According to local Youth Union officials, a combination of policy support, entrepreneurship programs and access to credit has enabled many young people from ethnic minority communities to establish successful agricultural and livestock models.
One example is Rơ Châm Huy, 29, from the Jrai ethnic group in Bloi village. After graduating with a degree in Literature from Gia Lai College of Education and working outside the province, Huy returned to his hometown in 2021 to pursue his entrepreneurial ambitions.
Using approximately 0.5 hectares of family land and support from the former Ia Ly Town Youth Union, he began cultivating 400 Robusta coffee trees. Through the application of scientific and technical farming methods, he later expanded his coffee-growing area by an additional two hectares.
By the end of 2025, Huy harvested around 20 tonnes of fresh coffee and reported profits of more than 380 million VND (about US$14,900) after expenses. He is also diversifying production by intercropping fruit trees to increase income and reduce risks associated with agricultural production.
Huy said support and encouragement from the Youth Union played an important role alongside his own efforts in achieving these results.
Similar success has been achieved by Đinh Văn Điu, 34, from the Bana ethnic group in Kim Sơn commune. In 2024, he received a policy-based loan of 50 million VND (about US$1,960) with support from the former Bók Tới Commune Youth Union, allowing him to build pigsties and purchase five black sow breeders.
His black pig farming operation has since expanded to hundreds of animals. Each year, he sells more than 90 piglets and market pigs, generating profits exceeding 170 million VND (about US$6,670). Additional income from H’Mông black chicken farming, aloe vera cultivation and hybrid acacia production contributes more than 110 million VND (about US$4,310) annually to his family.
Điu said limited capital and a lack of experience initially posed significant challenges, but support from local authorities and the Youth Union helped stabilize and expand his operations.
Another beneficiary is Kpuih Thuận, 36, from the Jrai ethnic group in Đức Cơ commune. With assistance from the commune Youth Union, he secured a 50 million VND (about US$1,960) loan in 2017 and shifted from growing corn and cassava to cultivating rubber, coffee and cashew trees.
The transition has enabled him to earn annual profits of more than 230 million VND (about US$9,020), helping his family steadily improve its economic situation.
Local officials say such achievements highlight the importance of combining individual initiative with institutional support.
Nguyễn Đức Quỳnh, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the commune and Secretary of the Ia Ly Commune Youth Union, said the commune currently has more than 900 Youth Union members, with ethnic minorities accounting for over 85%.
He said the Youth Union has recently organized technical training programs for more than 400 members, distributed thousands of seedlings and livestock, and facilitated access to preferential loans with outstanding balances exceeding 21.7 billion VND (about US$850,980). These measures have enabled many young people to invest in production and strengthen household economies.
Rơ Mah H’Dịu, Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the commune and Secretary of the Đức Cơ Commune Youth Union, said ethnic minority youth continue to face barriers including limited financial resources and insufficient production and business experience.
She said future efforts will focus on career guidance, improving access to preferential credit, strengthening networking opportunities and expanding successful economic models that young people can replicate.
At the provincial level, Youth Union organizations have intensified entrepreneurship support activities throughout 2025. These initiatives include entrepreneurship training programs, 10 scientific and technical transfer activities, and expanded access to preferential loans.
The province has also increased funding from the Gia Lai Youth Startup Fund and the National Employment Fund, allocating a total of 870 million VND (about US$34,120). During the year, 68 economic models were recognized and more than 25 outstanding young entrepreneur models were maintained.
Phạm Hồng Hiệp, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the province and Secretary of the Provincial Youth Union, said grassroots Youth Union organizations will continue creating favorable conditions for innovation and economic development among young people, with a focus on models that build on local strengths.
He added that the Provincial Youth Union will strengthen cooperation with the Young Entrepreneurs Association, youth cooperatives and businesses to facilitate knowledge sharing, production linkages and market expansion, creating more opportunities for ethnic minority youth to increase incomes and achieve long-term economic stability.