Lê Văn Thôi taking care chilli plants in his farm. — VNA/VNS Photo

THANH HOÁ — A young man from a poor rural commune of Thanh Hoá Province has been successful in growing chilli peppers for export.

Born in a poor family in Xuân Sinh Commune of the central province’s Thọ Xuân District, Lê Văn Thôi decided to start his own business after many years working as a hired labourer across the country.

“After graduating from high school, I left my village to work as a hired labourer in many places,” Thôi said.

“But for many years of hard-working, I was still a poor person, let alone able to help my parents,” he said.

“So, I decided to return to my home town to work for myself."

In 2005, Thôi went back home, but in the very first years, due to lack of experience, natural disasters and epidemics, his farm did not perform well.

But he did not give up.

In 2008, through the media and the internet, Thôi realised that there were many businesses that needed to import hot peppers for chilli paste and pharmaceutical production, so he borrowed VNĐ500 million (US$21,000) from banks, friends and relatives to invest in a chilli farm.

Thôi imported good quality chilli varieties and used 2 hectares of his family's land to build a farm.

“I had to study several documents on how to grow chillis and invested dozens of millions of đồng into an irrigation system,” he said.

He focused all his heart on the 2 hectares of chilli.

“After 3 months, I harvested a tonne of chilli,” he said.

This result reinforced his confidence and in 2013, realising the market for chilli across the world was on the rise, Thôi started working with many businesses to export chillis.

In addition to growing chillis on his family's land area, he also bought chillis from other farms to help give farmers stable incomes from this crop.

Growing chillis for export has brought his family a stable income.

After five years, Thôi expanded the growing area to 5 hectares and along with growing chillis for export, Thôi also plants fruit trees.

He opened Hoài An Ltd., Company trading chillis and animal feed.

At present, he earns more than VNĐ1 billion (US$43,000) per year and employs 40 local labourers with average income of VNĐ5 million (US$216) per month per person.

His chilli products always ensure food hygiene and safety and are exported to South Korea and China, as well as widely sold in the domestic market, mainly in Thanh Hoá, Nghê An, Sơn La and Bình Phước provinces.

Thôi is also active in activities run by the Youth Union of Xuân Sinh commune.

He always supports young people in the commune and helps them get out of poverty.

Lê Thị Nhung, secretary of Xuân Sinh Commune Youth Union, said: “Thôi is an example for the local youngsters for starting up business to escape poverty.”

“Thôi was always a pioneer in campaign of establishing a career, dedicating himself to his homeland,” Nhung said.

Thôi was honoured to receive the Certificate of Merit from Thanh Hoá Provincial Youth Union for his achievements in 2018.

In addition, he was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the People's Committee of Thọ Xuân District for his achievements in business. — VNS