Giving "fishing rods" to members, women in difficult circumstances to escape poverty

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - "Cow bank" is one of the poverty reduction support models that the Thanh Hoa Provincial Women's Union has implemented for many years and has been promoting its effectiveness, helping many members and women have the opportunity to develop the economy and escape poverty sustainably.

Nong Cong Commune Women's Union presented a breeding cow to Ms. Nguyen Thi Bay, Xuan Thanh village.

At the end of 2024, Ms. Nguyen Thi Bay's family in Xuan Thanh village, Minh Nghia commune (now Nong Cong commune) was given a breeding cow. After nearly a year of care, the cow is now growing well. Ms. Bay said: "My family is very happy to be supported with breeding cows for breeding. The cost of more than 10 million VND is very large for the family, it is difficult to borrow, but with the support of the breeding cows by the association, my family has learned experience and care techniques to soon multiply the herd, creating a source of capital to pay back the association."

With the motto of "being close to members, understanding members, listening to members, speaking so that members understand, making members trust", the Women's Union of Bim Son Ward has maintained the "Cow Bank" model through the activities of the Women's Club to help each other reduce poverty. The Club lends 10 million VND to members in difficulty to buy a breeding cow. Within 1 to 2 years, the household must save to pay back the capital to the Club and continue to review and lend to other households. Households in particular difficulty will be considered by the Club to postpone the repayment period and receive initial loan support. With this form, many difficult households have had the conditions to produce, rise out of poverty, reduce difficulties and receive a herd of at least 2 cows for their families.

It is known that the club was established in 2016, attracting nearly 200 members to participate. Each member contributed at least 200 thousand VND or more. The club also mobilized the help of some female entrepreneurs to lend 20 million VND, in the first year the total fund reached 100 million VND. The entire fund was considered by the club to lend to members in difficulty according to their needs and production conditions. Since its establishment, the club has helped dozens of members buy cows and sows without interest.

The “Cow Bank” has been implemented by the Provincial Women’s Union since 2016 in the village and commune women’s associations. Up to now, the “Cow Bank” has been effective, suitable to the local situation, helping many female members have the opportunity to develop the economy , escape poverty sustainably, contributing to the goal of poverty reduction and promoting social security throughout the province.

The “Cow Bank” is different from other poverty reduction programs and projects, in that it helps each poor household with a breeding cow (or equivalent capital to buy breeding cows, the household contributes more). Households participating in the model, when the breeding cow gives birth for the first time, must raise the calf until it is 12 months old. If it is a female calf, the calf will be rotated to another family. If it is a male calf, the household will transfer it to the commune management board to coordinate with the Women's Union to agree on a selling price and pay money into the fund to continue buying breeding cows for other households. After the first birth, the breeding cow will belong to that family. This rotation method has encouraged women members and people participating in the “Cow Bank” to work hard and take care of their livestock to benefit. Depending on the conditions of each unit, there will be additional support for households to build barns, pre-breeding, disease prevention, etc.

According to statistics, up to now, the "Cow Bank" has been maintained and implemented by the association's facilities with many different names, such as: "golden calf", "trust breeding animal", "happy cow". In 2024, the "Cow/Buffalo Bank" model in the whole province donated 215 breeding cows/buffaloes; in early 2025, 45 breeding cows were donated, worth nearly 500 million VND.

The success of the “Cow Bank” is a testament to the effectiveness and practical significance of the provision of livelihoods - provision of “fishing rods” by women’s unions at all levels, thereby helping more members and women have the opportunity to escape poverty sustainably. This result has contributed to the implementation of the tasks and targets set out in the Resolution of the Provincial Women’s Congress for the 2021-2026 term: Each union facility helps at least 5 households, the whole province helps at least 2,800 households with women escape poverty, escape near-poverty; by the end of the term, reduce the rate of poor households headed by women to less than 2%.

Article and photos: Le Ha

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/trao-can-cau-cho-hoi-vien-phu-nu-nbsp-kho-khan-vuon-len-thoat-ngheo-260749.htm