The joy of sugarcane growers in Con Cuong, Anh Son

(Baonghean.vn) - Along with the construction of the sugar factory, the Provincial People's Committee has approved the project to build a road to the sugarcane raw material area in the three communes of Tho Son, Binh Son, Thanh Son and a route to the district headquarters with a total length of both routes of nearly 40km. Without the sugar factory, these three communes would not dare to think of having asphalt roads. This is the lifelong dream of the cadres and people in the remote communes of Anh Son.

Previously, the barren fields of Tho Son, Binh Son, Thanh Son (Anh Son) people had to work hard to grow corn, peanuts, and rice, but the fields were cracked and hunger was still there. The district, the Party Committee, and the People's Council of Anh Son had a resolution to change seasonal crops to focus on the communes of Tho Son, Binh Son, and Thanh Son. The Party Committees of departments, branches, and organizations were also sent to the area to work with local Party Committees and authorities to ensure sugarcane acreage. In the early years, the commune had only 120 hectares at most, the sugarcane raw material area was still fragmented, and the traffic routes were difficult. From the factory to the raw material area, one had to cross the Lam River, causing costs and inconvenience for the factory and sugarcane growers.

Workers at Song Lam Sugar Factory prepare for the 2011-2012 crushing season.

With the motto: factories need people, people need factories, the sugarcane material area is expanded every year. In addition to the 3 communes of Tho Son, Binh Son, Thanh Son, the district's headquarters area also has 3 communes in Con Cuong and Hoa Son districts (Anh Son). By 2011, Anh Son sugarcane material area had increased to 1,400 hectares, Tho Son commune alone had 380 hectares, Binh Son 250 hectares, Thanh Son 110 hectares, Bai Phu Tea Enterprise planted over 40 hectares. Up to now, the sugarcane material area has reached Hung Son and Duc Son communes...

In addition to the province's support policy, the factory also annually supports 600-700 million VND to upgrade and repair local roads, support fertilizers, transportation costs, plowing and sugarcane seeds. In Hoi Son commune (old), there is a sugarcane growing group of Mr. Ve consisting of 8 households growing 12 hectares, Mr. Hoa's household alone grows 2.3 hectares, each year importing 700-800 tons of sugarcane to the factory. The company buys sugarcane at the field price according to the market, which increases every year. In 2011, the price of sugarcane reached 950,000 VND/ton. The factory and the contract owners have a schedule for people to cut down and clear standing sugarcane, and pay promptly and fully. People also get an advance payment before Tet. Each year, the factory pays 15-20 billion VND for sugarcane.

In sugarcane growing areas, by converting some ineffective crops to sugarcane, income has been increased and jobs created for thousands of rural workers. Many families earn 50-70 million VND per year from sugarcane growing, and have saved up to build spacious houses and buy household amenities.

Chairman of Tho Son Commune People's Committee - Nguyen Van Thanh said: Since Tho Son switched to growing sugarcane, people's lives have been prosperous, especially ethnic minorities have changed their livelihood habits, no longer living a nomadic life cutting trees and selling wood in the forest, cultivating upland rice, reducing social evils. Mr. Lo Van Quang in village 3 Thanh Son laughed and said: "Thanks to the Party, thanks to the Sugar Factory, our people have gradually eliminated hunger and reduced poverty, all thanks to sugarcane".

Party Secretary, Deputy Director of Song Lam Sugar Factory - Le Thanh An said: Sugarcane growers are loyal to the factory, accompany the factory, share in difficult times, then both will develop together. Indeed, sugarcane growers have been and are having the most joy when Cay Chanh bridge has connected the two banks, traffic and sugarcane transportation is more convenient, that joy is multiplied.

The goal of Song Lam Sugar Factory is to stabilize the sugarcane raw material area from 1,300 to 1,500 hectares, with an annual output of 65,000-80,000 tons.

Sy Thuan