Commended by the Van Ban District Party Committee and registered in the study and follow Uncle Ho's book in 2023, Party member Dang Huu Than, a Dao ethnic, is one of three outstanding individuals representing the district to attend the Achievement Reporting Ceremony and visit President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. We met Mr. Than at the right time when his family was busy harvesting the Muc grapefruit crop. As the pioneer and only household in Nam Dang commune currently having income from converting crop structure, Mr. Than shared: "I choose to grow a variety of crops, so the harvest is more continuous."

If in Nam Dang, the cinnamon growing movement is developing strongly, Mr. Than's family, in addition to developing more than 8 hectares of cinnamon, has also boldly converted hilly land and poor forests to replace them with Muc grapefruit, green-skin grapefruit, Dien grapefruit and recently 400 grafted Doi trees. In the third year, the grapefruit garden has been harvested. Thanks to proper care, the fruit is abundant and beautiful, each fruit weighs 1-3kg with an average selling price of 15,000-20,000 VND/fruit. With more than 1,000 grapefruits this season, Mr. Than's family has an additional source of stable income. Through sales channels on social networks and being trusted by people in the commune for quality and safety, his family has never had difficulty selling grapefruit.

Mr. Dang Huu Than and his wife harvest Muc grapefruit.

Both being Party members, Mr. Dang Huu Than and his wife always keep in mind that they must live exemplary lives, practice what they preach (Mr. Than joined the Party in 1996, his wife joined the Party in 2000), and must be exemplary, leading the way in changing production thinking, improving life. From just farming according to old customs, with diligence and eagerness to learn, Mr. Than chose to develop a comprehensive economy suitable to his ability, promoting the advantages of land, available conditions of the locality and practical experience in production. He switched to digging ponds to raise fish in low-lying fields, combined with forest gardens, Mr. Than also raised buffaloes, pigs, chickens, intensive farming to use short-term to support long-term, developing a sustainable economy. His family's total income is more than 200 million VND each year, recognized as a good production and business household; his family's economic development method is learned and followed by many people in the commune. Not keeping it to himself, Mr. Than is always willing to share his experiences with the people in the commune. His way of doing things has become a model for many families. “I share everything I know, hoping that everyone can overcome difficulties and move forward together,” Mr. Than said.

Mr. Dang Huu Hoa, Secretary of the Party Cell of Nam Dinh village, said: “In order for studying and following Uncle Ho in a highland village like Nam Dinh to be suitable and effective, every year the Party Cell registers a suitable theme, closely related to the working life of the people. Learning from Uncle Ho from the simplest and most familiar things such as thrift, solidarity, overcoming difficulties to rise up... replicating typical advanced models right in the village. Among them is exemplary Party member Dang Huu Than. Mr. Than's economic development model is visited, studied and followed by other villages and communes.”

Nam Dinh village was implemented by Van Ban district as a pilot model for renovating living space for the Dao ethnic group. Mr. Dang Huu Than's family is also one of the 39 pioneering households. The spacious and well-furnished two-story house was arranged by his family with a yard, garden, and neat fence. The colorful flowers brightened up the whole garden. All thanks to the hands and awareness of renovating the living space, the family's living conditions are becoming more and more comfortable. Mr. Than shared: "Previously, the house was made of wood with a thatched roof, I also researched and learned. Through the propaganda of the departments, branches, and village organizations following the model of renovating living space and lifestyle of the Dao ethnic group, my family also cleans up regularly, so wherever we go, we always want to come back home."

Outstanding examples like Mr. Than help to propagate and replicate the model more effectively. Thanks to that, the number of poor households in Nam Dinh village is now only 4, accounting for 8.8%; there are 11 households with good production and business at the district and commune levels; 80% of households have solid, spacious houses, 45/45 households have hygienic toilets; 90% of households have classified waste pits, the rate of cultural households accounts for 80%. Nam Dinh has become a typical village in implementing the model of improving the living conditions of the Dao people, chosen by the district and commune as a point for localities to visit and study.

The simple yet determined example of Mr. Dang Huu Than shows that learning and following Uncle Ho is not something far-fetched. From that land, hands and spirit of overcoming difficulties, Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style continue to spread in everyday life, persistently and deeply permeating every roof in the remote Northwest.

Article and photos: PHUNG THI DUYEN

* Readers are invited to visit the Ethnic and Religious section to see related news and articles.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/xa-hoi/dan-toc-ton-giao/chinh-sach-phat-trien/nam-dinh-doi-thay-tu-manh-dat-ban-tay-va-tinh-than-vuot-kho-829487