The person who "awakens" the wasteland

When we arrived at the house of Quang Van Hong (born in 1969) and Luong Thi Lien (born in 1976) in the Kim Lien resettlement village (Ngoc Lam commune, Thanh Chuong), the sun was already high in the sky. However, their house was deserted. Asking the neighbors, we learned that early in the morning, the couple packed rice balls and went to the tea hill to work and then took a nap there.

Following the instructions, we went to Khe Hoi hill, where there are nearly 13 acres of green tea in harvest season owned by Mr. Hong and Ms. Lien. Mr. Hong said that this is the 6th year that PH1 tea variety has taken root on Khe Hoi hill. Thanks to the tea growing well, traders come to the village to buy it right after picking. Cherishing the money from selling tea that is still neat, Mr. Hong and Ms. Lien did not think that one day their family would be able to settle down and stabilize their lives.

Quang Van Hong and his wife at Khe Hoi tea hill that they reclaimed in Kim Lien resettlement village (Ngoc Lam commune, Thanh Chuong). Photo: Quynh Thanh

Recalling the first days of moving to the new land, like hundreds of other families in the village, he and his wife encountered many difficulties when they were not yet used to the environment and climate in their new homeland, while their land for production was limited, only 3 sao of rice fields.

At first, seeing many illegal immigrants returning to the construction area of ​​the Ban Ve Hydropower Reservoir, the couple was very worried. But after a period of getting used to the new life and participating in training courses on farming and animal husbandry techniques, the couple was determined not to rely on the support of the State but boldly started production.

From 3 sao of rice fields allocated near Khe Hoi, they began to build banks, lead water to improve the soil, and at the same time introduce new varieties into production according to the trained process. Although their hands, which were only used to holding straw and awls to sow rice, now had to hold a hoe to dig the soil and plant rice by hand, which was a bit strange, but once they got used to it, they found that wet rice farming was less arduous than upland rice farming, and the productivity and efficiency were much higher. Thanks to the 600 kg of rice harvested each crop, the whole family no longer had to worry about rice shortages.

Ms. Luong Thi Lien and her husband reclaimed land along Khe Hoi to grow rice. Photo: Quynh Thanh

Gradually, seeing that wet rice cultivation was effective and that there was still surplus land along the creeks and streams, they continued to reclaim 3 more acres of land. Now, they have 5 acres of wet rice fields that are growing well, not only enough to eat but also have extra rice to sell to have money in case of illness.

Farming was enough to eat, but in their spare time, they only went in and out to take care of two buffaloes, feeling that human effort was too wasteful, so in 2012, they "took a risk" to reclaim the Khe Hoi hill area. He was even more motivated after learning that the State supported tea seeds for resettled people to reclaim land for economic purposes. All the money they had saved for a long time, they spent hiring people to help them dig the soil, weed, and clear weeds on an area of ​​nearly 13 sao. After more than 2 months, the new land took shape and became paths. At this time, he received the seeds and hired more people to plant and water them.

After the first days of confusion in the new land, Mr. Quang boldly planted PH1 tea variety which brings high quality and yield. Photo: Quynh Thanh

Only after the tea plants took root did they breathe a sigh of relief. Because they had put so much heart and effort into the tea plantation, they hardly had a day at home. From morning until late afternoon, they took care of each tea bush and rice field.

Now the tea tree has yielded its fifth harvest, the 30 million VND spent on hiring people to improve the land has almost been recovered, so the couple's worries are relieved.

With the money from selling tea, they took advantage of the large hilly land to buy 4 buffaloes to graze. From here, their life gradually became stable in their new homeland.

Mr. Lo Huy Hung - Chairman of Ngoc Lam Commune People's Committee assessed: Quang Van Hong and his wife are good business examples for the people of Ngoc Lam area. Thanks to their will to escape poverty and not rely on the support of the State, the couple have gradually become self-reliant and integrated into life in their new hometown.