Since childhood, Truong had dreamed of creating larger and more fertile farmland as he watched his parents struggle to farm a small field. When he graduated from agricultural university in 2017 and returned to his hometown, he was heartbroken to see the fields of his childhood memories abandoned and the farmers leaving for factory jobs.

"I started farming alone, trying to restore the fields, but natural disasters and COVID-19 swept away all my efforts. Realizing I couldn’t do it alone, I formed a cooperative with the farmers who remained in the village. I wanted us to help each other and turn the fields back into a place full of dreams."

The biggest challenge Truong and the farmers faced was getting rid of the golden apple snails. These snails were eating the rice sprouts, preventing the crops from growing properly. However, he was struck with fear as he recalled a childhood memory of getting sick from being exposed to toxic pesticides while helping his aunt on the farm.

"These pesticides were so toxic that they not only killed the snails but also wiped out fish in the waterways. I also saw many women in the village fall ill and end up in the hospital because of these chemicals. That’s when I realized I needed to protect myself and the women in our community, who are the backbone of our village, by using safer farming methods."

It was then that Truong realized the need for a different farming method that wouldn’t harm the environment or our health. While deeply immersed in his research, he discovered that certain Vietnamese herbs could attract golden apple snails without the use of chemicals. Building on this discovery, he experimented with various natural ingredients and, after countless trials, successfully created an organic bait that lures snails.

“This bait was a safe and sustainable solution to a problem that had plagued me and many farmers for years. My goal has now grown beyond simply harvesting my rice. I aim to create lasting change that protects the health of farmers and the land we rely on. That’s how I came to start the South Ocean Youth Cooperative (SOC).”

SOC's "Mother’s Umbrella" is a project that helps women farmers in the village easily catch golden apple snails. Using eco-friendly bait, the women lure the snails that harm the rice fields and catch them all at once, selling them to SOC at a high price. Through this, a single woman can catch up to 120-150kg of snails in a day and earn $15-20. Like the protective umbrella a mother provides, SOC offers warmth, safety, and economic support to these women.

Thanks to this project, women like Mr. Truong’s mother and aunt now earn more income while being safely protected from toxic chemicals. The more snails these women catch, the greater the rice harvest becomes. The women farmers working with Mr. Truong are driving the most significant changes in their rural community.

The snails are then transformed into eco-friendly fertilizer and animal feed. Rich in protein and calcium, the snails help plants grow strong roots and leaves. SOC processes and ferments the snails purchased from farmers, turning them into organic fertilizer and animal feed that provide abundant nutrients for plants.

With this fertilizer, rice grows even faster, and the ecosystem of the fields and waterways is preserved. Instead of simply removing the snails, they are repurposed into fertilizer that benefits farmers, the environment, and even the economy. Once unwelcome intruders in the fields, these golden apple snails now play a vital role as "golden helpers" in the fields managed by Truong and SOC.

Truong wishes to keep helping farmers live better lives and working together to create a sustainable future. In the fields filled with his childhood dreams and memories, farmers and snails are now making those dreams come true. Support the South Ocean Youth Cooperative, so farmers can farm safely and snails can help protect the environment!