The central province of Khanh Hoa will put aside VND60 billion to support poor ethnic minority people investing in production and developing their local economy. Vietnam News Agency reported that some VND24 billion will be spent helping people buy breeding animals, plants and veterinary medicine. In addition, through the Bank for Social Policies, the province earmarks VND 16 billion from the provincial budget to lend at no interest to 3,250 poor ethnic minority families who have production plans but cannot afford to put them into action. Meanwhile, the provincial Bank for Social Policies plans to earmark VND 11.6 billion to cover loan interest for nearly 6,000 ethnic minority families investing in production. From 2012, Khanh Hoa province builds a model to support household economic development for sustainable poverty reduction in mountainous communes. Accordingly, in each commune, five poor families will be assisted with seeds, animals, fertilizers and production techniques; and will be given conditions to consume products. The model will be expanded in the next three years, with 760 families and capital of VND 7.6 billion involved. There are currently over 61,000 ethnic minority people of 33 groups in the province, with nearly 40% of them under the poverty line. From 2012 to 2015, Khanh Hoa province aims to cut the poverty rate by 6%-7% each year among ethnic minority people. (cpv.org.vn Feb 10)
