Sowing the "seeds" of change

In May, on the Ruc Lan rice fields in Kim Phu commune ( Quang Tri province), despite the hot and humid weather, dozens of officers and soldiers from the Ca Xeng Border Guard Post (Quang Tri Provincial Border Guard) still worked alongside the Ruc people in the fields; the sounds of voices and laughter echoed through the mountains and forests. Holding golden, heavy ears of rice in his hands, Mr. Dinh Xuan Tinh from Mo O O O village, Kim Phu commune, excitedly said that this year's harvest, despite unfavorable weather and prolonged heat, was still stable thanks to the support and assistance of the Border Guard, ensuring sufficient food for the next crop and motivating the people to continue planting the summer-autumn crop.

Officers and soldiers of Huong Lap Border Guard Station (Quang Tri Provincial Border Guard) help local people harvest rice.

Lieutenant Colonel Duong Dinh Hoan, Political Officer of the Ca Xeng Border Guard Post, excitedly shared that the Ruc Lan rice paddy project was implemented by the unit in 2010 with an area of ​​about 10 hectares. It was a bold decision, because at that time, the Ruc people were accustomed to living off nature, hunting and gathering year-round; while the Border Guard was unfamiliar with plowing, tilling the land, irrigating, sowing, cultivating, and harvesting... When the project was launched, many expressed skepticism and concern. However, with determination and responsibility towards the people in the border region, generations of officers and soldiers of the Ca Xeng Border Guard Post worked alongside the local people, enduring the sun and rain, gradually conquering the barren fields. To date, the Ruc people have basically mastered the production processes, from land preparation, sowing, caring for the plants to harvesting... On average, the Ruc Lan rice project produces two crops per year, with an average yield of 4.5-5 tons/ha. "After the busy harvest seasons, witnessing the people having pristine white, fragrant rice grains produced by their own hands, the border guards are truly happy and joyful," Lieutenant Colonel Duong Dinh Hoan shared emotionally.

Officers and soldiers of the Ca Xeng Border Guard Post (Quang Tri Provincial Border Guard) help the Ruc ethnic minority people harvest rice.

The Ruc Lan rice paddy project is one of many models and programs that help people develop economically , culturally, and socially, bringing practical results in the border area. Following the direction of the Quang Tri Provincial Border Guard Command, from 2015 to 2025, subordinate agencies and units have mobilized more than 160,000 man-days to help people develop economically and socially. Notably, they have coordinated the construction of 845 solidarity houses, houses of compassion, and border shelters; 450 houses for poor households and families entitled to preferential policies; repaired and built nearly 206km of rural roads, more than 52km of canals and irrigation systems; and provided medical examinations and treatment for more than 210,000 people. They have adopted and supported over 600 poor students (including 13 students who were admitted to universities and colleges)... Throughout this journey, many models and programs have become shining examples, bearing the distinct mark of the border guard soldiers, such as: "Helping children go to school - Children adopted by border guard posts", "The sound of machinery in the border region", "Saturday in the village", "Radio broadcast in remote villages", "Border guard loudspeaker", "Spring in the border region warms the hearts of the villagers", "Goat breeding for business"... Among them, the "Light in the border region" model was selected by the Border Guard Command as a typical model to be replicated throughout the entire force. Comrade Le Quang Thach, Chairman of the People's Committee of La Lay commune, Quang Tri province, happily stated: “The Border Guard Force regularly stays close to the grassroots, propagating and mobilizing the people to effectively implement the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's laws; working with the locality to effectively implement the socio-economic development strategy and firmly consolidate national defense and security. What is valuable is that the economic development models not only help people reduce poverty but also gradually change the production mindset, way of thinking, and working methods of the ethnic minority people.”

Lieutenant Colonel Duong Dinh Hoan, Political Officer of Ca Xeng Border Guard Station (Quang Tri Provincial Border Guard), harvests rice with the Ruc people in Mo O O O village, Kim Phu commune.

Replicating effective models

With the motto "eating together, living together, working together," the Border Guard Force of Quang Tri province has participated in consolidating the grassroots political system, directly assisting the people in developing production, eradicating hunger and poverty, building new rural areas, caring for education and health, preserving and promoting the cultural identity of ethnic groups associated with building a civilized way of life. Comrade Nguyen Chien Thang, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Quang Tri province, emphasized that, to date, most border villages have electricity for nighttime lighting, the sounds of loudspeakers and machinery fill the air, and bountiful harvests are abundant; children attend school and live in the loving care of border guards. Villages no longer lack Party members, and outdated customs and practices are gradually being replaced by a new cultural life. The people have learned to raise livestock, cultivate rice, and plant forests; they are conscious of seeking to escape poverty in order to become wealthy; and the great national unity is becoming increasingly close and strong... The achievements have made a significant contribution to improving the material and spiritual lives of the people in the border area; maintaining political stability, national defense, and security in the region. This is vivid evidence of the spirit of "actions speak louder than words" and the noble qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers in the new era.

Officers and soldiers of the Ca Xeng Border Guard Station (Quang Tri Provincial Border Guard) joined forces with the people of Kim Phu commune to demolish temporary and dilapidated houses.

Quang Tri province has a land border of nearly 410km and a coastline of approximately 190km. Thanks to the attention of the local Party committee and government, and the support and assistance of the Border Guard, the appearance of new rural areas in the border region has improved significantly. However, the lives of the people, especially those in coastal areas, islands, and ethnic minority regions, still face many difficulties; the activities of various types of crime and violations of the law are complex... impacting the implementation of economic, cultural, and social development goals in the border area. In this context, the task of building a comprehensively and sustainably developed border region places even higher demands on the Border Guard force.

Colonel Dinh Xuan Hung, Political Commissar of the Quang Tri Provincial Border Guard Command, affirmed: The Party Committee and the Provincial Border Guard Command have identified participation in economic, cultural, and social development as an important and regular political task, closely linked to the task of managing and firmly protecting national sovereignty and border security. Along with this, agencies and units are focusing on innovating the content and methods of Party work and political work, improving the quality of mass mobilization work, and building a solid "people's support" base. They will continue to comprehensively review and evaluate implemented models, selecting effective models suitable to the conditions of each locality to maintain and expand, while proactively researching and developing new, practical, and sustainable models that meet the requirements of building the political system, developing the economy and society, and consolidating national defense and security in border areas in the new situation.

The practical models implemented by the Quang Tri Provincial Border Guard have contributed to building a peaceful border line and making villages more prosperous and vibrant. This is vivid evidence of the persistent journey of serving the people by the green-uniformed soldiers who are silently and diligently staying in the villages, safeguarding the border with responsibility and affection for the people in the border area.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/nuoi-duong-van-hoa-bo-doi-cu-ho/bien-gioi-khoi-sac-tu-nhung-viec-lam-vi-dan-1041080