Cultivating people and cultivating trees.

(Baonghean)Originally a high school literature teacher, Mr. Tran Tu Ba had only recently retired when he was invited by the Party Secretary of Tan Ky District to take on responsibilities in several district-level associations that were being established, including a gardening association. He confided: "Uncle Ho taught: 'For the benefit of ten years, plant trees - For the benefit of a hundred years, cultivate people.' I've spent decades cultivating people, so for the remaining years, I'll try cultivating trees."

He was appointed as a (temporary) member of the Executive Committee of the District Gardening Association, and has been a dedicated staff member of the association ever since. He has considerable "literary capital" and "capital" in cultivating people, but his "capital" in gardening and planting trees is quite limited. There's something a little paradoxical about that. Yet, he has managed to "hold out" for 20 years.

Mr. Tran Tu Ba.

For 20 years, he earned the trust of key district leaders, the Executive Committee, and the Standing Committee of the District Horticultural Association throughout the years; he was loved and admired by all members of the District Horticultural Association. Not only did officials from district-level departments and agencies related to horticulture visit the association's office, but key leaders from the communes, upon visiting the district Party Committee or the District People's Committee, would always stop by his office whenever they saw it open. They often said: "Whenever we come to the district, no matter the reason, we must stop by the Horticultural Association's office to meet him and discuss this or that, even matters unrelated to horticulture." It was through the practical and beneficial activities of the District Horticultural Association that he became a bridge to the grassroots level, creating such close and friendly relationships.

For several decades, some officials have preferred being assigned to government agencies rather than party-affiliated agencies; and if placed in a civilian sector position, they feel unlucky, let alone being a full-time official in a social or professional association. Yet, he accepted a job at a gardening association and worked there effectively and wholeheartedly—there are probably not many people like him.

When it was first established, the Tan Ky Horticultural Association was in a state of confusion because it had not yet defined specific and clear goals. However, whatever it did, the Association had to meet two requirements: to bring benefits to its members, thereby fostering member loyalty to the organization, and to make a significant contribution to the economic development of each commune and the entire district. Through this significant contribution, the Association's position would be affirmed, maximizing the leadership of the Party organization, the support of the government, and the necessary attention of relevant organizations and agencies, whether directly or indirectly. Having determined this, the Horticultural Association had to promptly grasp the policies and support programs of the province and district, as well as investment sources for agricultural and rural development. From there, it would widely disseminate and guide its grassroots associations and members to understand and implement them. The budget allocation of billions of dong supporting policies on restructuring crop patterns, building specialized farming areas, commercial livestock breeding, and programs for planting Sophora japonica, pepper, rattan, hybrid acacia, fattening cattle, and purchasing agricultural machinery... has reached members in a timely and targeted manner, providing them with additional resources to develop VAC (gardening, animal husbandry, and aquaculture), from family-based VAC to farm-based VAC.

Taking full advantage of the support from the Provincial Center for Science and Technology Application and the Provincial Union of Science and Technology Associations, the Association organized study tours to learn from advanced models inside and outside the province. From there, they transferred advanced VAC (gardening, animal husbandry, and aquaculture) science and technology through model demonstrations and training courses for a large number of members, such as: transferring techniques for producing bio-organic fertilizer and creating and using bio-bedding in pig farming, organizing competitions for beautiful cows and calves, etc.

Thanks to these two resources, members of the Gardening Association earn 2-2.5 times more than the average per capita income in the same commune. This further strengthens their commitment to the organization. As a result, the activities of the district's Gardening Association have made a significant contribution to the district's economic development. From the beginning, district leaders, departments, and district-level organizations have shown greater interest, support, and closer cooperation.

While many associations tend to use their "importance" to demand attention from the Party and government at the same level, the Tan Ky Gardening Association thinks and acts differently. To gain increasing attention from the Party and government, the main thing is for the association itself to operate effectively and accomplish its tasks. The association takes the example of President Ho Chi Minh, tilling the land to plant vegetables and trees, caring for fruit trees, raising fish, and growing flowers... so that all members can follow suit in their own VAC (gardening, animal husbandry, and aquaculture) activities. This dynamic and creative application has made President Ho Chi Minh's noble moral example more accessible and practical, something that any member can learn from and, most importantly, follow in their daily thoughts and actions.

To secure operating funds, after selecting programs and projects that align with its functions and capabilities, the association develops detailed plans and proposes them to the District People's Committee for implementation. The initial programs proved effective, with financial resources used correctly and for the intended purpose, avoiding waste and misuse. As a result, the District People's Committee trusted the association and continued to entrust it with subsequent programs and projects. With this approach, the district association receives an average of 500-700 million VND annually to organize activities, while simultaneously implementing programs and projects into practical production, bringing tangible benefits to its members. The association effectively fulfills its role as a member of the District Fatherland Front, maintaining close relationships with the District Farmers' Association, other professional social associations, and the Agricultural Bank and the Social Policy Bank.

In this relationship, the district's gardening association takes the lead and invites other agencies and organizations to work together. From these relationships, the district's gardening association gains many resources: human resources, knowledge resources, policy resources, financial resources, and organizational resources, which, along with the association's internal resources, enable it to organize effective activities. The association has summarized its basic principles for its organization and activities: Family-based VAC (gardening, animal husbandry, and aquaculture) as the battleground, the branch associations as the fortress, science and technology as the weapon, and the encouraging policies and investment support from the Party and State as the foundation; the goal of socio-economic development of the locality and improving the efficiency of VAC for its members as the objective of its activities; and the association as the core for gathering and developing members, and as the core for linking with relevant sectors and organizations.

All the achievements of the Tan Ky Gardening Association over the past 20 years owe a great deal to him in his capacity as a Standing Committee member and dedicated officer. In Tan Ky, when people talk about the gardening association, they talk about him. Although a retired teacher, he has worked at the association for 20 years without a single day of rest, and his mind has never stopped thinking. He is devoted to his duties and responsibilities. No longer a civil servant, he is truly an exemplary one. I would like to respectfully call him "the man who carries the district's trumpet."

Truong Cong Anh