FrieslandCampina steps up charity

Through its ‘Cow Bank’ project, FrieslandCampina has given cows to poor farmers for the last six years

FrieslandCampina Vietnam has collaborated with the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRCS) in a project named ‘Cow Bank’, offering 40 cows to poor farmers’ households in the districts of Chau Thanh and Tan Bien in the southern province of Tay Ninh.

The event is of great significance as the farmers received the cows right on the threshold of Tet, the Lunar New Year. The cows are a gift to the farmers, who said they feel very happy and moved as now they will have a joyous Tet for the cows will greatly help them improve their livelihood.

For the occasion, VRCS vice chairman Tran Quoc Hung also presented 100 gifts to the poor households and Agent Orange victims in the districts, with each district receiving 50 presents.

In late December 2017, FrieslandCampina Vietnam also gave 20 cows to poor farmers’ households in the central highlands province of Lam Dong.

In 2017, the company offered a total of more than 100 cows worth over VND1 billion ($45,454) to poor farmers in several localities nationwide.

This has been the sixth year that FrieslandCampina Vietnam has engaged in the ‘Cow Bank’ project, in the hope of supporting the households of disadvantaged farmers throughout the country, at the same time contributing to boosting the socio-economic development of many localities. Over the last six years, the company has given 400 cows to farmers in remote areas to help them escape poverty and attain a higher standard of living.

Bearing its slogan “Giving the fishing rod rather than the fish” in mind, the company has also given a cow worth VND10 million (450.54) to each poor household that takes part in the ‘Cow Bank’ project. In the event that the cow gives birth to a female calf, the household can continue to keep the cow for six to 12 months before returning it to VRCS. After that, VRCS will give the cow to another disadvantaged household.

The first household can keep a female calf so that it can develop its own livestock production.

Along with awarding breeding cows and transferring female calves, FrieslandCampina Vietnam has also provided farmers with knowledge and techniques to raise the animals. This has helped farmers gradually get out of poverty and contributed to the socio-economic development in several localities.