Today, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presented FAO awards to four Asian farmers from Afghanistan, China, Viet Nam and Thailand.

Mrs Nguyen Thi Thu from Viet Nam was honoured as model farmer in the field of integrated agriculture.

People often look to government for answers. But sometimes, government finds answers among the people. An excellent example of precisely that can be found in Viet Nam where Mrs Nguyen Thi Thu of Xóm Ha village in Xa Dinh Bang district provided the positive model for the kind of farming Vietnam’s government is now promoting among its citizens.

For much of her early life, Mrs Thu and others in her village about 15 kilometers outside of Hanoi, struggled to survive by working the land. A small plot provided them with just enough rice. Another small parcel on a nearby mountainside proved good for growing edible roots. It was just enough to get by. “We struggled. But in Viet Nam we are used to struggling,’’ says Mrs Thu.

Mrs Thu, however, wasn’t satisfied with simply struggling. For the sake of her husband and four children she wanted to succeed, and she put her mind to doing so. She noticed that the flowers she grew fetched much higher prices after local companies dried them, and sold them as ingredients to Chinese medicine shops. Mrs. Thu asked friends working for such shops if they could explain the drying process. She learned quickly, and soon started selling directly to the shops.

With the increased profits, she bought several chickens. That initiative earned her a contract for raising poultry with Charoen Pokphand, a Thai company that is among the world’s largest chicken producers. And with the profits from raising chickens, she built and stocked a fish pond.

Before she knew it, Mrs Thu had a small but successful integrated farm. It was diversified, sustainable and profitable. “If you only grow rice or just one crop, you will always just survive or struggle,’’ she says.

Local government officials could not help but recognize Mrs Thu’s efforts and achievements. They reported back to senior officials. Along with examples set by other farmers in other provinces, the government came to realize integrated farming was improving the lives of many. But many more knew little or nothing about it.

The government, therefore, decided to raise awareness and promote integrated farming among rural people. And they chose Mrs Thu, among others, as a prime example of how to do it right. For showing others the way, the government provided Mrs Thu with additional funding and technical assistance. In 2000, she was allowed to lease 36 ha to build an even bigger integrated farm. She now employs 30 workers, harvests a wide variety of commercial plants, raises 9,000 chickens and has a 10,000 square meter fish pond.

But Mrs Thu still isn’t satisfied. She wants to share what she has learned and show even more of her countrymen how to succeed with integrated farming. “I believe this can help so many people if they are willing to work and are willing to learn. And I believe this can help the people of Viet Nam,’’ she says.

Rightfully proud of her success, Mrs Thu is now determined to build an even bigger farm. “I want to farm on an industrial scale,’’ she says. This is a woman who knows the value of hard work and learning, and has a track record of success. And, she has taught others, including some in government, how to succeed in farming and in life.

More information at:
http://www.fao.org/getinvolved/worldfoodday/en/