Stories: Children, Community, Future

Hua Van Phu lives in Ngoc Son village of Trung Khanh district, one of the poorest and most mountainous areas in Vietnam. Out of the 66 households in the village, 90% grow corn and 85% live in poverty. Due to a water shortage, Phu’s family can only grow corn on their 3,000 square meter plot between mountains. In the past, they managed to harvest two crops of corn per year, but it was not enough to provide for his family.

This all changed in 2020 when ChildFund Vietnam introduced a new income-generating solution: canna. Phu and several other households bravely embraced the implementation of the canna model with high hopes that the new crop would increase their family’s income and drive positive economic growth in their community.

Phu collecting canna

Phu and 12 other participating households were given the support and training needed to start planting canna, including seeds and fertilizers. After attending technical workshops and applying the techniques learned, Phu quickly saw the benefits of switching from corn to canna after nine months. He remarked, “I found that the land was perfect for growing canna, which generates significantly more income than corn.”

Phu’s first harvest of canna roots proved to be a success, thriving in the climate and soil of Quang Vinh commune and showing resistance to diseases while requiring minimal maintenance. The 2.4 tons harvested by Phu’s family were sold at 16,000 VND per kilo, yielding a profit of 22 million VND after deducting planting costs. This was three times the amount they would have earned from corn farming. With this newfound financial stability, Phu now has more time to devote to his children, providing them with breakfast and taking them to school every day.

Starting with just 2.4 hectares from 13 households in 2020, the canna model has since expanded to 30 hectares in 2022, positively impacting the household incomes of participants, promoting youth economic development, and paving the way for a brighter future for the entire community.