Hoang Thi Can married early and faced numerous difficulties. In her area, local people lived mainly on small farms and went to the forest to gather bamboo shoots and other wild plants for food. In 2000, Can converted her exhausted land to raising poultry and fish. With a little extra income, Can invested in some cows after attending animal husbandry classes offered in her locality. For several years, Can struggled against epidemics and other setbacks, but they couldn’t stop her. 

“I got a preferential loan from the State and learned husbandry from a local training course. My family’s income soon improved,” Can said.

Can now grows wet rice on 4,000 square meters of land, and has 1 hectare of maize and thousands of square meters of vegetables. She also raises 14 buffalos and cows, 50 pigs and hundreds of fowls, earning nearly 13,000 USD per year. Can is investing in farm machinery to boost her productivity.

Ms. Hoang Thi Chan of Hat Luu commune, said: “Ms. Can is a role model for production and doing business. With her experience, Can helps other local women improve their farm production. Thanks to her help, our incomes are growing”.

Can is a leader of the rural development program. She has donated more than 1,000 square meters of land to build roads. Ms. Lo Thi Thuoi, Chairwoman of the Hat Luu communal Women’s Union, said: “Hoang Thi Can is an active member of the Union. She takes part in many activities, especially in developing household business. She has helped many local ethnic women escape poverty”.