Helping people escape poverty

(Baonghean) - Now, visiting the border region of Ky Son district, we can witness the significant transformation of many border communes through effective production and livestock farming models. This change owes a great deal to the efforts of the officers and staff of the Economic and National Defense Brigade 4 (KTQP4).

Hands-on guidance

In the early days, when the 4th Economic and National Defense Brigade was newly established, officers and soldiers of Production Team No. 1 organized training for the Mong people in Ka Duoi village, Na Ngoi commune, on how to cultivate wet rice. From clearing land and bringing water to the fields to preparing the soil, sowing seedlings, and transplanting rice... the officers and staff of Production Team No. 1 meticulously guided the villagers. Although they had carefully observed the soldiers' demonstrations, when trying to practice, Mr. Mua Do Lia kept planting rice seedlings that kept leaning and crooked. Dropping a handful of seedlings, Mr. Lia said: "It's too difficult. I can't do it according to the soldiers' instructions... I'll go back to clearing the fields and making terraces." True to his word, Mr. Lia went ashore to go home. Seeing this, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hien, the team leader of Production Team No. 1, ran after Mr. Lia to persuade him to stay. This time, Lieutenant Colonel Hien continued to demonstrate and directly guided Mr. Lia on how to plant rice seedlings so that they would stand upright. At first, the rice plants were still slightly leaning, but undeterred, Mr. Hien continued to explain to Mr. Lia everything from how to hold the plants to how to plant them in the field... After a while, the rice plants Mr. Lia planted were relatively similar to those planted by the soldiers. From that beginning, to this day, most households in Ka Duoi village and other villages have land for growing wet rice, and in many places, the people even manage to grow two wet rice crops a year.

Officers from the 4th Economic-Defense Brigade provided technical guidance on planting Shan Tuyet tea to the people of Ka Duoi village, Na Ngoi commune.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Huu Oanh, Head of Political Affairs of the 4th Economic-Defense Brigade, said: “In implementing the emulation movement for decisive victory, the Party Committee and Command of the Brigade have focused on overcoming difficulties and helping people escape poverty. Besides propagating and mobilizing people to adopt a new lifestyle and apply science and technology to livestock farming and production, the teams within the Brigade have successfully researched and developed many economic models to transfer to the people. The cultivation of ginger and cassava, originating from that emulation movement, has contributed to the successful development of economic models to help people escape poverty. Now, these plants are considered by the people as 'poverty-eradicating' crops. Following the ginger and cassava model of the Planning and Staff Department, many other successful models have emerged, such as: raising black pigs and black chickens by Production Team 1; the model of planting mahogany trees and raising native cattle by Production Team 3...”.

When we visited Pủng village, Mường Ải commune, to see Mr. Vi Phò Tha's integrated livestock and forestry farm model, he proudly said: "Previously, our family was classified as a poor household. Thanks to the support and assistance, and following the economic development model of the officers and staff of Production Team 4, we now have a farm worth nearly one hundred million dong, and we no longer fear hunger..." To date, the Economic and National Defense Team 4 has mobilized and supported 707 households from the high mountains to establish new villages; the Team has implemented nearly 20 projects and handed them over to the local authorities. The effectiveness of these economic models and projects has helped the communes in the Team's area gradually rise out of poverty and reduce illegal migration.

Contributing to building a culturally rich village.

The breakthrough success in the Ky Son Economic Zone 4 lies in the transformation of outdated customs among the local people. Through persistent persuasion and practical actions, the staff of the production teams have gradually brought a cultured way of life to the villages. Currently, 16 villages in the area supported by the Economic Zone 4 Unit have been recognized as Cultural Villages.

During the implementation process, the officers of the 4th Economic and National Defense Brigade faced many difficulties, but with enthusiasm and responsibility, the unit's officers and staff consistently stayed in the area, practicing the "three together" principle (eating together, living together, working together). For example, the effort by Production Team 2 to persuade the people of Huoi Khi village, Muong Tip commune, to move their livestock and poultry away from their homes was a persistent process. When the officers and staff approached them, many households disagreed. Some cited fear of theft, fear of their buffaloes and cows getting sick; others said they didn't have money... Undeterred, the officers repeatedly met with village elders and heads, asking them to encourage their own families to set an example. Afterwards, the officers helped families level the ground, cut trees to build sheds, and provided financial assistance for roofing materials... Or, in the case of persuading families to send their children of school age to school, initially the villagers agreed to let their children attend, but due to extremely difficult circumstances, after a while the children had to drop out of school. Along with continuing to raise awareness and encourage the local people, the staff of Production Team 2 decided to allocate their savings to purchase food to support families so their children could continue their education. Through this approach, in recent times, the villages under the team's responsibility have no longer experienced the problem of students dropping out of school.

Colonel Nguyen Huy Hoang, Political Commissar of the 4th Economic and National Defense Brigade, shared: “Many models and tasks during the handover process to the people seemed to be failing. But with a sense of responsibility and the determination to help people overcome poverty in each officer and staff member, we overcame all difficulties and successfully completed the assigned tasks. During that process, we closely coordinated with the Party committees and authorities of the communes, and our working teams regularly went down to the villages, working with village elders and leaders to encourage people to abandon outdated customs and actively develop production and livestock farming. As a result, for many years, we have transformed each village, and the lives of the people have gradually become more prosperous...”

Phung Ngoc Thang

HT: 5NK 129 Vinh