Making the most of local agricultural by-products, using biogas wastewater to fertilize crops, and reducing the need to collect firewood from the forest are among the practical benefits of the “Circular care for indigenous black sows” project in Ta Rut commune, Quang Tri province. The project not only provides livelihoods and improves incomes for ethnic minority communities but also opens up a pathway toward sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture in the highlands.
New approach in the highland region
We arrived in Ta Rut commune, Quang Tri province, on a day in early September, as the remote borderland was beginning to enter the rainy season. At the livestock area of the family of Ho Thi Xien, 42, a resident of A Lieng village, the atmosphere immediately became lively with the sound of the host’s cheerful conversation. More than a month ago, the family’s indigenous black sow gave birth to six healthy piglets. Each now weighs approximately 8 kg.
Xien happily shared: “Previously, Plan International Viet Nam provided my family with three indigenous black sows. After six months of raising them, I sold two for VND 9 million. I used the money to replenish the herd and invest in additional breeding stock. To date, my family’s total herd has grown to 11 pigs.”
Sharing her experience of the economic benefits of the new model, Xien said this method of raising pigs is much less labor-intensive than traditional practices. Instead of having to collect firewood to cook feed as she did before, she makes maximum use of locally available agricultural by-products such as wild banana plants, sweet potato vines, cassava, corn, rice bran and other materials, which are then fermented with probiotics. This method both reduces feed costs and strengthens the pigs’ immune systems. As she no longer has to go into the forest to collect firewood for raising pigs, Xien saves considerable time to take care of other family responsibilities.
Sharing the same joy, Ho Thi Nan, born in 1981 and a resident of A Dang village, is another household that received two breeding pigs from the project in July 2025. Her sow has now given birth to its first litter of six piglets, each weighing approximately 5 kg on average.
According to Nan, naturally available feed sourced locally keeps livestock production costs very low. The indigenous black pig breed is also well adapted to harsh weather conditions, while its meat is flavorful and highly sought after by traders, giving it considerably higher economic value than conventional pig breeds.
Vice Chairwoman of the Ta Rut Commune Women’s Union Ho Thi Lieu shared that before joining the project, women in the commune mainly worked on upland fields and grew bananas and cassava. However, because of the limited cultivation area and harsh weather conditions, these activities did not generate high economic returns. Since joining the project, the group has received support and guidance on circular livestock-raising techniques, as well as breeding stock, animal housing and rice bran. In addition, the livelihood group has received training and guidance on raising pigs using circular methods adapted to climate change, including feed fermentation and processing, livestock housing sanitation, and composting manure.
Some households in the group have successfully developed the model, generating significant additional income for their families. Half of the participating households have developed the model successfully, generating net profits of VND 15-17 million per year. Four households have emerged as particularly successful examples: those of Ho Thi Ro, Ho Thi Xien, Ho Thi Mu and Ho Thi Xu. “We hope the model will be expanded so that people in Ta Rut can develop their livelihoods and, in particular, improve the living standards of women in the villages and commune,” she said.
Dang Ba Loc, the project officer, said that during the implementation of the “Moving Forward” Project in Quang Tri, an initial assessment was conducted. According to local social indicators, Ta Rut is a mountainous commune with a high poverty rate. Ethnic minority communities there continue to face many difficulties in their daily lives.
“Moving Forward” aims to support vulnerable groups in the community, improve their quality of life and raise awareness. The livelihood activities are also designed to address climate change adaptation while enhancing women’s position and participation in community activities. The project helps ethnic minority communities in Ta Rut make effective use of garden and forest areas, generate stable incomes and rise out of poverty. At the same time, it contributes to conserving the valuable and rare genetic resources of indigenous pigs along the Truong Son mountain range, in line with the orientation of the agricultural sector.
Ecological Cycle
While ordinary pigs are sold at VND 80,000 per kilogram, indigenous black pigs fetch between VND 110,000 and VND 150,000 per kilogram- A local small trader
The "Moving Forward" program is funded by the Irish Government’s International Development Assistance Programme through the Embassy of Ireland in Ha Noi. The programme is implemented by Plan International Viet Nam, CARE International in Viet Nam and the Research Institute for Community Development Initiatives (RIC) for the 2022-2028 period.
In Quang Tri province, the programme is implemented by Plan International Viet Nam, focusing on supporting ethnic minority communities in strengthening their resilience to the impacts of climate change and natural disasters through integrated solutions.
The “Circular Care for Indigenous Black Sows” project in Ta Rut commune is one of the activities under the Moving Forward Programme. The project was established in July 2025 in A Dang and the former Vuc Leng villages, with 14 participating households. Plan International Viet Nam provided a total of VND 250,034,000 in funding to enable members to develop pig farming.
Photos: Dinh Hoa
Design: Mai Anh