Co Lung strives to build a new rural area.

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - In recent years, leveraging the resources of the people and taking advantage of the potential of community tourism, Co Lung commune (Ba Thuoc district) has implemented comprehensive solutions to effectively carry out the New Rural Development program.

Co Lung commune (Ba Thuoc district) is leveraging its potential and advantages to develop community tourism , linked with the construction of new rural areas.

Starting from a particularly disadvantaged commune with uneven levels of education, fragmented agricultural production, and inadequate infrastructure, the Party committee, government, and people of Co Lung commune faced numerous difficulties and obstacles when embarking on the New Rural Development program. With strong political determination, the commune developed a specific, systematic, and clearly defined plan for implementing the New Rural Development criteria.

To gain strong public support, the Party Committee, government, Fatherland Front, and political organizations at the commune level have intensified propaganda efforts regarding the purpose and significance of the New Rural Development Program for the socio-economic development of the locality. Thanks to effective propaganda, individual citizens and communities understand the meaning of the New Rural Development Program as "using the people's strength to care for the people," with the people as the main actors in the program and also the beneficiaries of its achievements. As a result, many people have gradually changed their mindset, proactively contributing their efforts and resources to implement the New Rural Development criteria.

By linking the New Rural Development Program with community tourism development and using agriculture as the foundation for local economic development, Co Lung commune has gradually reorganized production towards a commodity-based approach. In areas cultivating wet rice, the commune proactively guides people to implement wide and narrow row planting methods combined with deep fertilization. As a result, the yield and production of rice in Co Lung commune have continuously improved. In 2024, the yield reached 58 quintals/hectare, and the production reached over 1,819 tons.

In addition, the Party Committee, government, Fatherland Front, and local political organizations have mobilized efforts to transform unproductive forest hills and mixed orchards belonging to local households into fruit orchards that generate tens of millions of dong in income annually. Furthermore, the commune has integrated support funds from three national target programs: the Socio-Economic Development Program for Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas; the Sustainable Poverty Reduction Program; and the New Rural Development Program, to support people in building and replicating the Co Lung duck farming model to supply the Pu Luong Ecotourism Area. These effective economic activities and production models have continuously improved the economic lives of local people, with average per capita income reaching 35 million dong/person/year, and the poverty rate decreasing to 8.99%.

Mr. Nguyen Nam Phong, Chairman of the People's Committee of Co Lung Commune, said: “As a commune located in the buffer zone of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve, recognizing the potential and advantages for developing ecotourism and community tourism to increase people's income, the commune has issued a specialized resolution on "Developing Community Tourism". Currently, there are 21 households operating community guesthouses in the commune. In 2024, the commune welcomed 16,800 visitors to tourist spots and resorts in the area. Revenue from tourism services reached 8.4 billion VND, creating regular jobs for more than 100 local workers. Thanks to this, the people in the commune actively contribute money and labor to the construction of new rural areas.”

In 2024, the total capital mobilized for the implementation of the New Rural Development program in Co Lung commune reached over 9.912 billion VND. From this mobilized capital, the commune focused on investing in essential infrastructure projects, such as building cultural houses in Lac and Ten Moi villages, upgrading the commune's stadium, and constructing a road to Hieu Waterfall. These infrastructure projects, both built and upgraded, not only effectively serve the local socio-economic development but are also transforming the face of rural Co Lung. To date, Co Lung commune has achieved 12 out of 19 New Rural Development criteria.

Despite the many challenges ahead, the Party Committee, government, and people of Co Lung commune remain united and determined to successfully implement the New Rural Development program as soon as possible.

Text and photos: Tien Dat

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/co-lung-no-luc-xay-dung-nong-thon-moi-244208.htm