"Key" to developing agricultural commodity production

(Baonghean) - Land consolidation has overcome the situation of fragmented production, brought mechanization to the fields, opened up the direction of commodity agricultural production, increased the value of agricultural production and income for farmers. Those are the results we have recorded in Do Luong district...

In July, when the long heat wave ended, the rice fields in Do Luong district were lush green, signaling a bumper harvest season. Following the smooth, paved inter-district road, I went to Tan Son semi-mountainous commune, about 7km from Do Luong town. Tan Son completed the land consolidation work in 2014 and is one of the localities highly appreciated by Do Luong district for exceeding the target compared to the approved project, especially with a low average number of plots per household.

Before the land consolidation, Tan Son had the advantage of redistributing land to people from 8-10 plots/household down to 2-6 plots according to Directive 02 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee in 2001. However, with the sloping terrain, the entire land was basically divided into plains, terraces and lowlands, so how to carry out the land consolidation work in a reasonable way, ensuring harmony of interests and gaining the consent and support of all farmers was not a simple matter. However, with the awareness that land consolidation is a premise to encourage land accumulation to develop large-scale agricultural production, contributing to the effective implementation of the new rural construction program, Tan Son had an effective way of doing it. Comrade Tran Van Hai, Chairman of Tan Son Commune People's Committee said:

“In the process of implementing the land consolidation project, the entire political system always emphasizes ideological work so that people can see the necessity of land conversion, so people all raise their spirit, enthusiasm and responsibility, helping the implementation process go smoothly and be completed quickly.”

Livestock farm model after land consolidation and plot exchange in hamlet 10, Tan Son commune.

By October 2014, the commune's land consolidation project was completed, all hamlets had completely allocated land to households and individuals. Accordingly, the total agricultural production area of ​​6,594 plots was reduced to 2,226 plots, the number of households with one plot accounted for more than 38%. On average, there were only 1.65 plots/household with an average area of ​​1,264m2/plot. The intra-field traffic system was opened with 36 new routes and expanded 178 old routes, increasing the total length to more than 54km. Intra-field irrigation works were also planned with 29 new canals, in addition to 153 old canals.

Up to now, Tan Son farmers have produced the second crop on agricultural land after land consolidation with much excitement. In particular, this summer-autumn crop, the commune has cooperated with enterprises to build a large model field on an area of ​​30 hectares to grow Thien Uu 8 rice variety with the participation of 200 households in hamlets 6, 13, and 14. In addition, after land consolidation, many households have boldly invested in agricultural production in the form of commodities, initially bringing high economic efficiency. Visiting the combined garden, pond, and barn model of Mr. Nguyen Van Han's family in hamlet 10, during the land consolidation process, he exchanged his family's fragmented rice fields to receive nearly 1 hectare of bad rice land to invest in renovating as a family farm. Pointing to the fish ponds and newly planted fruit orchards, he said that this area used to be terraced fields, making cultivation very difficult. After receiving the land, he invested more than 60 million VND to rent machines to level the field and dig a pond to raise fish.

Currently, the family has built a farm to raise 1,500 geese, chickens, and ducks for eggs and meat; dug 5 ponds to raise fish, including 1 pond for raising fish fry and the remaining 4 ponds for raising commercial fish. He has also planted fruit trees with high-yield, good-quality varieties such as guava... and planted grass to feed cows. With his hands deftly feeding the ducks, Mr. Han excitedly shared: "If we did not consolidate the land, where would we be able to build a farm like now? Just started operating but I see very good results. Every month, after deducting expenses, the farm also brings in an income of 10 - 15 million VND. I also called my son who is doing business in the South to come back and work with me to develop the farm more effectively."

With the active participation and high determination of the entire political system, up to now, the land consolidation work in the district has been implemented synchronously in 2013 and 2014. According to statistics of the People's Committee of Do Luong district, up to now, the whole district has 344/355 hamlets in 32 communes that have completed land consolidation. The number of plots has decreased from 5.9 plots/household to 1.74 plots/household, exceeding the target of 1.93 plots/household. In which, communes such as Dang Son, Trang Son, Hoa Son, Tan Son, Da Son... have exceeded the target much compared to the project. The average area of ​​each plot has also increased from more than 356m2 to 1,144m2, creating favorable conditions for people to invest in large-scale production. The internal traffic and irrigation systems have been expanded and newly built with the volume of excavation and filling reaching nearly 4 million m3, reaching 120% of the plan. The "revolution" of land consolidation and plot exchange has brought a new look to the countryside of Do Luong.

Still the same rice fields, but behind that are many changes that each farmer can feel very clearly. On the green rice fields in Van Son commune, farmer Nguyen Thi Van, hamlet 6 is quickly spreading fertilizer for the rice. Asked about the efficiency after land consolidation and plot exchange, she said: "My family has several sao of rice, which used to be divided into 3-4 plots, now there is only 1 plot. Now we can bring in plows and harvesters so the labor is less, the rice yield is also higher than before. We have also guided the selection of high-quality rice varieties for cultivation so the production efficiency has increased a lot."

Ms. Van's joy is also the common joy of Do Luong farmers. Because the district's initial orientation when consolidating land plots, first of all, must achieve 4 goals: Favorable cultivation, favorable residence; favorable cultivation; applying intensive farming and bringing mechanization to agricultural production. This is also the foundation for the district to implement plans to build a commodity agriculture that have been outlined in the next phase. Accordingly, Do Luong will focus on directing to expand high-quality rice production, striving to reach 2,000 - 2,500 hectares by 2020; at the same time, bring rice seed production to about 1,000 hectares. In addition, promote planning of specialized areas associated with crop conversion, integrating the production of high-value crops and animals. Currently, these orientations have been initially implemented in practice, opening up many promising business models.

According to district statistics, about 80% of agricultural land uses tillage machines, greatly freeing up labor. High-quality rice varieties such as AC5, Bac Thom 67... have been put into production in all 33 communes and towns in the district, most in Yen Son, Van Son, Thinh Son communes... The area of ​​rice seeds has been cultivated to 100 hectares. Many conversion models on agricultural land have also been implemented by farmers such as: switching to growing colors in Tan Son commune; combined production according to the color, fish, rice formula in Xuan Son commune... The above changes are just the first steps but they are signs, signaling many strong changes in the coming time of Do Luong agriculture. Talking to us, comrade Nguyen Cong Chau, Vice Chairman of Do Luong District People's Committee said: "To implement the set goals, Do Luong will continue to direct and effectively implement them to improve agricultural production, bring higher income to farmers, thereby building an increasingly prosperous and civilized rural area."

Land consolidation is a necessary foundation, one of the key to restructuring and modernizing agriculture. Behind the results in Do Luong, there is a breakthrough thinking not only of the Party Committee, the government but also of the farmers on the path to an effective agricultural production. We believe that this spirit will continue to be strongly promoted to bring greater achievements to agriculture, farmers and rural areas of Do Luong in the following years.

Nhat Le