member of the Standing Committee of the Commune Youth Union and worked at the Cultural Office of Ngoc Trao Commune. In addition to developing the family's combined farming and livestock model, Tu also actively supported many union members, youths and disadvantaged families to develop the economy together. He shared training sessions, technical advice, and even support for start-up loans... with all his heart, becoming a bridge between youths and local support resources.

Bui Van Tu's model of economic development of raising porcupines

Bui Van Tu is currently the Chairman of Thanh An Economic Development Youth Club, which gathers many members who are ethnic minority youths with the same entrepreneurial spirit. The club has built a loan fund of more than 80 million VND, supporting models of raising bamboo rats, goats, bees, chickens, etc. Currently, there are 7 effective models, generating an income of over 120 million VND/year.

In addition, Tu is also the co-administrator of a community group on social networks, where knowledge and techniques of animal husbandry are regularly shared and products are sold to members. In the near future, Bui Van Tu hopes to build a chain of links between livestock households, provide technical support, provide breeds, consume products and expand to a number of animal husbandry models suitable for local conditions.

Tu’s story is not only an example of overcoming difficulties to become rich legitimately, but also opens up a new direction for many other ethnic minority youths on their journey to establish themselves and start a career. “As long as you dare to think, dare to do, keep the faith and do not surrender to fate, then every path can lead to success,” Bui Van Tu shared.