Land of love

QTO - In the Lao Bao border area, the story of the land of love is still repeated by the people. In the context of people lacking land for cultivation, many cadres and party members have opened their hearts, lending their hills and fields to many poor and near-poor households for production. Since then, many families have escaped poverty and built new lives.

Opening up opportunities to escape poverty

In the years 2018 - 2020, in Lao Bao commune (former Tan Thanh commune), the economic value of cassava increased, while many households lacked land for cultivation. In that dire situation, friendly land loans were formed. The land lenders did not ask for personal benefits, the land borrowers devoted themselves to planting, so that many families escaped poverty and built new lives.

Mr. Ho Van Chom, residing in Ha Let village, was the first person to boldly borrow land. In 2018, realizing that cassava was being purchased at a high price, he decided to grow cassava to improve his income. However, his family's 1 hectare land, which had been planted with cajuput forest, had not yet reached the harvesting stage. "Necessity is the mother of invention", he immediately thought of borrowing land. Knowing that Mr. Hoang Duc Chien, Party Cell Secretary and Head of An Tiem village, had a large hilly land, he approached him to discuss the matter. Without hesitation, Mr. Chien nodded in agreement.

From 2018 to now, Mr. Hoang Duc Chien has lent land to 4 households in Ha Let and Lang Vay villages - Photo: TT

With 4 hectares of land lent for 2 years, Mr. Chom's family focused on production. "The first year I sold more than 30 million VND worth of cassava, the next year I earned nearly 20 million VND. Before that, my family was near-poor, now we have escaped poverty, I also work as a bricklayer's assistant to earn more income. Without Mr. Chien's land, my family would hardly have had a turning point in life," Mr. Chom shared.

Thanks to the kindness of the village chief An Tiem, Ho Van Neng's family in Ha Let village had a chance to change their lives. Seeing the effectiveness of Chom's model, Neng discussed with his wife to knock on doors to ask for land. And once again, Chien did not hesitate to agree.

Soon after, Neng and his wife took care of 7 hectares of land, sowing cassava cuttings one by one. In the early days, the work was hard, the couple toiled from early morning to late afternoon, their hands were rough, their backs were drenched in sweat. But their diligence paid off. After only a few crops, their income increased, and poverty gradually receded. By 2023, Neng's family officially escaped poverty. He also built a spacious house in the middle of the village. "Before, my family was very poor. If Chien hadn't lent them the land, the difficulties would have continued. Now, not only do I have food and savings, I also have money to build a new house," Neng's eyes lit up with gratitude and pride.

Party members always think of the people

In 2018, Mr. Doan Thanh Dung, Head of the Farmers' Association of Co Thanh village, lent Mr. Ho Doi in Ha Let village more than 1 hectare of land to grow rice. After the harvest, Mr. Doi returned the land, and Mr. Dung continued to lend it to another person in Xi Nuc village, old Tan Long commune, to grow cassava. "I used to grow bananas on that piece of land. At the end of 2018, I had just finished harvesting bananas when Mr. Doi came to ask to borrow it. I saw that Mr. Doi had no land to cultivate, so I agreed immediately. 2 years later, I lent that piece of land to someone else to grow cassava. Now they have returned the land for me to grow bananas," Mr. Dung said.

As for Mr. Hoang Duc Chien, from 2018 until now, he has lent land to 4 households in Ha Let and Lang Vay villages. At one point, he lent people about 10 hectares of land, but he never hesitated or set conditions. For him, the most important thing is that people have the opportunity to produce, have more income, and reduce the burden of worrying about food and clothing.

“The people here are kind and simple. When they asked me to borrow land to grow cassava or corn, I immediately agreed. Some borrowed for short periods of 2 years, some for 3 years. Most of them are poor and near-poor households. I help them with whatever I can. My wife is also very supportive,” Chien smiled gently, his eyes shining with the sincerity of a party member who thinks for the people. The May hill area, where he has gradually accumulated and bought for many years, has now become a place to sow seeds of hope for many families. Currently, he continues to lend about 5 hectares of land for people to produce.

Mr. Ho Van Neng's spacious house - Photo: TT

Spread the movement of love

Not only Mr. Chom and Mr. Neng's families, many other households in Ha Let village have also gradually escaped poverty thanks to borrowed land plots. Ha Let village chief Ho Nam said: "The village has 138 households and 618 people. Previously, poor and near-poor households accounted for the majority. From 2018 to 2023, many households in the village borrowed land to grow cassava with an area of ​​1-2 hectares/household, bringing in an income of 35-40 million VND/year. Thanks to that, the number of poor households has decreased significantly, now the whole village has only 20 poor households."

The land lending movement is not limited to one village. In Lao Bao, many other families are also supported. Realizing the practical effectiveness of land lending, the Commune People's Committee has included this content in the conclusions of meetings, considering it a measure to support people with land for production. At the same time, it encourages the spirit of solidarity, sharing, and spreading land lending to become a meaningful movement in the community.

“Since 2018, the movement of borrowing land to grow cassava and corn has started and developed strongly until 2023. The whole commune has 32 households borrowing land, 20 households lending land, with a total area of ​​about 35 hectares. The majority of land lenders are party members and village officials. For households that are not familiar with each other, the commune will connect and ensure that the land borrowing takes place openly and transparently,” informed Vice Chairman of Lao Bao Commune People's Committee Le Ba Cuong.

“From the borrowed plots of land, many poor families have had the opportunity to rise up. The cassava and corn plants planted not only sprouted green on the hills but also germinated hope and aspiration to escape poverty and live a full and prosperous life for the local people,” said Vice Chairman of Lao Bao Commune People’s Committee Le Ba Cuong.

In Lao Bao today, the land loans of love are still mentioned as a beautiful story. It warms the hearts of the land lenders because they have shared a part of their social responsibility; brightens the faces of the land borrowers because they have had more opportunities to rise up. Perhaps, the most valuable thing is not the number of hectares of land borrowed, nor just the amount of money earned after each crop, but the human love, the love of party members for the people that has been affirmed and cultivated over the years. From those simple actions, the belief in community cohesion is strengthened, the belief in the Party's companionship with the people is stronger. And from there, once again, the simple but profound truth is proven, when party members know how to give without calculation, the trust and strength of the community will be multiplied, sowing the seeds for a bright, sustainable future.

Tran Tuyen

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202510/nhung-thua-dat-nghia-tinh-b6d5dff/