Lieutenant Colonel returns to the village to "build" a model garden

In the semi-mountainous land of Tan Ky district, veteran Nguyen Tat Thong, a member of the Veterans Association of Ky Tan commune, is one of the typical examples of economic development, mentioned by many people with admiration and respect.

Mr. Thong was the first person in the local Catholic community to pass the military school entrance exam in the last century. During his career, he trained and matured, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before returning to his hometown. After leaving the army, Mr. Thong did not choose a life of ease but continued to "attack" on a new front - economic development.

In 2021, he immediately started renovating the mixed garden, developing the garden economy, and registering to build a new rural model garden on an area of ​​over 4,000m². After more than 2 years of efforts to renovate and embellish, by 2023, his garden was officially recognized as a new rural standard garden in the locality.

In that garden, Mr. Thong planted a variety of fruit trees, the main ones being: 150 guava trees, 100 custard apple trees, 60 sapodilla trees, and 40 grapefruit trees. In addition, there are plums, peaches, star apples, etc. Thanks to careful care, all the trees grow well and provide a stable income. From fruit trees alone, he earns more than 200 million VND each year.

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My family also invested in an automatic sprinkler system to reduce maintenance work. Every day, we prune, water, and weed the plants so they can grow well, creating a bright, green, clean, and beautiful landscape in the countryside. This is also a way for us to contribute to the construction of a new countryside.

Veteran Nguyen Tat Thong, Ky Tan commune, Tan Ky district

Mr. Thong also owns 4 hectares of acacia production forest, expanding into mixed livestock farming: raising dozens of honey beehives (rotating between home and forest), more than 100 chickens, 70 pairs of pigeons, sows and pigs. The closed model, effectively utilizing by-products, has helped generate steady income all year round.

In particular, Mr. Thong is also a role model in the movement to build a green - clean - beautiful landscape. Along the village road where he lives, hundreds of colorful bougainvillea pots are planted in cement pots or made from old tires, creating a brilliant highlight for the small mountain hamlet.

From a veteran with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel to an exemplary farmer, Mr. Nguyen Tat Thong has been making a significant contribution to the construction of new rural areas in the locality. He not only enriches his family but also spreads the sense of responsibility, creativity and the spirit of overcoming difficulties of Uncle Ho's soldiers in peacetime.

From driver to construction contractor

In Hung Yen Bac commune (Hung Nguyen district), veteran Nguyen Quoc Nang is also a shining example of the spirit of overcoming difficulties, sustainable enrichment and exemplary living "Good life - Good religion".

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Nang was born in 1964 and joined the army in 1984, when he was just 20 years old. After years of training and participating in battlefields to protect the Fatherland, he was discharged from the army and studied Civil Engineering. On his challenging journey to make a living, he experienced many different jobs: working in a slaughterhouse, working in Angola, then returning to his homeland to start over from scratch, building the economy with his own hands and will.

With his experience driving and operating machinery during his military service and his business acumen, in 2015, he borrowed more than 1.5 billion VND to invest in a set of machines for leveling the ground and building infrastructure. Initially, he only took on small projects around the commune. There were times when he suffered losses due to lack of experience, but he was not discouraged, Mr. Nang shared.

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As Uncle Ho's soldier, I must dare to think, dare to do and not be afraid of failure...

Veteran Nguyen Quoc Nang, Hung Yen Bac commune, Hung Nguyen district

Up to now, Mr. Nang has expanded the model into a small local construction enterprise, contracting construction projects with many machines, equipment, etc. The work is increasingly developing, creating stable jobs for 12-15 local workers, with an income of 10-15 million VND/person/month.

Mr. Nang also invested more than 2 hectares of land to establish a mixed farm: growing trees, raising fish, raising pigs and chickens. Every year, after deducting expenses, his family earns about 300 million VND in profit. In the near future, he plans to invest in more machinery, expand the scale, and aim for more professional business.

Not only is Mr. Nang a good businessman, he is also an exemplary veteran in association work. He actively participates in the movement “Veterans help each other develop the economy, eliminate hunger and reduce poverty” in Hung Yen Bac commune, regularly supports members in difficulty, shares experiences, and lends interest-free capital to help each other improve their lives.

In addition, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Nang is also an active propagandist in the movement "All people unite to build new countryside", mobilizing people to obey the law, maintain security and order, and eliminate social evils.

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Mr. Nang is a shining example, always exemplary and dedicated to the collective and the community.

Mr. Pham Ba Tuu - Chairman of the Veterans Association of Hung Yen Bac commune

The two veterans come from two lands with two different journeys but have one thing in common: They are both typical Catholics, and both are people who inspire today's young generation with their iron will, the spirit of self-reliance in hardship, adding to the noble image of Uncle Ho's soldiers in peacetime.

These are two of many effective economic development models for veterans at the grassroots level. According to the Propaganda and Movement Department, Nghe An Province Veterans Association, the province currently has more than 172,000 members active in association organizations at all levels. This is a large force with strong political qualities, always upholding the sense of responsibility, discipline and indomitable will of Uncle Ho's soldiers. After completing their military service and returning to their localities, many veterans have constantly strived to rise up, affirming their pioneering role in economic development at the grassroots level, always being proactive and creative in building effective production and business models.

From livestock farms, garden-pond-barn-forest economic models, to production facilities, cooperatives, small and medium enterprises owned by veterans, many models have brought stable income, creating jobs for thousands of local workers. They have become shining examples in the community, a solid support for the emulation movement to develop production, eliminate hunger and reduce poverty in many localities across Nghe An province.