Mobilizing people in Cao Son (Anh Son)

(Baonghean) - Following National Highway 7B, through Lang Son, you will reach the territory of Tao Son commune. Here, rural roads have been expanded, and markets and schools have been built. Meeting us while harvesting spring squash in the fields of hamlet 6, Ms. Mai Thi Ha excitedly said: "This is the "first" squash crop on the land that has just been consolidated and exchanged for a household in the village. In early February, squash was planted, and in April, it was harvested. All squash products are purchased by agents in the commune. After harvesting squash, corn will be planted." According to Ms. Ha, from the conversion of fields and consolidation of fields, farming households receive adjacent land. Every household changes the crop structure to increase income. Squash is an easy-to-grow, adaptable plant with low investment costs, costing about 500,000 VND/sao, so it is chosen by many households. In the commune, there are currently 2 facilities specializing in collecting squash products for import and sale to the northern provinces. According to Ms. Ha, the market price of pumpkin is 8,000 VND/kg. In this first pumpkin crop, she harvested nearly 1.5 tons/sao. After deducting expenses, the profit was nearly 14 million VND/sao (in nearly 3 months), which is a significant income for farmers in Tao Son.

Cao Son farmers harvest squash on converted land.

In addition to crop conversion, the movement to build rural roads in Tao Son is also quite bustling. The major traffic route (type A) located in village 3 has a total length of over 500m, completed since the end of January, with a roadbed width of 5.5m. To implement the plan, the hamlet steering committee organized a meeting with the people, discussing and agreeing on the level of contribution. The hamlet's implementation method is that any household with constructions and land related to the road corridor clearance will contribute their own funds and materials, the hamlet will gather workers to build and return the lost constructions and fences. Each household in the hamlet also contributes an additional 20-30 thousand VND to support households with constructions that must be cleared... Mr. Dao Van Quy - hamlet 3, excitedly said: "To contribute to the construction of the road, each person contributes 400 thousand VND, the 3 main laborers in my family alone contribute for 1 month, currently we are making the roadside and building a complete drainage ditch".

Tao Son currently has over 2,000 hectares of natural land and over 1,000 households. Its geographical location is isolated from National Highway 7 across the Lam River. Before implementing the new rural construction (NTM), Tao Son only met 5/19 criteria. Some hard criteria are still weak, such as the traffic system is mainly dirt roads, the whole commune has only 2km of concrete and 4km of asphalt; the kindergarten and secondary school system has not met the requirements, the market is makeshift; the economic structure is shifting slowly, the land is fragmented, with an average of 9-10 plots/household. From 2001-2007, the Party Committee and People's Committee of the commune brought watermelon to the people to grow on fertile land and colored rice, at times up to 130-150 hectares. But from 2011-2012, the quality of the melons gradually decreased, the output was difficult, so people switched to growing squash, bitter melon, and hot pepper.

Mr. Hoang Dinh Son - Chairman of Tao Son Commune People's Committee, said: In the spirit of building new rural areas, the commune has determined the common goal of changing the crop structure, building large-scale fields, building new rural infrastructure works to change the face of the agricultural, rural and farmer economy. In the spirit of mobilization and democracy, people have realized the necessity and proactively exchanged each field area for each other. For new rural infrastructure works, the commune has deployed for hamlets to have the right to self-determination, each hamlet has different forms and methods of contribution, not stereotyped. In that spirit, people are mobilized to dismantle, donate land and materials. The commune supports 4 million VND/km for construction equipment costs plus 40% for sand.

People play a central role in deciding all changes in the locality. Up to now, Tao Son has formed over 70 hectares of squash on converted land, earning hundreds of millions of VND/ha. After the land consolidation process, there are now only 3 plots/household on average, including 1 colored plot and 2 rice plots. Land use efficiency has increased 3-4 times compared to before. Especially in areas converted to growing cassava, squash regularly brings stable income. Squash has a good price on the market and has affirmed its outstanding efficiency. The cassava products grown by Tao Son farmers are purchased by Thanh Chuong Cassava Factory at reasonable prices. In the construction of traffic infrastructure, the whole commune has concreted over 10 km of type A road. In early 2012, the Tao Son market project was completed and put into use with a total cost of nearly 2.8 billion VND, of which the State supported nearly half of the cost, the rest was from the local budget. The market area is over 5,000 square meters, the market hall is 30 meters long and over 20 meters wide, has 4 rows of business kiosks with 30 fixed kiosks creating stable jobs for farmers.

Thanks to the determination of building a new rural area as the number 1 goal to improve people's lives, up to now, Tao Son commune has achieved 10/19 new rural criteria, bringing the targets to the finish line early such as medical infrastructure, electricity, rural markets, roads on the way to completion and meeting standards... In the coming time, on the basis of focusing on directing the basic economic goals in building a new rural area, Tao Son will continue to transform the crop structure, build large-scale fields, develop mechanical services, civil carpentry, milling machines, phone and motorbike repair...; focus on expanding and introducing quality commercial crops.

Article and photos: Luong Mai