GreenFeed Vietnam and Tuoi Tre newspaper have launched ‘Funding farmers to bring their children to school 2012’ program which will give non-interest loans to 480 poor farming households. The aim of the program is that the households can start, maintain or develop their breeding or farming projects to ensure a better life for their children and to support their study. Investment in the program, which includes 500 scholarships for hard-working students, is VND10 billion, with VND7 billion coming from GreenFeed Vietnam. The organizers have pledged to support a loan of VND12 million together with GreenFeed animal-food worth VND2 million for each poor farming household in Binh Thuan, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Dak Nong, Lam Dong, Quang Nam, Hai Duong and Ha Nam provinces. Two years after, beneficiaries who are making profits will start to pay back the borrowed capital to organizers who will use the money to support other poor farming households. The households will also be assessed after 24 months and if the farmers have been working hard and been successful, and their children have also excelled, the family will be awarded 20% of the total borrowed capital. “We hope with initial support, farmers will have more chances to start farming projects, to improve their life and to ensure they have enough money to send their kids to school,” said Tran Ngoc Chi, general director of GreenFeed Vietnam. Launched in 2010 and organized by GreenFeed Vietnam and Tuoi Tre newspaper, the program has spent VND2.8 billion helping 240 poor farming households in Long An, Dong Nai, Binh Dinh and Hung Yen provinces. (english.thesaigontimes.vn Mar 1)
