Land consolidation and reallocation - "Voices" from the fields - Part 1: The great "revolution"

(Baonghean) - In Nghe An, after more than 3 years of implementing land consolidation and exchange according to Directive 08-CT/TU of the Provincial Party Committee, the initial results have truly proven the correctness and sensitivity of a policy that is in line with the people's will and the requirements of reality; it serves as a basis for all levels, sectors and localities to propose specific solutions in the implementation process to achieve the set targets and contribute to improving the province's socio-economic development.

Demands from practice

It can be said that Directive 08-CT/TU, born from the inevitable demands of reality, created a powerful "revolution" in land management, igniting enthusiasm among the people. Recognizing this as an opportunity, many localities have effectively applied it to replan agricultural land to strengthen management and, especially, to enhance land use value at a time when farmers are tending to abandon their fields. After more than 3 years of implementation, 9 district-level units have completed land consolidation and exchange in the field for 100% of their communes. Among them, localities such as Anh Son, Yen Thanh, Thanh Chuong, Quynh Luu, and Nam Dan are considered to have performed well with strong enthusiasm and achieved high effectiveness in practice. However, many localities still have low implementation results, such as Tan Ky, Hung Nguyen, Nghi Loc, Con Cuong, Que Phong, and Quy Chau.

Implementing land consolidation and reallocation in Xuan Hoa commune (Nam Dan district). Photo: Pham Bang

Compared to other localities, Thanh Chuong district is not blessed with favorable natural conditions. The land has a very complex topography, with terraced fields, steep slopes, and many swamps. In addition, the previously divided farmland was in a comb-like pattern, making the land consolidation process very difficult. However, thanks to the proactive approach, strong and decisive involvement of the Party committees and authorities at all levels, and the consensus of the people, the results of land consolidation in Thanh Chuong district have been very good.

In 2009, recognizing the fragmented and inefficient nature of farmland, the district developed a plan to continue mobilizing farmers to convert and transfer land (second phase) to implement industrialization and modernization of agriculture and rural areas. The process of direction and management was carried out synchronously and consistently. By 2012, Directive 08 of the Provincial Party Committee was issued, further strengthening the district's determination. To date, all 38 communes in the district have completed land consolidation and exchange. Before conversion: On average, each household had 9.5 plots; 5.6 zones/household, with an area ranging from nearly 200 to 1,000 m2. After conversion, the average number of plots per household is 4.5; 2.26 zones/household, with plot sizes ranging from 310 to 5,000 m2.

Construction of an irrigation canal system in Quynh Hong commune (Quynh Luu district). Photo: PB

As the first district-level unit in the province to complete land consolidation and exchange, by 2014, Yen Thanh district had only two remaining localities (out of a total of 39 communes and towns) implementing this work: the town of Yen Thanh and Kim Thanh. Mr. Nguyen Duc Thien, Head of the District's Department of Natural Resources and Environment, stated: Recognizing this as a crucial step in the development of agriculture, farmers, and rural areas, all levels of government, from the district to the communes, have focused on directing the process, prioritizing the implementation of democratic principles. This has garnered the support and approval of the people and mobilized significant resources from residents for inland irrigation and transportation infrastructure. Overall, the land consolidation and exchange process has progressed rapidly, closely adhering to the approved New Rural Development plan. This has created land for the construction of essential infrastructure, public works, and welfare facilities, contributing to the early completion of criteria for New Rural Development.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Toan (Deputy Head of the Land Management Department - Department of Natural Resources and Environment) assessed: In general, the results of land consolidation and exchange in the field are basically consistent with the purpose and progress of the approved land consolidation and exchange project. The progress in the field in some pilot communes is fast and basically ensures quality. The land consolidation and exchange process has been linked to the planning of field improvement, upgrading of transportation and irrigation systems, and gradually linking land consolidation and exchange with the rational transformation of crop and livestock structures. For localities that have done well, the reason is due to good ideological work to create a change in awareness among cadres, Party members and the people. Party organizations at the grassroots level have shown determination and a sense of responsibility in the implementation process, creating fairness and democracy at the grassroots level, and promoting the strength of the whole people with the motto "The people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect".

When the people understand, they will agree.

Sharing the experience of Thanh Chuong district, Mr. Tran Dinh Thanh, Head of the District Agriculture Department, said: The most important issue in land consolidation and exchange is propaganda and mobilizing people's consensus and support. Therefore, in addition to holding meetings with the people, listening to opinions and suggestions, and publicly and transparently disclosing the policies and plans, the District Steering Committee has assigned political and social organizations to organize propaganda to their members, and Party members must set a good example. In directing the second phase of land conversion and transfer, members of the commune-level Steering Committees closely monitor the work and effectively carry out inspection and supervision to promptly correct any errors in the implementation process. "Members of the Steering Committees from the district to the commune level must truly focus on the work and effectively carry out inspection and supervision to promptly correct any errors in the implementation process. Only then will the people trust and wholeheartedly participate, achieving high results," Mr. Thanh said.

As for Anh Son, a low-lying mountainous district, the land consolidation process faced numerous difficulties. However, thanks to dedicated officials with effective methods and approaches, and especially their close connection with the people, the conversion results were high. To date, all 20 communes in Anh Son have completed land consolidation in the field, with an average of 2.1 plots and 2-3 farming areas per household. For example, Tuong Son, a mountainous commune in Anh Son district still facing many difficulties, has completed land conversion across the entire cultivated area of ​​its 12 villages, averaging 1.97 plots per household. The commune recognized that while policies are issued from the top down, implementation must come from the bottom up, so Tuong Son intensified its efforts in mobilizing and educating the people. Initially, when implementing the plan and soliciting public opinion, the commune encountered some disagreement from a segment of the population.

However, recognizing this as a major campaign with the people as the main actors, the commune persistently carried out ideological work through dialogue, meetings, and direct interaction. To ensure the people understood and participated, Tuong Son commune organized 180 meetings, both large and small, from the commune level to the hamlet level. People's questions were answered immediately, without circumvention. Cadres and Party members had to set a good example and not act for personal gain; only then would the people agree.

As for Yen Thanh district, in addition to mobilizing the people, the development of a rational and effective land conversion plan is a successful lesson. First, the plan must be meticulously developed, closely adhering to the approved New Rural Development plan, defining production zones, allocating crops and livestock, and closely following the income enhancement plan in New Rural Development of each commune to have a plan for implementation from the outset. From preparation to implementation for the people, a roadmap and specific plan must be developed. The financial plan must be developed at the beginning of the year, and the commune budget must prioritize land conversion.

In particular, the land conversion plan must be approved through democratic discussions at the household, hamlet, and commune levels. The people should be mobilized to contribute land and labor democratically and openly to build irrigation and transportation infrastructure, cultural facilities, and farms within each residential area... “During the land conversion process, priority should be given to households that are inclined to form production groups in a concentrated area to facilitate intensive farming, introduce mechanization into the fields, and free up agricultural labor, thereby achieving the agricultural labor structure according to the New Rural Area criteria,” shared Mr. Nguyen Duc Thien, Head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Yen Thanh District.

Land consolidation and exchange have created favorable conditions for the development of commodity production, specifically by establishing many large-scale model fields that yield high economic and social benefits, increasing productivity and output by 10-15% compared to conventional farming, increasing farmers' income, and contributing to the construction of new rural areas. Land consolidation and exchange also helps the State to firmly grasp agricultural land resources and improve land management efficiency. It can be said that Directive 08-CT/TU of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee is a correct and practical policy, meeting the trend of modernizing agricultural production and increasing the value of commodities. Therefore, localities that do well in land consolidation and exchange will create significant value in agricultural production and improve the lives of their people.

(To be continued)

Pham Bang - Phu Huong