Spring comes to the new land
(Baonghean.vn) - As a resettlement commune of the Ban Ve Hydropower Reservoir area, after nearly 20 years of moving to the new land, with the timely attention of the Party, the State and above all, with their own efforts, the lives of the people in Ngoc Lam commune in the mountainous district of Thanh Chuong have really improved.
Changing history
At the moment of preparing to enter the new year of Giap Thin, we were present at Ngoc Lam commune. From the turn of Ho Chi Minh road, less than 10 km away, the acacia hills and green tea hills appeared before our eyes, attracting everyone. Few people know that, less than 20 years ago, this area was considered a wild mountainous area belonging to Thanh Huong and Thanh Thinh communes, located in the southwest of Thanh Chuong district.
Implementing the National Power Development Strategy for the period 2005-2015, Ban Ve Hydropower Plant has started construction on the Nam Non River in Tuong Duong District. To complete and hand over the Ban Ve Hydropower Reservoir on schedule, starting from 2006, people from Kim Tien, Luan Mai, Huu Duong, Huu Khuong communes have relocated to the land of Thanh Huong, Thanh Thinh communes to establish the new commune of Ngoc Lam and start building a new life.
After the initial difficulties and struggles of having to change the living environment that had been attached for many generations, with the timely attention of the Party and State, social security policies and the efforts of the people, life in this resettlement area has had continuous development.
We stopped by the house of Mr. Luong Van Hoai and Ms. Lo Thi Da in Tan Lam village, Ngoc Lam commune. After nearly 20 years of moving to a new place, the family has been quick to adapt to the new life effectively, becoming a model for many people in the village to follow. Ms. Da said that at first, when they had to leave their hometown, everyone was sad, but moving here is close to the center, the roads are convenient, the children's education is convenient, so everyone is happy. In addition, facilities such as electricity, roads, schools, and stations are all close to the house, it only takes more than 1 hour to go to town or Vinh, not having to travel far like before, so people have access to many new things.
Ms. Da's family has 3 children, the eldest daughter went to Taiwan to work after finishing high school, is now married and continues to work abroad. The second eldest son got married in Thanh Son commune, is currently growing flowers in Da Lat. The youngest son is in his first year at the People's Police Academy. This Tet, the youngest son also came home to celebrate Tet with his parents, so the family is even happier.
Ms. Da said, when she first came, her youngest child was only 4 months old, the whole family of 5 had to carry and move the whole stilt house to the new land, everyone was worried. But with the attention of the State and local authorities in supporting plants, seeds, and training in new production models, many families followed suit and achieved high economic efficiency.
Everyone has a hometown to remember, but coming here makes things easier. At first, everyone was worried, not knowing what the future would be like, but now everything has really changed. After finishing school, my children have all gone to work everywhere, and when they come back for Tet, they gather with their families, it's so much fun...
In 2019, Mr. Hoai and Ms. Da's family also received support to build a model garden with many types of fruit trees and raise free-range chickens and black pigs to bring in high income. Each year, their family raises many batches of chickens and 2-3 batches of pigs. Every Tet holiday, traders come to buy all the products without having to take the effort to sell them.
Good news
Mr. Luong Van Hai - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Ngoc Lam commune said that in addition to Mr. Hoai and Ms. Da's family, the whole Ngoc Lam commune has now built 6 model gardens. In addition, many households have invested in building garden, pond, and barn models combined with forest planting and tea planting for an income of more than 100 million VND/year. Notably, Mr. Lo Van Sam's family in Tan Sang village, in addition to planting acacia, also built barns to raise buffaloes and cows with more than 10 animals, raised many pigs, chickens, ducks and fish ponds, for an income of about 120 million VND/year. Or the households of Mr. Luong Van Phuong, Luong Thanh Hoai, Luong Thanh Hai (Tan Hop village), Lo Van Binh (Tan Tien village), Lo Van Ca, Vi Van Thanh (Tan Hoc village) ... have all built tea gardens with high and stable income for many years.
Mr. Lu Van Duong - Chairman of the People's Committee of Ngoc Lam commune reported good news that in 2023, the total production value of the whole commune reached 192 billion VND/180 billion VND of the assigned plan, reaching 106.6%, an increase of 12 billion VND compared to the plan, an increase of 11.36% over the same period. This means that Ngoc Lam commune has completed and exceeded the assigned target. This is very good news for a newly established locality. In particular, the average income per capita of the whole commune has reached 31 million VND/person/year.
Mr. Duong also said that under the direction of the district, the commune has seriously implemented the agricultural production projects; focusing on rice variety structure, planting methods, ensuring the crop time frame, applying new advances in production, so that the entire rice area and crops have grown well. The whole commune has focused on leading and directing the conversion of 3 hectares of land for growing ineffective paper materials to grow tea trees, initially affirming that tea trees account for a large proportion of the commune's agricultural sector. Stably developing livestock and poultry, building them into local specialties...
In particular, Ngoc Lam commune has also maintained a good market every Tuesday and Saturday, creating conditions for people to trade and exchange goods; maintaining and developing a number of small-scale handicraft industries such as carpentry, welding, milling machines, transportation, business services of all kinds of construction materials, restaurants, serving agricultural production and people's daily needs, creating conditions for economic development.
In particular, in recent years, together with the authorities at all levels and the social community, Ban Ve Hydropower Company has joined hands to care for, encourage and do practical work to help people stabilize their lives, escape poverty and become rich legitimately in the new land. Especially on the occasion of Lunar New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival... Ban Ve Hydropower Company has organized support and given gifts to policy households and disadvantaged households in the resettlement communes.
Mr. Le Dinh Thanh - Vice Chairman of Thanh Chuong District People's Committee said: In order for people in the resettlement area to become more and more attached, feel secure in production, develop family economy, and contribute to building a new homeland, since the day people moved to the resettlement area, all levels and sectors from the province to the district have focused on directing, supporting, and helping people to gradually stabilize their lives. After the initial confusion, many models and typical examples in economic production have appeared, becoming role models for many people to follow.
In the coming time, the locality will continue to support the resettlement communes of Ngoc Lam and Thanh Son in bringing scientific and technical advances, new varieties of plants and animals into production, supporting children of people in these communes to work abroad, solving employment... Especially, when the Tet Giap Thin is near, the district is determined to take care of the people to have a full Tet, not letting any household go hungry or lack clothes during the New Year.
On the eve of Spring, beside the traditional stilt houses that people painstakingly brought down from their hometowns, or beside the houses built from resettlement projects still in yellow lime, children far from home have returned to gather with their families to prepare for Tet. The laughter and lively music make the sounds of Spring even more joyful and cozy.