Farmers in Luc Ba 'don't let the land rest'

Luc Ba is one of the communes in Dai Tu district located in the semi-flooded area of ​​Nui Coc Lake. Much of its land lies below the 48.25m elevation mark, limiting its cultivation potential. With agricultural land shrinking, the people of Luc Ba are striving to actively apply scientific and technological advancements to production, intensifying cultivation, intercropping, and increasing land turnover to enhance the value of agricultural products per unit area.

Farmers in Luc Ba commune (Dai Tu district) are tending to their newly planted tea bushes.

We meandered along concrete roads, through hills covered with lush green tea bushes and rice paddies, until we met Mr. and Mrs. Nguyen Quang Hai in Van Thanh hamlet, tilling the land and planting sesame seeds. He said: "If the land has enough water, my family grows rice; if it lacks water, we grow sesame, and sometimes we plant sweet potatoes or cassava... Farmers who let their land 'rest' will starve, journalist!"

His witty remark made me suddenly feel more deeply about land – the most important means of production for farmers, primarily providing them with a livelihood. That's why, as we passed through the villages of Binh Huong, Dong Mua, Dam Giao, Van Thanh, Thanh Lap… we didn't see a single empty plot of land.

The high hills are covered with acacia trees, the low hills are planted with tea, and the fields are planted with corn, rice, peanuts, sesame... Each season brings its own produce, and the people of Luc Ba invest in intensive farming and crop rotation, increasing the land's turnover rate to maximize the value of crops per hectare.

Meeting Mr. Duong Van Tai in Binh Huong hamlet, who was picking tea leaves, he stopped what he was doing when he learned we were journalists and happily chatted: "My family's economy mainly depends on over 6 acres of tea. To ensure quality and increase prices, I cultivate it according to VietGAP standards. All the land we own is covered with fruit trees and tea plants. Land is the most precious thing to us farmers. With land for farming, we always have plenty to eat; without land, we have to work as hired laborers, sometimes going hungry, sometimes having enough to eat."

Mr. Duong Van Tai (from Binh Huong hamlet, Luc Ba commune, Dai Tu district) is harvesting tea.

Every farmer cherishes their land, but perhaps the farmers of Luc Ba understand even more deeply the fundamental values ​​that land provides. Many households previously lived in flood-prone areas, where even their homes were difficult to protect during the rainy season, let alone their land for production. They slept in constant fear of their beds being flooded or their houses collapsing, and woke up to the heartbreaking sight of their fields submerged in a "sea of ​​water."

Furthermore, the commune's terrain consists of many low, undulating hills, making agricultural development challenging.

But in recent years, farmers in Luc Ba have not only ensured local food security but have also become wealthy by cultivating tea and fruit trees, combined with raising pigs and chickens, earning a stable income of 100-200 million VND per year, like the families of Mr. Tran Tien Dung and Mr. Dinh Anh Tuan in Binh Huong hamlet.

With a total rice cultivation area of ​​over 140 hectares (2 crops) and over 112 hectares of other crops planted with high-yielding, high-quality varieties and cared for according to proper technical procedures, the commune's food production has increased over the years, reaching over 810 tons in 2024 alone, equivalent to 101% of the plan.

In addition, the people focus on cultivating over 310 hectares of tea, including more than 30 hectares of winter tea, yielding over 3,800 tons and providing a significant income for tea-growing households. Mr. Duong Van Tai said: "The money for raising children, educating them, building houses, buying motorbikes... all came from selling tea."

In the fields, the people of Luc Ba diligently and industriously cultivate rice, corn, potatoes, cassava, and other crops throughout the four seasons; in the barns, they raise pigs, chickens, and breeding buffaloes, always exceeding the targets set by the commune. For example, the buffalo herd has over 240 animals, reaching 121% of the plan; the pig herd has over 2,000 animals, reaching 168%; and the poultry flock has over 56,000 birds, reaching 101% of the plan. Thanks to their active participation in agricultural and forestry production and livestock development, Luc Ba commune now has only 27 poor households, accounting for more than 2% of the total population.

With economic development, people have raised their awareness and sense of responsibility in contributing their labor and resources to building advanced new rural areas, including the movement to expand village roads to 6 meters.

Currently, the commune has completed concrete paving and land clearance, expanding the road corridor for nearly 4km out of the planned 4.3km. 100% of hamlets have achieved the status of "cultural hamlet". In 2024 alone, the commune received nearly 7 billion VND in investment for repairing school buildings and renovating and upgrading inter-commune roads. Currently, the commune has met 18 out of 19 criteria for advanced new rural commune status.

“2025 is the final year of the 2021-2025 socio-economic development plan, so there are decisive factors that require the Party Committee, government, and people of Luc Ba commune to make great efforts to seize opportunities, overcome difficulties, and successfully complete the set tasks and goals. We are determined to continue to effectively exploit resources and potential to develop the economy. We will promote the shift in crop structure and livestock structure towards intensive farming and sustainable value increase. This includes focusing on introducing high-quality rice varieties such as J02, Du Huong 8, Syn98, HKT99, TH3-7…, encouraging people to produce rice according to VietGAP and organic standards; increasing the area planted with high-value cash crops; focusing on developing tea, the commune's main economic crop; and promoting and encouraging people to develop OCOP products… Striving to build Luc Ba commune.” "Achieving advanced new rural standards in the second quarter of 2025" - Comrade Tran Duc Tuan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Luc Ba commune, shared with us.

Leaving Luc Ba as the sun began to set, we encountered farmers leisurely returning home after a day's work in the fields. The rural scene was truly peaceful.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202504/nong-dan-luc-ba-khong-cho-dat-nghi-8382ba8/