(VOVworld) - An increasing number of ethnic minority people in the Central Highlands are becoming better off since they started applying scientific production techniques. Dieu Loc of Dac Rtich commune, Tuy Duc district is a good example. This billionaire of the Mo Nong ethnic group has helped his fellow villagers also make more money.

At the age of 63 Dieu Loc is still as sturdy as an ironwood tree in the forest. Loc says his family was poor. He and his wife have 10 children. They worked hard on large terraced fields growing maize and cassava, but barely produced enough to feed the family. In 2000, he received a loan from a government funded program to develop small rubber farms. In the first year, he planted 2 ha of rubber. Since then, Loc has eagerly attended agricultural and husbandry training courses, and has used the knowledge he gained to get visible results. The number of animals on his farm has increased annually, and the rubber farm keeps expanding. Recently, Loc planted coffee and pepper, bringing his total cash crop acreage to 20 ha. On his rubber farm, he grows Japanese sweet potatoes, earning about 5,000 USD a year. Other significant sources of income are his herd of pigs and his rice fields.

Loc said he has earned enough to pay for his children’s education. 5 of them have become teachers and agricultural engineers. "I had to study hard and patiently in agricultural courses on growing coffee and rubber and raising animals to become a success. I want to share my experience with my fellow villagers and I encourage every household to visit my farm. Now all the families in my hamlet grow rubber. They have gained good incomes and been able to build new houses."

Dieu Noi, head of the rubber financing team, says rubber growing in the commune has been more successful than expected thanks to role models like Dieu Loc. Me-ra and Bu-dang hamlets of the Mo-nong ethnic group have become rich hamlets thanks to their 1,500 ha of rubber plantation. Dieu Noi says: "Loc has applied technologies and diversified his plants and animals in addition to rubber. He supports his poor neighbors with rice or cash. He has just loaned a neighbor 1,000 USD to expand production. I hope other villagers will follow his model for escaping poverty. 80% of the families have built concrete houses."

Dieu Loc is not only a pioneer of scientific production techniques, but has become the richest man in the commune. Loc says his family is better off because he has worked hard on the land of his ancestors.