Transformation from the economic development emulation movement

In recent years, the people of Mau A commune, especially ethnic minorities, have gradually changed their thinking, boldly applied science and technology, and expanded commodity production linked to the market. Thereby, arousing the spirit of self-reliance, contributing to sustainable poverty reduction, creating positive changes in the land with rich potential for agricultural and forestry production.

Mau A commune is over 14,451 hectares wide, home to over 40,000 people, of which
More than 25.7% are ethnic minorities.

Previously, the economy of Mau A commune people mainly relied on rice cultivation, crops and forestry, life was still difficult. But in the past 5 years, with new development policies and orientations, the commune government has promoted emulation movements in ethnic minority areas, propagandized and mobilized people to change their production mindset, encouraged the conversion of crop and livestock structure towards commodities. Thanks to that, the multidimensional poverty rate of the commune has decreased to 4.31%, among the lowest in the northern mountainous region.

According to Mr. Luu Quang Loi - Vice Chairman of Mau A Commune People's Committee, the economic development emulation work in recent times has "breathed new life" into the awareness of ethnic minorities, while creating conditions for new production models to be replicated.

From self-sufficient production, many households have now become owners of forest product processing facilities, owners of commodity production models, with some households earning several hundred million each year. This is a very encouraging result, reflecting the transformation from the emulation movement into real life.

Mr. Luu Quang Loi - Vice Chairman of Mau A Commune People's Committee

In Ngoi A village, Mr. Hoang Van Tam's economic development model is considered typical. With the spirit of "Farmers' innovation, creativity, and integration", Mr. Tam's family has boldly transformed the production structure to suit local conditions. Realizing the great demand for transporting goods, especially agricultural and forestry products, Mr. Tam boldly borrowed money from the bank to buy a truck to provide freight transport services. At the same time, with the local source of planted wood and the increasing market demand for wooden products, his family opened a factory to process planted wood with an income of 300 million VND/year or more, creating stable jobs for 3 workers.

Mr. Tam shared: “I have applied a model of growing cinnamon in the direction of biological safety, using organic fertilizers, reducing production costs, increasing productivity and product quality, thereby increasing the value of cinnamon trees, contributing to increasing family income. Currently, my family has a good income in the locality. Thanks to that, family life has been improved, children have a full education, contributing to building an increasingly rich and beautiful homeland.”

Not only stopping at traditional agricultural production, many ethnic minorities in Mau A have risen to become business owners, cooperatives, participating in processing and exporting local products. A typical example is Mr. Nong Van Thanh - Director of Tien Thanh Agricultural Products Production Company Limited in Cau Vai village, with the activities of preliminary processing and processing cinnamon, star anise, cardamom - endemic plants with high economic value. Ms. Lo Thi Phuong - Dao ethnic in Cong Trao village established Viet Phat Export Company Limited, gradually bringing local agricultural products to a wider consumer market.

Cooperatives such as Yen Thai Mulberry Cooperative and Khe Cam Waterfall Tourism Cooperative have opened up new directions of development, combining forest economy and community tourism. Ms. Ban Thi Nai - Deputy Head of Khe Cam Tourism Cooperative said: "The cooperative currently has 6 members, in the summer it will operate for about 5 months with an income of nearly 10 million VND/member/month".

An important factor contributing to promoting the emulation movement is the role of prestigious people in the community. They are both role models and bridges to bring policies closer to the people. A typical example is Mr. Hoang Ngoc Khoan in Lang Cau village, who regularly encourages people to change their way of thinking and boldly apply new techniques, thanks to which the poverty rate in the village by 2025 has decreased to 2%. Or Mr. Tran The Nga in An Thinh village, a pioneer in growing mulberry and raising silkworms with an income of about 200 million VND/year.

Mr. Nga shared: “If our people do not dare to do it, they will always be poor. I did it first to prove that this model is effective, then people will believe and follow it.”

The transformation in economic development not only helps increase people's income but also contributes to building new rural areas. When the economy improves, people are willing to donate land to build roads, participate in expanding cultural houses, and contribute working days to build welfare facilities. Many ethnic minority families have not only escaped poverty but also become well-off, actively contributing to community development. Thanks to that, in the period of 2020 - 2025, the average income in the commune reached 65 million VND/person/year.

Reality also poses new challenges. Currently, in Mau A, there are still some people who are not bold in converting production; the application of digital technology in agricultural production is still limited; the output market is not really sustainable. Mau A strives to reduce the number of poor households by 85 and the number of near-poor households by 27 by 2025. Therefore, at this time, the local government focuses on promoting vocational training, supporting the connection of agricultural product consumption, and replicating effective models. At the same time, it encourages businesses to continue investing in the processing sector, increasing the value of cinnamon, star anise, medicinal herbs, etc., which are typical advantages of the region.

Mau A is gradually forming a modern commodity economic mindset. That achievement stems from the spirit of patriotic emulation concretized by practical economic models, people who dare to think and dare to do. When the emulation movement becomes a self-motivating force, Mau A people, especially ethnic minorities here, not only overcome the psychological barrier of fear of innovation, but also confidently affirm that they can absolutely get rich right on their homeland.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/chuyen-minh-tu-phong-trao-thi-dua-phat-trien-kinh-te-post888215.html