Story of getting rich on poor land

Thanks to the application of scientific and technological advancements and the introduction of new varieties into mass production, rice yields in Cao Minh commune have reached nearly 47 quintals/hectare. In the photo: Farmers in Na Quang village harvesting their rice crop.

Breakthrough opportunity

As soon as the storm Bualoi passed, the storm Matmo continued to make land in Thai Nguyen province devastated by floods. Cao Minh commune also suffered heavy damage, but the officials and people in the commune quickly overcame the consequences, quickly stabilizing their lives and production. Peaceful scenes appeared in the countryside.

Sharing with us, comrade Lam Van Dien, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Commune Party Committee, said: Cao Minh has 33 villages, with more than 2,600 households, nearly 12,500 people of 5 main ethnic groups: Tay, Nung, Dao, Mong, Kinh. Currently, 100% of villages have national grid electricity. From the commune center to the villages are basically concreted. The average income is more than 21 million VND/person/year. Currently, the commune has nearly 1,800 poor and near-poor households.

To help Cao Minh gradually overcome difficulties, the State has invested and supported the locality with billions of dong to build social welfare projects. Poor and near-poor households have received the State's attention and support in terms of capital, plant and animal varieties, science and technology... to develop the economy and stabilize their lives.

In the last 5 years alone, the State has invested in Cao Minh commune a total of over 160 billion VND in basic construction, with 63 projects implemented. The national target program for sustainable poverty reduction has also been implemented with a total capital of over 6.6 billion VND, with 21 projects implemented with 374 households participating.

During the same period, the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas implemented 17 projects, involving 452 households, with a total investment of over 10.7 billion VND.

From the center of the commune, looking up at the patches of rice paddies clinging to the steep hillsides, we could see glimpses of people hunched over, working in the fields, which gave us a fuller appreciation for the diligent and hardworking spirit of the people here.

Mr. Ta Van Sin, Khen Len village is a typical example. Without the support of the State, his family would have to live in a house that is leaky and windy. From 2020 to now, Mr. Sin and 560 households in the commune have received support from the State to build houses, of which 150 houses in Cao Tan area; 200 houses in Co Linh; and 210 houses in Cong Bang have been rebuilt.

The area is vast, with the furthest village located 24km from the commune center. Particularly due to the complex terrain, with steep hills, deep ravines, and fields that are primarily dependent on rainwater, the entire commune has over 1,100 hectares of agricultural land, with 928 hectares dedicated to rice cultivation, but only 562 hectares are suitable for two rice crops per year.

In the villages of Na Chao, Phieng Luong, Coc Nghe, Na Lai, etc., most of the fields are terraced. Despite these difficulties, in recent years, the people of Cao Minh have flexibly applied and focused investment in agricultural and forestry production, shifting towards commodity production and improving product quality.

It's no longer a difficult area.

To succeed in economic development, local authorities actively coordinate with State agencies to strengthen the organization of training courses to transfer science and technology in cultivation and animal husbandry to the people; build typical economic models, and when effective, popularize and replicate them on a large scale.

Most of the land used for single-crop rice cultivation is then used by farmers to plant additional crops such as winter corn and vegetables after the harvest. Areas of land used for less productive rice, corn, and other crops are converted to growing crops with higher economic value.

Cao Minh land has been changing thanks to pioneering farmers on the front of sustainable poverty reduction. Mr. Duong Van Phu, Hung Thinh village is proof. He said: Previously, the garden was used for firewood. Thanks to agricultural officers' guidance on planting and caring for fruit trees, I boldly set aside 3 hectares of land to grow tangerines and oranges. Thanks to proactive application of science and technology, growing fruit trees yields 21 tons of fruit per crop, earning 420 million VND.

From 2 hectares of tangerines, Mrs. Duong Thach's family in Hung Thinh village has an income of more than 100 million VND/crop.

Generations of farmers in Cao Minh commune have transformed a poor area through their own creative labor. Through the management and guidance of local leaders, farmers in Cao Minh commune have gradually abandoned fragmented farming practices and moved towards concentrated commodity production.

Based on production realities, crops suitable for the soil conditions of each area in the commune are selected and developed on a large scale. For example, the Cao Tan area has seedless persimmons, chestnuts, ginger, turmeric, and vegetables. The Co Linh area has cardamom and turmeric. The Cong Bang area has peanuts, soybeans, sweet potatoes, tangerines, and taro.

Families who have become wealthy on their own land are becoming increasingly common, such as the Ma Van Hoanh family in Ban Cam. With 1 hectare of land planted with tangerines, thanks to proper technical care, the orchard has brought a considerable and stable income to the family.

Meanwhile, Mr. Hoang Van Dai from Coc Nghe village said: "I boldly converted 2 hectares of mixed orchard land to planting mandarin oranges. For more than 3 years now, the orchard has yielded 16 tons of fruit per harvest, bringing my family an income of over 320 million VND."

The fattening cow model has brought additional income to Mr. Duong Van Thanh's family in Khuoi Tra village of nearly 600 million VND/year.

Market mechanism, most of the agricultural products of the people are negotiated by traders in the garden, there is no price pressure. An advantage is that in recent years the local trade network has been expanded, in addition to 3 markets, there are more than 40 organizations and individuals participating in the service of buying and selling agricultural, forestry and household products.

The bustling buying and selling scene is vivid evidence of a region experiencing significant progress, with the economic lives of its people improving. While the average income in 2020 was 18.5 million VND/person/year, it is projected to reach 21.3 million VND/person/year by 2024.

Although the income level is still modest, for the people of Cao Minh commune, it is a success in transforming their way of thinking and doing things. Especially after the merger into a new commune, a new vitality has emerged, enabling Cao Minh to gradually move forward, no longer a disadvantaged area...

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202510/chuyen-lam-giau-tren-dat-ngheo-043432f/