Chu Ru Woman Embraces Agricultural Innovation

Investing in Modern Agriculture

In 2020, Touneh An, born in 1995, returned to her hometown of Diom after working as a pharmacist in Ho Chi Minh City. Growing up in a farming family, she had some advantages when starting her new career. Her husband, however, had spent most of his life in the city and was unfamiliar with agricultural work.

The couple initially grew vegetables outdoors and under net houses, as many ethnic minority households in the area do. But An soon realized that their production methods were not delivering the expected results. Pest and fungal disease control proved difficult, while bell pepper plants often produced only one or two harvests before weakening, limiting overall productivity.

Recognizing the need for a different approach, An decided to borrow money to invest in greenhouses. She said construction alone cost at least VND 170 million per 1.000 m², excluding growing media and seedlings. The investment was substantial for a young family just starting out, but she was determined to try a new direction.

Starting with 6.000 m² of land given to her by her grandparents, An has expanded her operation to 9.000 m² of greenhouse space dedicated to bell peppers. Automated irrigation, fertigation and pesticide-spraying systems have made crop care more efficient.

In the early days, the couple lacked technical experience, so they proactively visited local vegetable and flower farms to learn from other growers. They then observed and experimented on their own to understand the area's climate and soil conditions and develop suitable cultivation techniques.

“People showed us the basic steps, but we had to keep researching and learning from our own experience,” An said.

To make production more sustainable, she uses beneficial insects and biological pesticides to control pests in the greenhouses. Her bell pepper operation now generates an average annual income of around VND 1 billion. However, she noted that market prices and difficulties securing reliable buyers—particularly when relying on traders—continue to directly affect earnings.

Inspiring Other Women

Ma Tieng, a resident of Diom Hamlet, is one of the regular workers at An's greenhouses. The two women previously grew vegetables and flowers outdoors. About two years ago, Tieng began learning how to grow and care for bell peppers.

At first, she worried about handling the expensive seedlings, knowing that even a small mistake could break a growing tip and damage a plant. With guidance and hands-on experience, she gradually mastered the cultivation and harvesting process. Working close to home and earning around VND 250,000 a day have enabled her to stay in the job.

An's bell pepper operation currently provides regular employment for six local workers, including four women. She prioritizes retaining a stable workforce so employees can gain experience, improve their skills and earn a steady income.

Alongside developing her family business, An also participates in local activities organized by the Women's Union. Vo Thi Quynh Trang, Chairwoman of the D'Ran Commune Women's Union, described An as a young and dynamic member of the community.

Role models such as An, she said, help nurture confidence and ambition among women, encouraging ethnic minority women in particular to take greater initiative in developing their household economies. Changing traditional practices and applying science and technology are important steps toward building more prosperous and fulfilling lives.

Having returned to her hometown to build a livelihood, An hopes her experience will encourage other local women to overcome self-doubt, learn new skills and find suitable ways to develop their own businesses and household incomes.

For An, economic independence is a way for women to gain confidence and gradually improve their lives through their own efforts.