Changing the thinking and working methods of ethnic minorities

The advance investment policy in ethnic minority areas in the Southeast of the province helps people in remote areas change their production mindset and gradually escape poverty.

Ethnic minorities in Ham Thanh commune participate in the demonstration model of new hybrid corn varieties.

No worries about agricultural product output

In the early days of autumn, the corn fields in Ham Can and My Thanh (Ham Thanh commune) are bustling with laughter. In the ripe corn fields, the purchasing trucks are bustling into the fields to transport corn to the agents of the Mountain Service Center. "My agency has 140 households growing hybrid corn on an area of ​​343 hectares. This year's price is about 4,000 VND/kg (30% humidity), although the price is 300 VND/kg lower than last year, the yield is high, and people still make a profit," said Mr. Mang Van Duong - owner of the agent in hamlet 1, Ham Can, Ham Thanh commune, while checking each bag of newly harvested corn.

Currently, Ham Thanh commune has more than 4,200 people/1,258 households who are ethnic minorities, accounting for nearly 26% of the commune's population. According to the Economic Department of Ham Thanh commune, in 2025, the Mountainous Service Center will continue to coordinate with the commune government to deploy investment in advance for 311 households, with a total area of ​​634 hectares. The center's agents ensure timely supply of materials, seeds and fertilizers according to the crop calendar, helping farmers produce on schedule and achieve high productivity. Many ethnic minority households are no longer passive each crop season, but know how to calculate, balance investment, and proactively produce to increase profits.

The Mountain Service Center currently has 11 stores and 5 agents operating in ethnic minority, mountainous, remote and isolated areas. Over the past many years, the center has effectively implemented investment support policies for production development, coordinating with local authorities to organize for households to register to receive investment support for hybrid corn and wet rice. Thereby, people have access to seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides in the form of "advance first, pay later", helping to reduce financial burdens, avoiding falling into the situation of loan sharking or being forced to pay high prices by traders. On average, each year, the Provincial Mountain Service Center invests in advance production of hybrid corn and wet rice for more than 1,000 households, an area of ​​over 1,700 hectares, with a total capital of nearly 12 billion VND, including rice, corn seeds, rice seeds, chemical fertilizers, and various pesticides.

Change from awareness to action

Thanks to the promotion of propaganda and training on farming techniques, the awareness and practices of ethnic minorities in the Southeast region of the province are clearly changing. The training sessions right at the village and field help people gradually get used to the new farming process, know how to fertilize properly, use pesticides in the right dosage and ensure safety.

Mr. Mang Van Ben - a resident of Dong Tien commune shared: “Previously, people grew according to old practices, with low productivity. Now with the guidance of cadres, new varieties, corn grows evenly, the seeds are firm, and income has increased significantly. Since the policy of advance payment has been introduced, during the production season, people do not have to borrow high interest rates to buy seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. With investment in materials, hybrid corn is purchased at good prices, and everyone is confident in production.”

Recently, the demonstration model of the genetically modified F1 single hybrid corn variety CP 511S on an area of ​​6 sao in hamlet 1 Ham Can, Ham Thanh commune has shown positive results. According to the assessment of the Provincial Mountainous Service Center, after more than 3 months of implementation, this corn variety has shown a germination rate of over 95%, high yield, good resistance to pests and drought. The corn kernels are large, firm, the seed separation rate is 81 - 83%, uniform and gives higher economic efficiency than old varieties.

The advance investment policy is proving effective, not only bringing about a golden harvest, but also sowing confidence and arousing the will to rise up and take control of life among the highland people.

Currently, the Mountain Service Center is supporting investment in advance in 2024 according to the plan and schedule for 868 ethnic minority households with a total area of ​​1,582 hectares, with a total value of nearly 10.2 billion VND. Of which, hybrid corn accounts for a large proportion with 699 households, an area of ​​1,465 hectares, with an investment value of about 9.4 billion VND; wet rice is invested for 169 households on an area of ​​117 hectares, with a value of about 760 million VND.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/thay-doi-nep-nghi-cach-lam-cua-dong-bao-dan-toc-thieu-so-394870.html