In the rural districts of Tanh Linh, most families still rely on small-scale farming to survive. Rice fields, banana trees, pigs, cows, and chickens. Yet, between falling market prices, unpredictable weather, and fragile health, stability is often just out of reach.
Over the past days, I’ve had the chance to visit several families supported by Thien Chi and see how agricultural models are changing that reality. I will present them to you here.
Pig Bank
The Pig Bank is one of the most impactful programs. Families receive a pregnant sow and training on how to care for it. When the piglets are born, the family keeps some of them for income and returns seven to the program, so that other families can also start raising pigs too.
Once the seven piglets are “repaid,” the sow fully belongs to the family. If the animal dies due to illness before repayment, there’s no reimbursement required, the goal is support, not punishment.
Many families have increased financial stability through this system. One woman we meet said that she was skeptical at first until she had seven piglets after only two months and sold 5 of them for a very good price.
Now, 36 families are part of the program.
https://thienchicenter.org/article/livestocks-banks-2040.html
Closed Agricultural System
This model shows how a small farm can improve easily. Families use cow dung to feed earthworms, and those worms become food for the chickens.
It’s a closed, circular model: efficient, ecological, and easy to maintain. It’s especially valuable for older farmers who can no longer work far from home. With just one cow and a few chickens, they can generate income and food all year long.
Thien Chi first learned this method in Ho Chi Minh City and adapted it for local use. The team provides training and sometimes financial support to help families get started (providing earth warms for example).
For this model, the family needs to have at least one cow and some chickens. In the district, 24 families are using this model.
Banana Tree Feed
Another small but clever innovation focuses on what happens after banana trees bear fruit. Normally, the trunks are cut down and thrown away, but here they’re turned into animal feed. Farmers chop the trunks, ferment them, and give the mixture to pigs.
The result? Healthier animals, better digestion, less odor, and lower costs for food. farming.
Those easy-to-implement models are impactful and help increase families’ income. They also encourage the use of local resources and reduce waste. By combining traditional knowledge with simple techniques, families can improve their living conditions step by step. These models don’t solve every challenge, but they bring more stability and independence to many households in Tanh Linh.
Leticia