Four years ago, Dinh Van Nhoac embarked on a journey that would not only transform his own life but also uplift his entire community. As a member of the Bahnar ethnic group, he faced many hardships and limited opportunities. Despite having land, he believed that cultivating crops like cucumbers and chilis was beyond the reach of his people. The Kinh, a more privileged and educated ethnic majority, held the knowledge and experience needed for such endeavors, but never shared it with the Bahnar.
Having a desire to bridge this gap, Nhoac turned to iDE for training and support. With iDE’s guidance, he embraced resource-smart technologies and ventured into growing higher value crops. Initially, Nhoac installed micro-irrigation systems on his own farm, cultivating chilis and later expanded to also cultivate cucumbers. Not only did his income stabilize and increase significantly, but his entire perspective shifted.
Determined to support his neighbors, he began stocking and selling drip irrigation equipment, providing others in his community with the means to replicate this success. During the dry season, he installed these systems for 30 to 40 fellow Bahnar farmers. As a result, his community can now confidently cultivate high value crops and experience improved financial well-being as he has.
What's next for Dinh
Dinh has even greater aspirations. He wants to help his relatives and friends feel like they're at the same level as Kinh people. Already, they no longer feel shy in front of Kinh people, as they’re now confidently growing high-value crops and earning more.
“Bahnar people never grew crops like these before,” he said. “We have land, but did not think we could grow these crops. They are for more skilled people, such as the Kinh, who are highly educated and experienced. They would never teach us how to grow these.” The Kinh are the majority ethnic group in Vietnam, comprising 86% of the population.
Dinh holds a 40 Under 40 certificate presented to him by the iDE Vietnam management team for exemplifying the highest qualities of entrepreneurship: business savvy, courage, community-mindedness, innovation, leadership, and grit.
Dinh's Details
Country
- Vietnam
Sector
- Agriculture
Entrepreneur Impact
- Motivating Investment
- Access to finance
- Availability of Technology
- Output Marketing
- Training & Capacity Building
- Local Distribution & Sales
- Job Creation
- Production
Ecosystem Impact
- Local Economic Development
- Food & Nutrition Security
Country Profile
- 117/189
Human Development Index (HDI) Rank
- 1.8%
Poverty Rate
- 98 Million People
Population
iDE was started as a radical idea that business is a solution to move people out of poverty. 40 years later, we still don't give things away. We create long term change by powering entrepreneurs to end poverty for their families and communities.
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