To keep the model 'alive' for the people.

(Baonghean) - Implementing the policy of helping ethnic minority people develop their economy and alleviate poverty, dozens of economic models and investment projects have been launched in ethnic minority areas. However, for various reasons, many models and projects have come and gone without staying with the people.

The rattan plants in the project area of ​​Nam Dinh village, Chi Khe commune (Con Cuong district) have passed their prime and there are no buyers.

In Con Cuong district alone, over the past two years, three project models have completely failed: the project to plant *Dinh Lang* (a type of medicinal plant) in Tan Huong village, Yen Khe commune; the project to plant *Rattan* (a type of medicinal plant) in Nam Dinh village, Chi Khe commune; and the project to plant *Red Cavendish* bananas in Cua Rao village, Mon Son commune.

Ineffective economic models and projects not only result in the loss of state funds, donations from organizations and individuals, and the labor of the people, but also greatly affect the confidence of ethnic minority communities in economic development and poverty reduction.

In order for economic models and projects to be effective and remain with the people, we believe the following measures should be implemented:

Firstly, it is necessary to carefully study the soil quality, climate, and weather conditions to determine if they are suitable. Each type of crop and livestock depends on the availability of minerals in the soil that it needs to grow and develop well.

Previously, due to insufficient research on the environment and climate, grafted pomelo trees from Phuc Trach, Ha Tinh, were planted throughout the districts of Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces. However, due to unsuitable soil conditions and sunlight and wind patterns, the pomelos were only the size of oranges and lacked segments.

Then, the persimmon and mango trees brought in by the project turned out to be astringent, the persimmons too sour, and nobody would buy them, so the villagers had to cut them down. Similarly, the lychee trees from Luc Ngan, Bac Giang, after a few years of care, only produced branches and leaves, with small fruits that yielded no economic benefit, so they had to be replaced with other crops. Therefore, thorough research into soil quality, weather, climate, and environment, if deemed suitable, is a decisive factor in the survival and growth of a particular crop or livestock.

Secondly: For ethnic minority communities, in some areas, their business knowledge and regional customs have not kept pace with new market-oriented thinking and techniques. Therefore, when implementing the model, it is necessary to organize detailed training and guidance for the people to practice trial planting, and to strengthen the supervision and technical monitoring, reminding them to strictly follow the procedures.

Thirdly: For a long time, project models implemented at the local level have lacked mechanisms for assigning responsibility to officials and departments in charge. Therefore, responsibility is vague, and no one is held accountable when a model or project fails.

For models and projects to be effective, we believe it is necessary to clearly assign responsibilities and hold individuals accountable to the Party and the people, so that efforts and intellect can be focused on successful implementation. If the model or project succeeds, there should be appropriate rewards; if it fails, responsibility must be taken, even including reimbursement of expenses.

The project to plant Gynostemma pentaphyllum in Tan Huong village, Yen Khe district, has completely failed.

Doing so fulfills the responsibility of civil servants to serve the people while also enhancing their knowledge and drawing on experience to ensure that subsequent models and projects are implemented more effectively.

Farmers' trust is only formed when they see firsthand the economic effectiveness of models and projects.

Phung Van Mui