Tuong Duong: Developing a sustainable agricultural economic model

(Baonghean.vn) - In the last days of 2011, traveling along the road connecting Tam Quang commune, Hoa Binh town to Yen Na, Yen Hoa, Nga My, Xieng My communes... of Tuong Duong district, everywhere you can see the immense green of forest trees and many comprehensive economic farms. Along with new roads and civil works, the lives of people in this mountainous border district have really improved. These achievements are thanks to the attention of the Party and the State, meeting the aspirations of many people in the localities.

Mr. Nguyen Ho Canh - Chairman of Tuong Duong District People's Committee excitedly said: Tuong Duong is a mountainous district, with 6 ethnic groups living together, complex terrain, and difficult traffic. All programs and projects of Tuong Duong in the past time have the ultimate goal of accelerating the progress of poverty reduction in the area, building Tuong Duong to become the most prosperous district among the mountainous districts of the province. Along with successfully organizing the Resolution of the Party Congress at all levels, Tuong Duong has promoted the implementation of two major economic programs: afforestation, grass planting and livestock development.

This is considered one of the breakthrough solutions for local socio-economic development. Mr. Xong Ba No - Secretary of the Pha Lom village Party Cell, Tam Hop commune, added to the story of business calculations: "Clearly identifying the strengths, the Tam Hop commune Party Committee as well as the Pha Lom village Party Cell have directed to focus on promoting the development of large-scale livestock farming, growing corn, cassava, taro, squash, reclaiming rice fields, planting economic forests... Mobilizing people's strength by working days to open convenient routes for people to travel and produce. Thanks to that, people's lives are no longer worried about hunger".

Thanks to that, up to now, the total production value in the district has reached 1,456,994/1,339,000 million VND, reaching 108.8% of the plan, equal to 132.6% compared to the same period. In which: The production value of agriculture, forestry and fishery is 118,302/120,000 million VND, reaching 98.6% of the plan, equal to 102.3% compared to the same period; industry and construction is 1,186,961/1,054,000 million VND, reaching 112.6% of the plan, equal to 141.1% compared to the same period; services are 151,731/165,000 million VND, reaching 92% of the plan, equal to 107.5% compared to the same period. Average income per capita is 13,400,000 VND/year. Average food per capita is 249 kg/person. The poverty rate in 2011 was 65.2%, down 6.1% compared to 2010. Total state budget revenue was 378,752/263,573 million VND, reaching 143.6% of the plan assigned at the beginning of the year. Of which: Local budget revenue was 9,200/4,850 million VND, reaching 190% of the estimate assigned at the beginning of the year; equal to 146% of the Resolution of the District People's Council (6,300 million VND).

However, the economy in ethnic minority areas is generally slow to develop. Many places are confused or slow to shift their economic structure, product quality is low, consumption is difficult, and some lack land for production. The current problem in implementing poverty reduction in Tuong Duong is that people want to receive investment support from the State but do not want to escape poverty. To eliminate the mindset of waiting and relying on State support, a new point in poverty reduction work will be implemented by Tuong Duong, which is that the district organizes for households to register specific poverty reduction registration forms on: houses, buffaloes, cows, audio-visual equipment, transportation... from which they can register for funding. To do this is not easy, but the district is determined to do it with the motto "only poverty reduction for households determined to reduce poverty".

To overcome the above limitations and difficulties, according to Chairman of Tuong Duong District People's Committee - Nguyen Ho Canh: In the coming years, we will focus on helping ethnic people, especially those in particularly difficult areas, to immediately solve pressing problems such as: lack of food, insufficient means of production, lack of residential land and production land. The district will focus on directing investment to support the transformation of economic structure towards commodity production, linked to the market, prioritizing human resources to continue building rural agricultural infrastructure in highland and border areas, creating motivation for ethnic people to rise up to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty.

In the immediate future, the district is directing the acceleration of infrastructure construction projects, striving to have 100% of communes with car access to the commune in all four seasons by 2015. To accelerate the implementation of the new rural construction program, the district has merged the Steering Committee for building local projects and programs such as: 30a, 134, 135, new rural areas into the Steering Committee for district programs and projects. At the same time, Thach Giam and Tam Thai communes were selected as two pilot communes for new rural construction. Completed the survey of the rural situation in 2010 and determined the roadmap for implementing the criteria for new rural construction. In addition, implementing social security projects, the district has developed forms for households, villages, and communes to register for the implementation of poverty reduction tasks quickly and sustainably. Striving to reduce poverty by 4-5% annually.

With its own steps, the consensus and high determination of the entire Party Committee and ethnic people, along with the investment support of the State, we believe that we will create new vitality for the mountainous district of Tuong Duong.

Thanh Le