The prosperous Van Lang has returned

At the end of October, the rice fields of Van Lang commune are lined with flowers waiting for harvesters. By the fire in the stilt house, the fragrant smell of green rice spreads, making the story of poverty reduction between us and the farmers warmer and closer. In the conversation with the farmers, I realized: The team of young, dynamic cadres and farmers who dare to change their production thinking have changed a land.

Ethnic people in Van Lang commune share their experiences in using smartphones to find information.

While stirring up the firewood to light the fire in the stilt house, Mr. Dinh Nhu Phung, 75 years old, from Na Duong village, said softly: The young generation is changing the land of Van Lang commune every day. Many young farmers "dare" to break the monoculture of food crops; abandon mixed garden crops to convert land to grow fruit trees, medicinal plants, build livestock barns, create more jobs on the spot, and increase income for local workers. Thanks to that, the agricultural products of the people have become goods with higher economic value.

Looking through the window of the stilt house, I could see rows of rocky mountains and high mountains of dirt. I remember that on the way back to the commune, the car drove for almost an hour without clearing the slope. Many generations had carved mountains to open the road to Van Lang; many generations of cadres had brought agricultural science and technology to transfer to the people with the hope of changing a difficult land.

Sharing with us, Mr. Nong Van Hoi, Secretary of the Commune Party Committee, said: By taking advantage of State support capital sources and promoting the internal strength of the people, Van Lang commune is improving day by day. Currently, the whole commune still has 746 poor and near-poor households. However, there are also many households with incomes from 300 to more than 500 million VND/year.

Van Lang commune currently has 19 villages, more than 1,600 households, more than 7,500 people, including 5 ethnic groups: Tay, Nung, Kinh, Dao, Mong. Thanks to actively participating in training courses on science and technology transfer organized by the local government in coordination with functional agencies, the farming level of the people has been improved.

Ma Thi Vong, 84 years old, Na Duong village said excitedly: In Van Lang, looking up the hill, in addition to the arrowroot tree that gives roots, there are also fruit trees such as seedless persimmons, dragon fruit, jujubes and precious medicinal plants. Looking out at the village fields, you can see the four seasons changing, from rice, vegetables, tobacco to watermelon. Looking down lower, you can see fish swimming in the pond.

Concentrated production has gradually created an agricultural commodity area. Accordingly, the agricultural products of the ethnic minorities have higher economic value, and are purchased at the right price by traders at the production site. Currently, the commune has 5 OCOP products with 3 stars: vermicelli products of Viet Cuong Cooperative and Tham Luong Cooperative; Huy Hung vermicelli; Gynostemma pentaphyllum tea and Solanum procumbens tea of ​​Bao Chau Cooperative.

For a mountainous, ravine-ridden area far from the provincial center like Van Lang, this is a great improvement. The land is rotated for crops, which means the income of the people is increased.

The SRI organic rice farming model is replicated across most of the double-crop rice fields in Van Lang.

Mr. Vy Van Phuong, Coc Phja village said: To support people in sustainable poverty reduction, many models, projects and national target programs have been deployed and implemented by all levels and sectors in the locality. Through that, people are supported in science and technology, improving production skills.

Mr. Phan Van Minh, Na Diec village shared: Something as simple as the SRI improved rice farming model in an organic direction has helped people reduce costs, increase productivity, and reduce labor. Present there, Ms. Duong Thuy My, Khuoi Noc village happily contributed: The models of growing fruit trees, medicinal plants, and raising livestock deployed locally have brought people increased income, and many families have escaped poverty sustainably.

Through the conversation, we also learned that: In the period from 2020 to 2025, in Van Lang commune, many models have been implemented with high economic efficiency such as: Seedless persimmon growing model with 137 participating households, with an area of ​​nearly 14 hectares; Project to support tools and equipment for agricultural production in the field of cultivation, with 21 participating households.

Pig, native pig, horse and goat breeding projects attracted 260 households to participate. In the commune, there are also 4.4 hectares of purple Khôi nhung tree planting model; 1 hectare of organic cà gai leo tree planting model.

According to the assessment of the authorities: Most of the models and projects have brought high economic efficiency and have been welcomed by the people. This, Ms. Nguyen Thi Le, Quoc Tuan village said innocently: If we see with our own eyes the effectiveness, we will follow each other to do it.

A corner of Van Lang commune.

By effectively using State support funds and promoting the internal strength of the people, the new rural appearance has been and is present in Van Lang. It is recorded that in the past 4 years, the National Target Program on New Rural Construction has disbursed more than 2.4 billion VND.

From this capital, the fields of Khau La, Cho Moi, Na Diec, and Pan Xa had their irrigation works upgraded; the production road from National Highway 279 to Khuoi Kich, Khuoi Noc village was built, making the people's farming work more convenient.

To help people overcome difficulties, the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction has disbursed nearly VND 4 billion for 8 projects to support production development, with the participation of about 500 people from poor households, near-poor households and households that have just escaped poverty.

Along with that, the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas has disbursed nearly 8 billion VND for 6 projects, including supporting 60 households with housing; supporting 6 households to purchase machinery and agricultural tools; supporting 199 households with scattered domestic water; supporting 8 households to develop production linked to the sturgeon value chain.

In particular, the commune has 14 essential infrastructure works for ethnic minority and mountainous areas built; 14 community media groups, 1 trusted address, 3 change leader clubs established and many other meaningful activities deployed.

While we were talking, the afternoon light was already leaning towards the West, from the stilt houses in the mountain valleys came the sweet scent of new October rice. As a habit, Mr. Dinh Nhu Phung, the owner of the house, stirred up the firewood to make the stilt house fire burn brightly, evoking a feeling of fullness. I thought to myself: The land of Van Lang commune is entering a new stage of sustainable development from the very owners of this land.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202511/van-lang-no-am-da-ve-18748c8/