Building a new rural district.

As one of the most challenging districts in the province in implementing the national target program for building new rural areas, Ky Anh has dedicated over 10 years to this central and ongoing task, always demonstrating a strong will to overcome difficulties, employing many innovative approaches, and taking steady steps. To date, the final tasks are being completed so that Ky Anh can be recognized as a standard new rural district by the end of 2023, as set out in the District Party Congress's 2020-2025 term.

In 2011, Ky Anh district embarked on the new rural development program with a small-scale production base, an average per capita income of 15 million VND/year, and a poverty rate of over 22.44%. Therefore, the district prioritized policies and resources to open up avenues for rural economic development, with the view that raising people's income is the decisive factor in the success of the new rural development program.

The biggest turning point, arguably the fundamental shift from traditional small-scale production to large-scale, commodity production in Ky Anh district, is the initial success in land consolidation and reallocation. At the end of 2021, Resolution No. 06-NQ/TU of the Provincial Party Committee was issued, serving as both an opportunity and a crucial impetus for Ky Anh district to thoroughly implement land consolidation and reallocation. Accordingly, Ky Anh district's new approach, compared to other areas, is a persistent and decisive goal: each household or groups of households only cultivate on one plot of land, coupled with the re-issuance of land use right certificates.

Hoa Hop village in Ky Van commune is a pioneering locality in the "revolution" of land conversion.

The first "shot" of this "revolution" was fired in Hoa Hop village (Ky Van commune) - the locality chosen by the district to implement 100% land conversion before the spring planting season of 2022. With the unity and cooperation of officials and people, after just over a month of implementation, Hoa Hop village made a breakthrough: from 786 plots, only 89 plots remained. Based on the experience and methods of the pilot village, the movement quickly expanded throughout the entire commune. To date, Ky Van commune has 3 villages implementing the program with 146.2 hectares completely converted. Mr. Nguyen Tien Dien - Secretary of the Party Committee of Ky Van commune said: "According to the plan, each year the commune will have one village completing the conversion; thus, with 8 villages, by 2027, Ky Van will complete 100% land conversion."

Leaders of Ky Anh district attended the ceremony to launch the land conversion program in the locality.

Ky Anh District has issued a detailed plan for implementing Resolution No. 06-NQ/TU, with a systematic and specific implementation process, aiming to complete 54 areas, covering 1,950 hectares, by the end of 2025. By the end of 2023, Ky Anh District had 18 areas in 9 communes, with a total area of ​​890 hectares, where land consolidation and exchange were thoroughly carried out, along with the re-issuance of land use right certificates to the people. After the conversion, the average plot size is 0.85 hectares; over 80% of households now own only one plot.

The converted fields have been fully utilized by Ky Anh district in building large-scale model fields, producing the same variety and in the same season; developing an efficient and sustainable rice production and consumption chain.

The success of the land consolidation and reallocation policy in Ky Anh district has been quickly affirmed with the emergence of many large fields and model fields producing "one variety, one season, one process"; many linked production models and organic production models have been developed extensively, and many new varieties have been introduced..., creating outstanding income value and, in particular, effectively restructuring the agricultural sector on the basis of sustainable development. For example, in Phu Minh village (Ky Phu commune), after the conversion, the commune has established a 65-hectare VietGap rice production area; a 15-hectare organic rice production field, of which 3 hectares are planned for organic rice production combined with fish farming and the development of ecotourism. Also here, a model of guaranteed rice product sales has emerged between the Phu Minh Village Rice Farming Cooperative and the Nguyen Lam Production, Trade and Service Cooperative (Ky Giang commune); The model is considered a foundation and driving force for expansion in both scope and quality throughout the entire district in the future. Similarly, the "Organic rice production combined with earthworm farming" model in Dau Giang village (Ky Khang commune), covering 17.5 hectares, not only significantly increases income per unit of product but also creates a sustainable ecosystem.

The "Organic rice production combined with earthworm farming" model in Dau Giang village, Ky Khang commune, promises great success.

Alongside land conversion, primarily in the lowland areas, the upper-lying communes, considered to have significant potential in Ky Anh district's sustainable agricultural development strategy, have implemented various approaches. With its advantageous land area, soil, and favorable microclimate, tea has long been considered a "wealth-generating" crop for the people of upper Ky Anh and a key product in the district's rural development program. Currently, the total tea cultivation area in the district has reached over 400 hectares, with 80% produced according to VietGAP standards; nearly 300 hectares are already yielding harvests, with a fresh tea leaf production of over 2,800 tons per year. In the new phase of the agricultural development strategy, each year localities plant an additional 50 hectares, focusing on enhancing product value and aiming for OCOP (One Commune One Product) certification in the upper region.

To date, the total tea cultivation area in the district has reached over 400 hectares, of which 80% is produced according to VietGAP standards.

Leveraging the advantages of developing forest-based economic activities, with the goal of enhancing the quality of plantation timber, from 2020 to the present, Ky Anh district, in coordination with An Viet Phat Forestry Cooperative ( thuộc An Viet Phat Group - Ho Chi Minh City), has supported the certification of sustainable forest management (FSC) for Ky Tan and Lam Hop communes. Initially, 3,714 hectares have received FSC certification. Mr. Nguyen Tien Duong, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Ky Tan commune and Head of the An Viet Phat Ky Anh FSC household group, stated: “After more than two years of participation, we have seen that the timber produced is purchased at a higher price than traditional plantations. When selling, farmers no longer have to strip the bark from the Melaleuca trees – a process that takes a lot of time and money, resulting in increased product weight and higher economic value.”

The rice produced by the Phu Minh Village Rice Growing Cooperative has been purchased by the Nguyen Lam Production, Trade and Service Cooperative (Ky Giang commune).

Also as part of the strategy to expand and develop key forest products, a new direction is emerging with a pilot project to plant rattan in Lam Hop and Ky Trung communes since the beginning of 2023; currently in the nursery stage with 35,000 seedlings. When this new planting area comes into operation and is expanded, it will be a source of raw materials to supply the processing needs of Ha Thanh Agricultural and Forestry Cooperative in Lam Hop commune (with a scale of 500-600 tons of rattan raw materials per year).

Focusing on developing livestock farming towards intensive, industrial-scale farms and family farms, alongside expanding the total herd size and improving the quality of livestock, Ky Anh district has partnered with Que Lam Group Joint Stock Company to build models aimed at creating higher and more sustainable income. Mr. Tran Van Hop's family in Ha Phong village (Ky Phong commune) is one of the leading models in this livestock farming partnership since October 2022. With a 450 ^m² barn, they have now developed over 100 commercial organic pigs per year, including 7 sows, generating nearly 500 million VND in revenue annually. According to Mr. Hop, organic farming offers many benefits: clean and safe meat products; simpler care processes; lower input costs compared to traditional farming due to the utilization of locally available green vegetables; and the use of biological bedding technology and probiotics to treat waste, keeping the barns dry, odorless, and free of wastewater. All by-products are processed into organic fertilizer to fertilize medicinal herb gardens, livestock feed, and other crops.

Ky Phong mushroom products are currently being developed as OCOP (One Commune One Product) products.

In the field of aquaculture, primarily shrimp farming, Ky Anh district has focused on directing and supporting investment in modernizing and upgrading the infrastructure of farming areas towards intensive, high-tech farming. It encourages people to change from extensive farming methods and boldly develop large-scale intensive farming models. To date, the entire district has nearly 50 hectares of intensive farming (compared to only 12 hectares in 2020); dozens of semi-intensive and high-tech intensive shrimp farming models have been established; shrimp diseases have significantly decreased; and production has increased more than 3.5 times compared to before.

By mobilizing the entire political system to implement the OCOP Program, Ky Anh district has successfully launched this program early on, creating a strong impetus for restructuring the agricultural sector towards modernization, sustainability, and increased production value. From 2019 to the present, the entire district has had 61 registered ideas, of which 49 ideas have been evaluated and approved, and 35 production and business plans have been approved by the district People's Committee. The entire district currently has 18 products that have achieved OCOP 3-star standard (including 16 products achieving OCOP 3-star and 2 products achieving OCOP 4-star).

Phu Khuong fish sauce (Ky Xuan commune) is one of the first products in the province to be recognized as a 3-star OCOP product in 2019; and upgraded to 4 stars in 2021. Annually, the cooperative purchases 350-400 tons of fish as raw materials for fish sauce production, with a production scale of over 300,000 liters per year, and an expanding market. Ms. Le Thi Khuong, Director of the Phu Khuong Seafood Processing and Purchasing Cooperative, said that the cooperative is continuing to upgrade its technology, improve quality, innovate product design and packaging; continue training its members; and focus on researching, developing, and expanding the market... with the goal of upgrading the product to a 5-star OCOP product by 2024.

Cam Khe Xai, from Ky Son commune, was recognized as a 3-star OCOP product in 2019.

Recognizing the importance of participating in OCOP (One Commune One Product) production, more and more establishments aspire to be listed as key local products. Mr. Phan Huy Tuan, the owner of a mixed farm raising livestock, farming, and producing mushrooms in Ky Phong commune, is building a large-scale oyster mushroom cultivation model and simultaneously developing a 3-star OCOP product in the locality. From small-scale mushroom production, with encouragement and capital support from the district, he invested 1.1 billion VND to build a mushroom spawn production facility with many modern equipment, covering an area of ​​630 ^m² , with a capacity of 3-5 thousand spawn bags per day; supplying mushroom spawn to his family and selling to other production facilities. A new aspect of Mr. Tuan's mushroom spawn production is that instead of using sawdust to make mushroom growing bags, he has researched and used straw as a raw material through a moist composting process. According to Mr. Tuan, using straw as a substrate results in larger mushroom clusters, a more beautiful white color, and a crispier, sweeter taste. This is considered an advantage that will help Ky Phong mushrooms establish themselves on the district's OCOP product list in the near future.

Tu Yen sausage and ham (left) and Nguyen Lam sesame rice crackers, a 3-star OCOP product from Ky Giang commune (right).

Mr. Phan Cong Toan, Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Ky Anh district, said: “Currently, the district is focusing on building a supply chain for clean, organic agricultural products and OCOP products to ensure food safety and product quality. To date, 18 OCOP products and 5 clean, organic agricultural products have been traced and introduced on the agricultural e-commerce platform https://nongsankyanh.com; dozens of other products are in the process of being developed. Many agricultural products are produced meeting high quality standards such as: rice (90.91 ha), greenhouse-grown cantaloupe (1,700 ^m2 ), oranges and pomelos (73.7 ha); 2 poultry farms and 1 intensive shrimp farming facility meet VietGAP standards; 9 OCOP product production facilities meet GMP and HACCP quality standards...

Phu Khuong fish sauce (Ky Xuan commune) is a 4-star OCOP product.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hai, Vice Chairman of the Ky Anh District People's Committee, affirmed that with attentive guidance, a persistent search for new approaches and methods, and thorough efforts to overcome difficulties, the government and relevant agencies have worked alongside the people to promote production development. By the end of 2023, the average per capita income of the entire district reached 48.9 million VND/person/year (an increase of 30.39 million VND compared to 2013); the poverty rate in the entire district by the end of 2022 was only 4.36% (new poverty standard), and the near-poverty rate decreased to 4.32%. In the coming time, the district will continue to focus on creating breakthroughs in the development of large-scale, modern, and sustainable commercial agriculture; attracting investment to strongly develop rural industries, small-scale handicrafts, services, and trade in the area, linked with the shift in labor structure and increasing income for rural people. Step by step, integrate agricultural production and new rural development with tourism, services, environmental protection, preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values, and build bright, green, clean, and beautiful villages with rich cultural identity...

(To be continued)

Text & photos: Vu Vien - Huyen Trang - Tien Quan

Design: Cong Ngoc

2:12:12:20 23:08:35

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/nong-nghiep/xay-dung-huyen-nong-thon-moi-ky-anh-no-luc-but-pha-bai-1-tim-nhung-gia-tri-moi-cho-nong-nghiep-nong-thon/258585.htm