To support Khmer people to rise up on their own fields and gardens, contributing to sustainable poverty reduction, local authorities at all levels in Bac Lieu are implementing many effective solutions. Thereby, it also realizes the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas for the 2021-2025 period.

Khmer people in Vinh Trach commune (Bac Lieu city) take care of crops.

“It is better to give a fishing rod than a fish”

In order to provide prompt and timely support to the people, localities with a large Khmer population, on the one hand, accelerate the implementation of priority programs and policies, on the other hand, assign political and social organizations to "go to every alley, knock on every door" to learn about the circumstances, aspirations and conditions of each household, thereby supporting the development of appropriate economic models. Thanks to that, in just a short time, new economic models such as: livestock, agricultural production according to new processes and techniques associated with specific consumption addresses, especially the program of breaking up mixed gardens, planting fruit trees and crops have helped many households maximize their land fund, significantly increasing their income. In addition to strictly implementing the policies and programs of the Party and the State, Bac Lieu has also proactively implemented a number of specific policies of the province from socialized funding sources, promptly solving difficulties and housing needs, production capital for the people. Mr. Kim Danh (Vinh Trach Dong commune, Bac Lieu city) shared: “My family's economy used to be very difficult, but thanks to the local government's support of capital, guidance on crop cultivation techniques, finding outlets, etc., life has now stabilized. In addition, the local government also paid attention to supporting my family with a house so that we can have a stable place to live. Now that the house is neat and tidy, I don't have to worry about rain or wind anymore. I just need to focus on developing my family's economy, contributing to building my village and hamlet to become more civilized and prosperous."

With the economy gradually stabilizing, many Khmer farmers have also boldly joined cooperative groups or cooperatives (HTX) or linked households in hamlets and villages, forming production chains with large enough cultivation areas and agricultural product volumes to be proactive in linking, creating stable output, and limiting the situation of "good harvest, low price". Mr. Anh Thach Quoc Tuan - member of An Hung Phat Cooperative (Hung Hoi commune, Vinh Loi district), shared: "Participating in the collective economy helps Khmer people have more opportunities to develop their family economy as well as access new farming techniques. Thereby, creating a large quantity of goods, consistent quality, selling at a good price and, most importantly, building a collective spirit, community responsibility in production as well as solving arising problems".

In Vinh Loc hamlet (Phuoc Long district), where many Khmer people live, farmers use airplanes to spray pesticides in rice cultivation. Photo: CL

Create motivation to rise

Along with infrastructure investment for production, all levels and sectors also pay attention to directing the implementation of policies to support housing, residential land, production land, vocational training, job creation, mobilizing people to change the structure of agricultural production, applying scientific and technical advances, supporting capital, plant varieties, and livestock suitable for production conditions in ethnic minority areas. In the period of 2021 - 2024, Bac Lieu has allocated 160 billion VND to implement the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction. Thanks to livelihood diversification support programs, combined with raising awareness of commodity production, the average income per capita of Khmer rice-growing households has increased by 20% compared to 2021. At the same time, the rate of poor ethnic minority households has decreased sharply, from 2,329 households in 2021 to 808 households, corresponding to a 2.5% decrease in the rate of poor ethnic minority households per year.

It can be seen that, with the motto "giving a fishing rod is better than giving a fish", localities with a large Khmer population have concretized the policies of the Party and the State in accordance with the reality of their localities to bring ethnic minorities a "fishing rod", opening up opportunities to escape poverty. Because when having access to policies, ethnic minorities have been enthusiastic about working and producing, working hard to develop their family economy.

CHI LINH

Source: https://baocamau.vn/ho-tro-dong-bao-khmer-phat-trien-kinh-te-nong-ho-a64207.html