Reporter:

Colonel Nguyen Truong Vinh: It can be affirmed that improving labor productivity is the key and decisive solution for the 78th Economic-Defense Brigade to achieve its annual rubber latex production plan ahead of schedule. This includes a system of technical measures and the development of human resources. Specifically, it focuses on the synchronized and rigorous implementation of "5 management stages," including: planning management; technical management; materials and product management; financial management; and labor-wage management. In particular, by strictly adhering to the care, harvesting, and processing procedures from the beginning of the rubber latex harvesting season, the unit proactively assessed the capacity of the plantations, weather conditions, and labor quality to develop contract and wage plans for each production team and each worker, ensuring transparency and creating motivation and determination for the workers to strive for excellence.

Colonel Nguyen Truong Vinh.

The unit intensified its efforts in promoting and recruiting new workers, focusing on their livelihoods, housing, and retaining them. It implemented the "Skills Training and Excellent Worker Competition" movement with the motto "Every day of tapping is a day of skill training," linked to the "Determined to Win" Emulation Movement and the "Excellent Worker, Creative Worker" movement, creating an environment for workers to hone their skills and improve labor productivity. As a result, in 2025, the unit recruited 379 workers, including 117 local ethnic minority workers; the skill level of the workforce improved significantly, with over 95.8% achieving a good or excellent skill level; labor productivity continuously increased, most notably the average contracted quota of 1,459/1,167 trees/worker, a 25.05% increase, reducing the pressure of direct labor shortage.

The unit also did a good job of promoting and encouraging workers to allocate a portion of their surplus production to purchase an additional 391.63 tons of fertilizer, worth a total of 4.115 billion VND, to fertilize the orchards, ensuring that the trees always develop well and yield high productivity.

PV:

Colonel Nguyen Truong Vinh: As I said, this is the third consecutive year that the 78th Economic-Defense Brigade has finished ahead of schedule with productivity ranking among the top in the 15th Army Corps and the Vietnamese rubber industry. In 2023, we finished 24 days ahead of schedule; in 2024, we finished 25 days ahead of schedule, and the average productivity in both years reached over 2.32 tons/ha. This has created jobs and stable, high incomes for thousands of workers in the area, mainly ethnic minorities.

Currently, the 78th Economic-Defense Brigade manages 3,219.15 hectares of rubber plantations, with a projected dry rubber latex production of 7,510 tons in 2025, equivalent to 108.68% of the assigned plan, and an average yield of 2.32 tons/ha. All indicators regarding production value, revenue, and profit have exceeded the set targets. Specifically, production value reached VND 372.45 billion, achieving 133.15% of the plan; revenue reached VND 378.66 billion, achieving 137.11%; profit reached VND 116.04 billion, achieving 183.66%; and contributions totaled VND 53.37 billion, achieving 113.26% of the 2025 plan. This created stable jobs for over 1,300 people, including 995 ethnic minority workers, with an average income of VND 11.58 million/person/month, achieving 127.03%, of which average wages reached VND 9.17 million, achieving 121.71% of the plan and significantly higher than the same period in 2024.

Leaders of the 78th Economic -Defense Brigade and local authorities inspect the construction work to demolish temporary and dilapidated houses for residents of Mo Rai commune (Quang Ngai). Photo taken on April 14, 2025. Photo by Huu Tam.

PV:

Colonel Nguyen Truong Vinh: National defense, security, and economic production are two inseparable tasks for economic-defense units. In particular, the 78th Economic-Defense Brigade is currently operating in 11 villages in the two border communes of Mo Rai and Ia Toi ( Quang Ngai province ), along more than 49.8 km of border with Cambodia. To build a strong national defense and security posture, especially a solid "people's support" to become a "shield" protecting the Fatherland, the Party Committee and Command of the 78th Economic-Defense Brigade have consistently implemented the policy of "Developing and expanding production wherever possible, attracting labor and building residential areas." In coordination with local Party committees and authorities, they have built 10 residential clusters, creating the basis for the establishment of 4 villages in the area.

Major General Hoang Van Sy, Commander of the 15th Army Corps, presents a certificate of commendation to the 78th Economic-Defense Brigade, an outstanding unit that achieved its 2025 rubber latex production target ahead of schedule. Photo by Huu Tam.

Along with that, investment in building dual-use infrastructure serves both socio-economic development and people's livelihoods, while also fulfilling national defense and security tasks, creating a solid and interconnected defense system in the border region. The policy of "easing the burden on the people" is implemented through practical and effective social welfare movements, programs, and models. In addition to providing technical guidance and supporting workers and people with seedlings and livestock for economic development, the unit also builds model projects on wet rice cultivation, fruit tree cultivation, and industrial crop cultivation as examples for the people to learn from. It directs 10 production teams to establish fraternal ties with 7 villages; 497 worker households to connect with 497 ethnic minority households; 153 pairs of former worker households to connect with 153 new worker households; and assigns officers and staff to participate in commune people's councils and serve as village officials.

PV:

In 2025, the 78th Economic-Defense Brigade donated 38 breeding cows to 38 disadvantaged households to help them escape poverty; supported the construction of 32 new houses for workers and the repair of 10 houses for households, with a total value of 1.83 billion VND; and distributed gifts to workers and people during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year) with a total expenditure of over 5 billion VND.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/chia-khoa-thanh-cong-cua-doan-kinh-te-quoc-phong-78-1022049