Supplementing raw material forest planning to increase people's livelihoods

(Baonghean) - Implementing the Forest Planting Project according to the objectives of the District Party Congress for the 2015-2020 term, up to now, Tuong Duong district has achieved some remarkable initial results, contributing significantly to the reforestation of bare land and hills; creating jobs and significant income for the people.

Forests for livelihoods...

Coming to Tam Quang commune, following the hillsides, almost everywhere there are vast green planted forests, some are ready for harvest, some are 1 to 2 years old... Ms. Kha Thi Hien - Vice Chairman of Tam Quang Commune People's Committee said: In previous years, the forest planting movement stagnated due to output difficulties, because Tan Hong Pulp Factory, the unit that purchased products for growers in the area, went bankrupt.

However, since the implementation of the afforestation project according to the objectives set by the District Party Congress for the 2015-2020 term, the area of ​​planted forests has increased quite rapidly. After 2 years of implementation, it has increased by 600 hectares, mainly acacia plantations. The forest economy has affirmed its important role, and is truly the livelihood of the people here.

Acacia nursery in Tuong Duong. Photo: Quang An

According to Mr. Dang Dinh Hung in Khe Bo village, Tam Quang commune, the current price of raw acacia is quite high, over 1 million VND/ton, if well cared for, acacia can achieve a yield of over 60 tons/ha. After deducting costs, people earn an average income of over 60 million VND/ha. Because of the high profits, many households in the area have focused on taking care of acacia to achieve the highest yield. Not only that, people also take advantage of the land areas in the hillside area, high slopes that were previously abandoned, to grow acacia. "As for my family, the last crop, also the first harvest, from 15 hectares of acacia brought in over 1 billion VND. Currently, with the support of the district's seeds, my family continues to grow acacia and considers this a long-term source of income."

Similarly, in 2015, Mr. Nguyen Canh Son in Lang Mo hamlet, Tam Quang commune, after receiving seed support, converted all 7 hectares of land previously used for growing corn and cassava to growing acacia. Thanks to actively learning from experience and participating in training courses on transferring technical advances in acacia planting organized by various levels, the acacia area that his family has cared for has developed well. According to Mr. Son's calculations: One acacia planting cycle takes more than 5 years, but does not require care, just planting and waiting for harvest; with an area of ​​7 hectares, after 3 more years, the family will earn nearly 500 million VND.

Coming to Yen Hoa commune, one of the communes that used to be in the most difficult group of Tuong Duong district, in recent years, thanks to afforestation, many households in the commune have risen up to become well-off, and many households are rich. Accordingly, the rate of poor households has now decreased to 38.4%. Closely implementing the Project of the District Party Committee, the commune has proposed a plan to plant new forests, in which, in addition to 505 hectares of forest planted before 2015, from 2015 to now, the whole commune has planted 350 hectares, not to mention over 40 hectares planted by the people themselves, reaching over 100% of the plan.

Mr. Mong Van Xinh - Chairman of Yen Hoa Commune People's Committee, also one of the households growing acacia in the area, said: "With a type of tree grown on hilly forest land, just planting and harvesting without having to take care of it, this is a huge source of profit. Thanks to acacia trees, people's lives have been improved. Households growing acacia have an income 2-3 times higher than those growing swidden fields and rice, many households have become rich thanks to growing a lot of acacia".

... and the forest is expected to be planned

The 2015 - 2020 afforestation project of Tuong Duong district was implemented in 17 communes with the goal of planting 4,700 hectares. Up to now, according to statistics, in 2016, 1,470 hectares were planted, and from the beginning of 2017 until now, over 1 million seedlings have been distributed.

Mr. Lo Kham Kha - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tuong Duong district said: To achieve the above results, in addition to the policies and guidelines to encourage the development of forestry economy in general, it is worth noting the awareness of the people and local Party committees and authorities about the benefits that the forest economy brings, encouraging people to invest in forest planting for economic development. In particular, the allocation of forestry land has also helped people to proactively produce on the allocated land. The investment in building and upgrading the traffic network, facilitating the transportation and circulation of goods including forest products, supporting product consumption...

However, the reality shows that there are still certain difficulties in developing the forest economy in Tuong Duong: Previously, the Provincial People's Committee approved the planning of the raw material growing area of ​​Tuong Duong district for Tan Hong pulp factory, but now Tan Hong pulp factory is bankrupt, so the raw material area is not invested in or implemented. Meanwhile, although people do not have to worry about output at present, the province has not yet approved the planning of the raw material growing area for Tuong Duong district for the MDF wood processing factory.

Mr. Ho Manh Duc, in Lang Mo hamlet, Tam Quang commune - one of the forest planting households, said: "Forest planting households like us are at a disadvantage compared to those located in the raw material area. We are not allowed by the factory to advance without bank interest the following amounts: seedlings, fertilizers, termite control drugs, support for investment in technical design, agricultural extension for forest planters, support for transportation costs..."

Conveyor system to bring raw materials into wood panel processing at Nghia Dan MDF Wood Factory. Photo: Huu Nghia

Regarding this issue, through discussion, Mr. Kha Van Ot - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district said: "Based on working with May Forestry Joint Stock Company, we have submitted to the Provincial People's Committee to withdraw 13,838.4 hectares planned for Tan Hong Pulp Factory and review the planning and area to increase the maximum area that can be planted with concentrated raw material forests to supplement the planning for Nghe An MDF Wood Processing Factory. At that time, in addition to the policies and incentives to encourage the development of forestry economy in general, forest growers in the area will directly benefit from the factory's policies".

Thus, along with waiting for the Provincial People's Committee to consider including the raw material forest planting area for the MDF wood processing factory, the project is built on the basis of potential conditions, advantages and review, analysis of actual market needs, with appropriate mechanisms and policies, encouraging people to develop the forest economy, believing that the raw material forest planting project not only creates opportunities for the forest planting profession, but also helps regain people's trust in the direction of forest economic development, contributing to creating a step of sustainable economic development in Tuong Duong district.

Quang An