In Can Te village, Hong Thuong commune, A Luoi district, Thua Thien Hue province, the name Ho Van Thang is highly familiar to the local people. He is not just a farmer, but also a pioneer in rural economic development, and an exemplary individual of overcoming adversity to master one’s own life. Despite living with a disability, Mr. Thang has never let his circumstances dictate his future. On the contrary, he chose to face challenges head-on, striving not only to avoid becoming a burden to his family and society but also to become a source of inspiration for his community.
Recognizing that relying on others was not the path to development, Mr. Thang was determined to find his own direction. After months of research, he boldly leased land and dug a pond covering nearly 2,000 square meters to develop a fish farming and breeding model. Initially, this model brought significant economic efficiency, yielding an annual income of over 50 million VND from breeding stocks and more than 40 million VND from commercial meat fish. Not stopping there, he expanded into organic vegetable cultivation, generating an additional stable source of income for his family.
From 2023 to 2024, Mr. Thang participated in the project “Climate-Smart Agriculture for ethnic minorities in Central Vietnam,” implemented by the Center for Rural Development in Central Vietnam (CRD). With a dedicated support from CRD, he was not only introduced to advanced science and technology but also took part in study tours to successful livelihood models. These were invaluable experiences that helped him acquire new knowledge and apply it to actual production. A major turning point in his development journey was implementing an earthworm farming model – an optimal circular agriculture solution. “Earthworm farming utilizes cow manure as food; the worm castings then become organic fertilizer for green vegetables, while the earthworms themselves serve as a nutrient-rich food source for fish, chickens, and ducks. This is a low-cost, easy-to-implement model that minimizes dependence on chemical fertilizers,” Mr. Thang shared.
Thanks to his innovative mindset and perseverance, Mr. Thang successfully built a circular economic model that not only boosts production efficiency but also ensures sustainable profits. Instead of keeping his success to himself, he actively shares his experience, provides fish fingerlings and earthworm breeders, and offers technical guidance to local villagers. In his role as a production group leader, he is always ready to support and inspire everyone to develop together, not only in aquaculture but also in many other aspects of life.
From a person facing numerous challenges, Mr. Ho Van Thang has proven that with willpower and innovation, anyone can overcome limitations to create value for themselves and their community. He is not just a farmer, but a true trailblazer on the journey toward sustainable development
