Mountainous district of Quang Nam province, chooses tourism to transform

Mountain villages change into "new clothes"

Dong Giang is a mountainous district located in the North of Quang Nam province, where people mainly live on farming and forestry. From that reality, the district has identified the implementation of the National Target Program on New Rural Development as an opportunity to comprehensively change agriculture and rural areas.

Mr. AVo To Phuong - Chairman of Dong Giang District People's Committee said: "After 12 years of implementation, Dong Giang district, with the drastic and consistent direction of the political system at all levels from the district to the villages, residential groups and the positive response of the people, has achieved many impressive results: continuing to maintain 2 communes meeting the NTM standards and 6 villages maintaining the standards of model NTM villages according to the NTM Standards for the period 2021-2025; the average number of criteria/commune reached 10.9 criteria/commune (an increase of 8.7 criteria/commune compared to 2011)...

Synchronous investment in infrastructure has helped the mountainous district of Dong Giang, Quang Nam province transform itself. Photo: TH

The appearance of mountainous rural areas has had many positive changes, the material and spiritual life of the people has been significantly improved. In particular, 10/10 communes have met the criteria for transportation, electricity and irrigation, creating favorable conditions for local socio -economic development.

The planning and development of basic infrastructure are synchronous, ensuring rural-urban connectivity and regional connectivity to serve people's daily life and production. The quality of culture, education, health care, and environment is improved; traditional cultural values are continued to be preserved and promoted in a sustainable manner associated with rural tourism economic development. The operation of the political system is maintained; administrative services are promoted....

Mr. AVo To Phuong - Chairman of Dong Giang District People's Committee shared with Dan Viet reporter about the achievements in building new rural areas of the locality. Photo: TH

With the specific difficulties of a mountainous district with a low starting point, more than 73% of the population are Co Tu ethnic people, so life is still difficult, the complex terrain is often affected by natural disasters, epidemics... leading to many NTM criteria being achieved but lacking sustainability.

At the same time, the set of new rural criteria for the 2021-2025 period at commune and village levels has more indicators and higher quality requirements than the previous period, and investment resources face many difficulties....

Transportation has been at the forefront, helping Dong Giang district make a strong breakthrough. Photo: TH

Mr. Phuong shared that, in order to complete the goals of the New Rural Development Program, in the coming time, the People's Committee of Dong Giang district will continue to mobilize and integrate diverse resources to implement the New Rural Development Program; create favorable conditions to attract investment capital from enterprises through joint ventures and associations in production. In particular, integrating and effectively using the two Sustainable Poverty Reduction Programs and the Socio-Economic Development Program for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas.

The programs and projects that have received attention and investment have helped Dong Giang district shorten the gap between the mountains and the plains. Photo: TH

Mr. Ho Hiep - Director of the Management Board of Construction Investment Projects - Land Fund Development of Dong Giang District said: In recent times, basic construction investment projects, especially transportation, schools... have helped change the rural appearance of the mountainous district of Dong Giang every day.

In particular, projects implemented with capital from the National Target Program on New Rural Development; National Target Program on Poverty Reduction; National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas have met the needs of people's daily life and socio-economic development, contributing to shortening the gap between mountainous areas and plains.

Promoting the economic advantages of gardens and forests associated with tourism

Mr. Phuong said that as a mountainous district, in addition to investing in infrastructure, Dong Giang also focuses on developing new economic models to increase people's income. In particular, it focuses on developing the agricultural and forestry economy associated with tourism and services.

Dong Giang is developing agricultural products in the direction of commodities to increase production value, contributing to increasing people's income. Photo: TH

A Rieu chili is one of the important spices in dishes and has become a part of the culture of the Co Tu people living in the Truong Son mountain range. Photo: TH

By December 2023, the district's average product value per unit of agricultural land area is estimated at 33.29 million VND/ha (an increase of 18.2 million VND/ha compared to 2011). Average income per capita is 38.1 million VND/year (an increase of 31.39 million VND compared to 2011); the poverty rate has decreased to 37.46%, a decrease of 15.06% compared to 2011....

With more than 90% of the natural land area being forest land, more than 50,000 hectares are natural forests. Therefore, Dong Giang district identifies forestry as the key economic sector, the main driving force for local economic development.

People in Dong Giang district harvest A Rieu chili. Photo: TH

Promote the development of models of linking concentrated large-scale timber plantation, associated with forest certification, combined with planting medicinal plants and non-timber forest products under the forest canopy to improve the quality and efficiency of planted forests in a sustainable direction.

Dong Giang district builds concentrated specialized production areas associated with quality standards, standard technical processes, production area codes and traceability, associated with production meeting VietGAP and organic standards.

Dong Giang district regularly organizes fairs to stimulate consumption of agricultural products for people. Photo: TH

Special attention is paid to developing key, typical plants and animals with local advantages such as: tea vine, green tea banana, A Rieu chili, longan, cinnamon, black pig, cow and replicating production models that have been proven effective such as spotted deer, bamboo rats... to diversify and improve the quality and value of agricultural products.

In addition, the district develops forms of cooperation and association in the production and consumption of agricultural products; attracts businesses and corporations to associate with farming households to invest in large-scale agriculture, agricultural processing and non-agricultural sectors, creating many jobs for mountainous workers.

Dong Giang Heaven Gate Eco-tourism Area (Dong Giang District, Quang Nam Province) seen from above. Photo: TH

Dong Giang district is focusing on developing tourism economy, especially eco-tourism, to create a breakthrough in local economic development. Photo: TH

In recent years, Dong Giang district has effectively implemented the "One Commune One Product" (OCOP) Program associated with digital economic development, aiming to increase added value while promoting advantages in terrain, climate, natural landscape, socio-economic infrastructure, promoting the development of rural tourism services, tourism communities and rural tourism service points.

"In the coming time, the district will invest in forming a system of connecting centers, promoting consumption and exporting products associated with a chain of wholesale markets or agricultural product supply centers; strengthening trade promotion, developing consumer markets with neighboring districts, especially with Da Nang City to help Dong Giang become more and more vibrant...", Mr. AVo To Phuong - Chairman of Dong Giang District People's Committee emphasized.

Source: https://danviet.vn/huyen-mien-nui-cua-tinh-quang-nam-chon-du-lich-de-chuyen-minh-2024091400163916.htm