After years of searching for economic development options without achieving the desired results, at the end of 2024, Ms. Pham Thi Sen's family in Lien Minh village, Gia Hanh commune, began researching deer farming. Through research into the growth characteristics, care methods, and economic benefits of this animal, she realized that deer farming was well-suited to her family's conditions. It doesn't require a large area, the food source can be made from grass, leaves, and agricultural by-products, and deer are considered relatively easy to care for, with few diseases, and can be raised in confinement right at home.
Based on that idea, Ms. Sen's family boldly invested in a trial breeding of 6 deer. This is also the first deer farming model of the Women's Union of Gia Hanh commune. Ms. Sen shared: "Without much initial experience, we both cared for the deer herd and learned techniques from experienced farmers, researching more about growth characteristics, feeding regimes, and the timing of antler growth. From the accumulated knowledge, I gradually adjusted the care methods to suit my family's deer herd. After a period of raising them, the deer herd grew steadily."
At the end of 2025, the deer herd began producing its first crop of antlers and continued harvesting in early 2026. Through two harvesting cycles, her family earned approximately 70 million VND, initially demonstrating the economic effectiveness of this new farming model.
Building on the initial success of Ms. Sen's model, the Women's Union of Gia Hanh commune continued to disseminate information and provide advice to its members about deer farming, while also assisting them in accessing preferential capital sources to support economic development. As a result, some members have boldly explored and chosen deer as a new livestock, gradually building their own models. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong (Lien Minh village) is also one of the pioneering members who have shifted to deer farming.
With the support of the Women's Union of the commune in advising and facilitating access to preferential loans of over 100 million VND from the Social Policy Bank, in June 2025, Ms. Hong's family invested in buying 3 breeding deer, building a barn, and beginning to experiment with the model. From the initial breeding stock, she gradually familiarized herself with the techniques of caring for and monitoring the development of the deer herd and accumulated experience in the breeding process.
“Previously, my family mainly raised cattle, but prices were quite unstable, while investment costs, feed, and labor were also high. After researching and observing the first model in the village, we found that raising deer was suitable for our family's conditions, so we decided to switch,” Ms. Hong shared.
After more than a year of care, Ms. Hong's deer herd has thrived. In April 2026, her family harvested their first crop of antlers. This initial success has further motivated her to continue caring for and maintaining the herd, and she hopes this livestock will become a stable source of income for her family.
For the women of Gia Hanh, the economic development stories of Ms. Sen and Ms. Hong are not just about the first deer herds, but more importantly, about their boldness and exploration. They have opened up a new direction in livestock farming, suitable for household scale and the working conditions of rural women.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hieu, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Gia Hanh commune, said: "From the initial models, deer farming is opening up a new economic development direction for local women members. In the future, the union will continue to survey needs and evaluate practical effectiveness to select suitable models, while accompanying and supporting members in accessing preferential loan sources. Through this, we will gradually expand effective production models, create sustainable livelihoods, contribute to helping members and people increase income, stabilize their lives, and promote local economic development."
Source: https://baohatinh.vn/phu-nu-gia-hanh-tim-huong-moi-tu-nghe-nuoi-huou-post318148.html
