(VOVworld) – Bac Son commune in the northern province of Quang Ninh is actively involved in the new rural areas program. Although they live in a mountainous border commune with lots of problems, local authorities and residents have taken advantage of available opportunities for rural development.
An inter-hamet road connecting Cao Lan - Luc Phu (Bac Son commune, Mong Cai city) photo: Quang Minh |
Bac Son commune was established in 2003 after being split off from Hai Son commune. The commune has 400 households of 1,700 people living scattered in 4 hamlets covering an area of 50,000 hectares. They are mostly of the Dao, San Chi, and Hoa ethnic minority groups, plus a few Tay and Kinh people. Bac Son commune has a 22.7 km border with China and has 13 border markers.
As a remote mountainous commune, Bac Son has had to confront numerous difficulties in building new rural areas. The local people farm on terraced fields which are impossible to consolidate to take advantage of agricultural mechanization. Small, scattered canals keep the crop productivity low.
The Bac Son authorities have done their best to adapt the natural conditions of mountains and forests to agriculture. They have organized short training courses on cultivation techniques, such as growing acacia. Local people have gradually developed high-yield crops and profitable trees. Giang A Sinh lives in Bac Son commune. “In previous years, people reclaimed deserted land, growing trees to cover bare hills. We mainly grow acacia and harvest them after 7 or 8 years. We sell everything all on a hill. The price depends on the number of trees. For example this hill is worth at least 2,000 USD.”
The local authorities have persuaded the people to raise new types of animal suited to local conditions. In addition to raising Mong Cai pigs, famous for their high quality pork and market value, local people have piloted the raising of Lang Son boars. Ho Thi Vay of Than Phun joined the commune’s pilot program. Her family now has 30 pigs, after starting with just 10 pigs. Vay shares her knowledge and her successful model with others. “I spent approximately 10,000 USD to build a biogas tank and a pigsty and to buy small boars. I sold them after 1.5 to 2 years. 1 kg of pork costs between 10 to 15 USD. My family earns 5,000 USD a year from raising pigs. We also make tofu and distill alcohol to sell.”
Bac Son commune has a long border with China. Ensuring social order and security is the commune’s top priority. Nguyen Van Hoan is a member of Bac Son People’s Committee. “Since its establishment, Bac Son’s social security and order have been stable. The border markers have been protected. The people feel secured and engage in production.”
People’s living standards have improved with a yearly per capita income of 1,500 to 2,000 UDS. The commune has achieved 8 of the 19 new rural criteria, partly thanks to young cadres assigned to work in the hamlets. They have told ethnic people about the new rural areas program and encouraged them to get involved in the program for their own benefit.