Kim Lien: Promoting the construction of model new rural areas

(Baonghean) - “Building a model new rural area is something that has never happened before in the country. Because there is no precedent, we will have to both implement and learn from experience…”. That is what Mr. Tran Le Chuong - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Kim Lien Commune (Nam Dan) shared when asked about building Kim Lien into a model new rural area.

Difficulties ahead

According to the draft "Guidelines for building model new rural communes in the period of 2015 - 2020" of the province, a unit is only recognized as "model" if most of the criteria must be achieved at least 90%. That means the "benchmarks" of the new rural criteria set are raised to a higher level. Compared to some localities in the province, Kim Lien commune has more advantages because the planning work, infrastructure system, traffic, irrigation, environment, and cultural institutions have been invested in and built quite synchronously in advance. However, in reality, this is a commune with a large agricultural production rate of 77%. Meanwhile, because it is a special locality, Kim Lien does not plan and orient industrial development. This can be considered a factor that more or less affects the economic structure and income of the commune. In addition, with an agricultural land area of ​​over 1,174 hectares, accounting for 77% of the natural land area, the commune does not have strengths in rice or crop production. This also means that farmers can hardly rely on the value of agricultural products to fundamentally improve their income and living standards.

People in Van Hoi 2 hamlet, Kim Lien commune (Nam Dan) build rural roads.

Overcoming those obstacles, reaching the finish line early in the new rural construction program shows the determination of the Party Committee, the government and the consensus of the people. However, to become a model unit in new rural areas, the government and the people must make more efforts. As Mr. Chu Van Ngu - Secretary - Head of Van Hoi 2 hamlet, Kim Lien commune said: "When there is consensus on any policy, the people will contribute their best...". However, Mr. Ngu also wondered that the people are not afraid of difficulties and hardships, but the hamlet only has 70 households with 347 people, agricultural workers, accounting for nearly 100%. Therefore, the new development direction is also a concern.

Therefore, to continue to carry out a joint campaign to realize the "model" criteria in the current conditions is not easy. Just in terms of contributions, in the past time, households have made great efforts. Like the family of Ms. Tran Thi Bon - Van Hoi 2 Hamlet, with 6 members, in 2014 alone, each member contributed 700 thousand VND. It turns out that her family has contributed more than 4 million VND to implement the new rural program. And according to Ms. Bon, to continue to carry out another mobilization at the present time with many families is difficult, even though the spirit of the people is always ready. Mr. Tran Le Chuong - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Kim Lien Commune admitted that: "The most difficult thing is investing in building technical infrastructure. Because this field requires a large investment source, while not everyone's awareness is the same. Another reality is that in the commune, there are some new rural criteria that are not really sustainable".

Promoting cultural values, creating momentum for building a model commune

Despite the identified difficulties, Kim Lien commune has potentials and advantages that few other places have. It is a land of culture and artifacts with a rich tradition and cultural identity of the Vietnamese countryside. Kim Lien is the birthplace of many patriotic scholars, revolutionary patriots, especially the hometown of President Ho Chi Minh. This place converges many historical and cultural relics with profound values ​​in the spiritual life of Nghe An people, especially Kim Lien Relic Site, which preserves artifacts associated with Uncle Ho's hometown, family and childhood. In 2012, Kim Lien Relic Site was recognized by the Government as a National Special Relic. In terms of culture serving tourism, these are potentials to be associated with the implementation of the goal of building a model new-style rural commune. The reason we mention this content is because for a commune with characteristics like Kim Lien, if we can realize the combination of historical - cultural - tourism relics, it will contribute to solving a series of problems related to the economy and society.

According to the Project "Building Kim Lien commune into a model new rural commune in the period of 2015 - 2020", in the field of tourism services, Kim Lien will mobilize resources, invest in building a key tourist destination of Nghe An and the North Central region and an attractive historical - cultural tourist destination of the country. In fact, in the tourism map of the province, Kim Lien has been planned for many years to become a key tourist area. Every year, millions of pilgrims come to Kim Lien, however, the value obtained through tourism and service activities is still limited. According to statistics, the total production value of the service - trade sector in 2014 of Kim Lien commune is estimated at 26.4 billion VND, an increase of 177.2% compared to 2010. For a locality like Kim Lien commune, these are still modest numbers, not really commensurate with the available potential. According to many economic experts, the first reason is that the service system here is not yet adequate and attractive, the tourism products are too monotonous, while many people in the commune still seem to be "strange" to this type of tourism service to increase their family income.

The goal is that by 2020, the proportion of Kim Lien's service industry will reach about 35% of the economic structure. This is a high proportion in the economic balance that the commune is aiming for. And if compared with reality, to do this is not simple. Currently, the commune is directing the gradual shift of the economic structure in the direction of: services - trade - tourism - construction industry - agriculture. The main direction of economic development still revolves around the axis: services - trade - tourism. Mr. Tran Le Chuong added: "The commune always encourages people to produce tourism products according to the criteria: close, friendly. In addition, maximizing the land area to develop a variety of commercial crops to serve tourists such as: sticky corn, sweet potatoes; Identifying and building safe flower and vegetable growing areas; Encouraging people to build ecological gardens to create a relaxing space.

In that direction, many households in the commune have boldly eliminated mixed gardens and planted fruit trees to serve tourists on the spot, with trees that are confirmed to be suitable for the local climate and soil quality such as custard apple, sapodilla, grapefruit, etc. With investment from many sources, the commune will restore and reconstruct many tangible and intangible cultural architectural works to serve tourists, in order to increase revenue. Currently, the clubs of singing Vi, Dam, and Phuong Vai are being restored to attract tourists... Along with the above solutions, Kim Lien commune advocates improving the effectiveness of the movement "All people unite to build a cultural life in residential areas", building a suitable culture of behavior. The above "fundamental" solutions are expected to promote the value of the system of cultural heritage, relics, and scenic spots, open up types of services, contribute to job creation, and increase income for people. On that basis, reinvest in other criteria and items, realizing the goal of making Kim Lien a model commune in the new rural areas of Nghe An and the whole country.

Article and photos:Dao Tuan