Giai Xuan Commune: A breakthrough in poverty reduction efforts.

(Baonghean) - Giai Xuan mountainous commune is a key sugarcane growing area in Tan Ky district. Over the past term, with a spirit of solidarity and efforts to overcome difficulties, Giai Xuan has achieved many important successes in poverty eradication, reducing the poverty rate from 53.6% to 13.5%, an average reduction of 8% per year, creating strong confidence among the people in the leadership and guidance of the Party committee and government.

In Giai Xuan commune, on the eve of the 22nd Party Congress, term 2015-2020, the atmosphere was one of excitement among officials and residents, as it had been chosen as the model congress for the district. Farmers were busily harvesting sugarcane and tending to spring crops in the fields. The Secretary of the Commune Party Committee, Comrade Doan Xuan Tinh, stated: Giai Xuan has 69% of its population belonging to the Tho ethnic group; the entire commune has 1,200 hectares of sugarcane, with a yield of 62 tons/hectare. Giai Xuan also grows cassava and develops large-scale livestock farming. Many households in Giai Xuan have become wealthy thanks to sugarcane cultivation and livestock farming. The commune's Party Committee has fostered a spirit of unity, emphasized awareness and responsibility, stayed close to the people, established standards for studying and following the moral example of Ho Chi Minh, and its officials work diligently, impartially, and effectively.

Giai Xuan is the commune with the largest sugarcane growing area in Tan Ky (In the photo, people in Giai Xuan commune are harvesting sugarcane).

Visiting the sugarcane fields of Mr. Truong Hai Ho in the Ham Chu hilly area, residents of Ke Mui hamlet witnessed vast stretches of his fields. He explained that irrigation water is scarce here, so only sugarcane can survive; before sugarcane was introduced, the people suffered from food shortages year-round. This year, the price of sugarcane is only 820,000 VND/ton, but thanks to its high sugar content, the income is still manageable. The Song Con sugar factory invested in fertilizers, seeds, and land preparation, and Mr. Ho hired additional laborers to intensify sugarcane cultivation. He was able to build a large house thanks to sugarcane farming and raising buffaloes, cows, and free-range chickens at his farm... Meanwhile, Ms. Binh's farm in Long Van hamlet is another example of overcoming poverty in Giai Xuan commune. Having moved from Dien Chau to start a new life, Ms. Binh has expanded her pig farming, chicken breeding, and buffalo and cattle raising. She also opened a kiosk offering fertilizer, animal feed, and milling services... thanks to this, her family's economy is quite stable, with an annual income of nearly 100 million VND. Giai Xuan also has many successful economic models such as Nguyen Van Hieu in Ke Mui hamlet who grows 20 hectares of sugarcane, Nguyen Van Theo and Nguyen Van Mien in Tan Mung hamlet who raise nearly 20 breeding buffaloes and cows per household…

The Party Secretary of Ke Mui hamlet, Mr. Truong Cong Thanh, happily stated: “I have felt the changes in my hometown during the past term. The Party and State's policies on poverty alleviation, such as Policy 135, the policy to eliminate temporary thatched houses, and the policy on loans for farm investment, have been very valuable to the people. These policies have been fully and effectively implemented by the hamlet's officials, creating confidence, enthusiasm, and unity among the people.”

During the 2010-2015 term, the Giai Xuan Commune Party Committee demonstrated a high sense of responsibility in leading and directing economic development in the area, achieving many positive results: The average economic growth rate was estimated at 23% per year; the total production value in 2014 reached 167,600 billion VND, and was estimated at 186,800 billion VND in 2015, a 3.47-fold increase compared to 2010, reaching 167% of the congress's target. The average income in 2014 reached 19.376 million VND/person, and was estimated at 21.6 million VND/person in 2015. The total grain production (in paddy equivalent) in 2014 reached 2,214 tons, and was estimated at 2,319 tons in 2015. The commune has increased the area of ​​industrial crops, including sugarcane: 1,200 hectares, accounting for nearly a quarter of the district's total sugarcane area, and cassava: 230 hectares. Livestock farming has developed well, focusing on improving the quality of the herd; the total buffalo herd in 2014 was estimated at 2,050, cattle 930, pigs 2,200, poultry 37,200, and the average fish production was 42 tons/year. The value of livestock farming increased 4.43 times compared to 2010. Efforts in enclosure, protection, and fire prevention and control have been strengthened.

During the term, Giai Xuan was planned as a market town to serve the local socio-economic development program. The commune has 3 private enterprises, 120 households engaged in buying, selling, and consuming goods and agricultural products in the area; the production of petroleum products, electronics, household electrical goods, and clothing continues to develop. The value of production in the service and trade sector increased and accounted for 23% of the total production value on average annually. The infrastructure system was invested in, upgraded, and renovated. During the term, an additional 9.4 km of asphalt roads were added; 5.9 km of concrete roads were built; 1.8 km of canals were reinforced and upgraded; Route 71 was upgraded; bridges and culverts were constructed; 2 reservoirs and dams were built; and the water supply system was upgraded, increasing the percentage of households using electricity to 99.8% in 2015. The total investment value for construction over the past five years is 82.6 billion VND, of which 37.4 billion VND comes from the people's own resources, a 3.27-fold increase compared to the beginning of the term.

Providing fertilizer services to farmers in Giai Xuan commune.

Speaking about the breakthrough achievements of the 2010-2015 term, Comrade Nguyen Duy Ket, Chairman of the People's Committee of Giai Xuan commune, said: Giai Xuan's economy has continued to develop quite comprehensively, with an average annual growth rate of 23%, a strong increase in the proportion of agriculture and forestry, and it is a key sugarcane raw material area of ​​Tan Ky. Average per capita income has increased 3.2 times compared to the beginning of the term. By effectively utilizing internal resources and attracting investment from higher levels, infrastructure continues to be improved, the material and spiritual lives of the people are constantly being enhanced, and the poverty rate decreases by 8% annually. The new rural development program has increased by 4 criteria compared to the beginning of the term. The industrial, handicraft, service, and construction sectors in the area continued to develop. The total investment capital of credit programs reached 32.6 billion VND, more than three times higher than at the beginning of the term. The poverty rate decreased by an average of 8% per year, from 53.6% in 2010 to 13.5% in 2015.

Social policies and policies for war veterans and their families have been well implemented, such as Program 135, the Sustainable Poverty Reduction Program, and policies for ethnic minorities in mountainous areas; support has been provided for the repair and renovation of 42 houses of gratitude, compassion, and solidarity. Culture and social aspects have improved comprehensively; in education, infrastructure has been invested in to meet teaching and learning needs, with 62% of classrooms meeting standards; the socialization of education has been embraced by the people, maintaining universal education at all three levels, with an average annual promotion rate of 99%, a 100% completion rate for primary education, and 100% of teachers meeting or exceeding standards; two more schools have achieved national standards, bringing the total to 3/4 of schools. The commune has achieved national standards in healthcare. Cultural, artistic, and sports activities continue to be promoted...

The coordinated relationship between the Party Committee, the government, the Fatherland Front, and mass organizations is implemented correctly and effectively, becoming a solid foundation for the government. The Commune People's Council has achieved excellent ratings for five consecutive years; the Commune People's Committee has achieved excellent ratings for four years at the district level (completing its tasks well in 2012). The Party Committee always prioritizes political and ideological education, focusing on innovation and improving the leadership capacity and fighting strength of grassroots Party organizations, ensuring the comprehensive and absolute leadership role of the Party in all aspects of life. On average, 75% of Party branches achieve the "Strong and Excellent" rating annually. The Party Committee has truly leveraged the strength of the entire political system in patriotic emulation movements, actively transforming the structure of crops and livestock, consolidating land plots, developing socio-economic conditions, eradicating hunger and poverty, and building new rural areas...

The overall goal set by Giai Xuan commune for the 2015-2020 term is: "To promote the strength of national unity, maximize the exploitation of all local resources; to accelerate socio-economic development, continuously improve the material and spiritual lives of the people, and effectively address social welfare issues; to maintain political stability, consolidate national defense and security; and to enhance the effectiveness of Party leadership and government management. We are determined to build a clean, strong, and comprehensive Party committee, government, Fatherland Front, and people's organizations." The commune also set key targets for 2020 that are consistent with the general situation and potential advantages in the area. These include striving to build a commune that meets the standards of a New Rural Area, a clean and strong Party committee, and 100% of the population having access to clean water...

With the set targets, the commune Party Committee has discussed and deliberated on solutions to mobilize the combined strength of the entire political system in the fight against poverty, ensuring national defense and security, and preserving and promoting national cultural identity. The commune will coordinate with businesses to invest in intensive cultivation of high-yield industrial crops, and develop more rubber plantations to reach 77 hectares by 2020, of which 54 hectares will be ready for harvest, aiming for a production of 210.6 tons by 2020. It will implement production zone planning according to the new rural development program. The goal is to achieve an average income of 61 million VND/hectare/year by 2020. The commune will also promote the area planted with grass to develop large-scale livestock farming, encouraging the development of large-scale, concentrated livestock farming in the direction of farms and family farms, according to planned zones. Mobilize the people to develop agriculture, forestry, and fisheries in a multi-sectoral and multi-occupational direction, combined with garden-pond-livestock-forest economy. Develop additional services, upgrade the central market, and build two afternoon markets. Create a favorable environment for many businesses, private individuals, and small traders to invest in the area, trade goods, especially buying and selling agricultural products for the people. Lead the work of Party building, the work of the Fatherland Front and mass organizations, and the fields of education, culture, health, etc., to achieve the set goals.

Chau Lan