​From a very low starting point plus with a lot of ethnic minority groups, local people’s main income is mainly from agricultural activities and this has greatly affected local people’s lives and the new countryside construction program as well. However, thanks to continuous efforts and joining hands of people from all walks of life, Nam Cat Tien commune has performed its task of building a new countryside well and it was recognized to meet all requirements for a new rural commune with a lot of highlights by the province.

Thanks to a reasonable crop restructuring, local residents’ life has been gradually improved

With a low starting point plus a production of mainly pure agriculture, local residents’ life and income are low. Therefore, to increase their income local authorities have focused on the development of agricultural production towards a large commodity production associated with the commune’s potential and advantages. Accordingly, the commune has focused on mobilizing people to change the structure of their crops to key crops with a high economic efficiency in accordance with local agricultural production planning.

Mr. Nguyen Van Luc, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Nam Cat Tien commune, said: “According to the district and the province’s agricultural development planning, local authorities have determined the advantages of crops that suit the soil conditions of each region to focus on disseminating propaganda information and calling for people to change their crop structure. As a result, many agricultural production models have brought about high economic efficiency, contributing to the successful implementation of the national target program on building new rural areas”.

“The economic efficiency gained from crop restructuring has clearly increased. The average production value per hectare of productive land increased from VND93 million in 2014 to VND 150 million in 2018. Particularly, there are crops with the income value of VND300-500 million/ha/year such as green-skin grapefruits, oranges, tangerines, durians, and so on”, Mr. Luc said.

Each year, the durian orchard of Mr. Do Quang Trung in hamlet 3, Nam Cat Tien commune earns an income of billions VND.

Previously, on an area of ​​10 hectares of his family, Mr. Do Quang Trung in hamlet 3, Nam Cat Tien commune planted such crops as coffee, cashew and cocoa and some others. Realizing that these crops were ineffective and the income was uncertain, Trung gradually converted all his 10 hectares to growing durian trees. With 2,000 durian trees aged 3 to 7 years, each year his family earns nearly VND10 billion and the income is expected to increase in the coming years as durian orchards are fully closed.

“In the past, I planted all kinds of trees, but prices were quite changeable and trees are not suitable for soil conditions, so outbreaks of diseases occurred. Calculation showed that the left income is not high after having all costs of spraying pesticides deducted and this also affects the living environment. At present, my family’s orchard has switched over to planting durians in a clean and safe way. Therefore, the output is quite stable and the economic efficiency is very high, too”, Mr. Trung said excitedly.

Mr. Nguyen Van Luc, Chairman of the People’s Committee added: “With the goal of improving production efficiency and increasing the value and competitiveness of the key agricultural products, Nam Cat Tien commune will aim to build its branding of agricultural products and assist farmers in building and expanding the effective agricultural production models in the area, thereby contributing to raising people’s income and building a new countryside in the commune”.

Duy Minh (Le Khoi)