Hung Xa "Leverage" from land consolidation and plot exchange

(Baonghean) - Although it is a purely agricultural countryside, the agricultural area is only approximately 170 hectares, of which the majority is land outside the dike, so for a long time, Hung Xa has often been mentioned as an area facing many difficulties.

Combine harvesters on the fields in Hung Xa.

However, in late August, we returned to Hung Xa and were surprised to see the golden prosperity of the summer-autumn rice fields entering the harvest season. Hung Xa has now become a bright spot in many economic development and new rural construction movements of the district. Mr. Le Xuan Que - Chairman of Hung Xa Commune People's Committee, while leading us to visit the fields, excitedly shared: "Within just one year of implementation, Hung Xa has reached the finish line in the work of land consolidation and plot exchange, and is considered the leading commune in this work in the entire district. Before land consolidation and plot exchange, the commune had 1,616 fragmented, high and low plots, but by the end of 2013 there were only 902 plots, with an average of 4-5 people per household receiving 1 plot. Now, with machines coming to the fields, people can cultivate very conveniently!"

That advantage is present on the vast rice fields, each with an average area of ​​over 1,000m2. On Mo Tam field, we happened to meet the family of Mr. Le Van Sy (Hamlet 2, Hung Xa) when he and his wife were using the combine harvester on their field. With a strong and agile appearance, Mr. Le Van Sy is truly a typical example of a new-age farmer, when he voluntarily accepted more than 4 hectares of bad and difficult rice fields in the commune to cultivate. In the winter-spring crop of 2014, right on that barren field, the yield of 3.5 quintals/sao of rice was the clearest proof of his family's tireless working spirit and modern production perspective. Waving his hand in front of the vast fields bustling with the sound of harvesters, Mr. Sy confided with determination: “Many people said I was crazy, many people expressed concern when my family volunteered to receive more than 4 hectares of barren fields from the commune. But at that time, an idea had formed in my head, with a large cultivation area it would be convenient to use agricultural machinery, limit human labor, the ability to improve soil quality is very large and in the near future, my family will change the production structure towards VAC farms. If we work hard, the land will not let us down!”

However, the first steps of the land consolidation and plot exchange process in Hung Xa did not always meet with consensus like that of Mr. Le Van Sy's family. It is impossible to count the countless difficulties that grassroots cadres had to face, especially the ideological prejudice of the people who were always afraid of change and disruption. On the other hand, in 1993, implementing Decree 64 of the Government, Hung Xa commune divided stable production land for households in the form of dividing according to population, however, the manual cultivation process caused the soil quality as well as the area to become increasingly fragmented and degraded. The most difficult problem was hamlet 5, when the total cultivated area of ​​the hamlet was only over 168,000m2 but was divided into 429 plots! Adhering to the principles of voluntariness, transparency, and mutual benefit, the Hung Xa commune government has identified Hamlet 5 as a pilot hamlet in the work of land consolidation and plot exchange, with the meaning of "clearing up" difficult areas to create changes in more favorable areas. After the conversion, 110 households in Hamlet 5 are now confident in cultivating over 120 plots of rice, with each household receiving an average of 1-2 plots. That "sweet fruit" is the result of many months of mass mobilization, Ms. Vo Thi Ha - Secretary of Hamlet 5's Party Cell recalls: "We have integrated the content of land consolidation and plot exchange into the activities of organizations and unions such as the Women's Union, Veterans' Association, Elderly Association, Youth Union, etc. Not to mention the hardships and difficulties in mobilizing, it was so difficult that when they agreed to receive converted fields, when it was time to sow and plant rice seedlings, many households still hesitated to go. Only when they clearly saw the benefits and conveniences in hundreds of ways, did all the people excitedly go to the fields!"

The hundredfold benefit that Ms. Vo Thi Ha mentioned is the convenience of transportation and irrigation when carrying out land consolidation and plot exchange. Currently, the internal transportation system has reached every field, the banks, and plots are planned firmly and spaciously, no longer the scene of farmers struggling to carry heavy loads on bumpy, uneven roads. Now, Hung Xa farmers have completely mechanized agriculture in every stage of cultivation and transportation. Joy continuously comes to the people of the commune when in the first 6 months of 2014, the commune has conducted acceptance and put into use the irrigation canal from culvert 42 to hamlet 3, the drainage canal in hamlet 5, built infrastructure drainage canals in the residential land planning area in hamlets 2 and 3... The success of land consolidation and plot exchange creates trust, consensus, tightens solidarity in the community, and builds a spacious new countryside. Mr. Le Xuan Que - Chairman of Hung Xa Commune People's Committee affirmed: "Currently, Hung Xa has only achieved 14/19 NTM criteria, but the government and people of the commune believe that the success of this land revolution will create a strong momentum, striving to reach the NTM finish line by 2015".

Article and photos:Phuong Chi