The Russian impression in Dau Tieng

Update: 07-11-2017 | 11:05:55

In the years of struggle for national liberation as well as in the process of building the nation, Vietnam has received the help of the Soviet Union and its people. In Song Be, now Binh Duong, the project of reclaiming 20,000 hectares of rubber trees in Dau Tieng District was considered as the foundation stone for the development of Dau Tieng Rubber Corporation later on.

Tractor team dispatches for new cultivation in 1981. Photo: documentary

The time of hardship

May 21, 1981 was not only a historical milestone marking the renewal of Dau Tieng rubber's size when the Council of Ministers and the General Department of Rubber approved the decision to upgrade Dau Tieng Rubber Company but also the time when the unit was honored to work with the Soviet Union to plant 20,000 hectares of rubber in the five-year plan of 1981-1985. Many senior officials had been attached to rubber trees for years, claiming that the task was very glorious and hardship. Thanks to that, the staff of Dau Tieng Rubber Company had stepped into a new era with determination to "daring think, daring to do" until today.

Almost 40 years have elapsed, but when it was time to revisit the new working day for the new rubber planting cooperation, Labor Hero Le Van Khoa, former Party Secretary, former director of Dau Tieng Corporation still remembers very clearly of every detail. Khoa recalled that at that time to complete the tasks the Party and the State assigned to the company, the Board had handled a series of issues that were primarily human resource - the key factor. The company had held an extended staff meeting to discuss the plan of gathering staff of science and technology, and boldly promoted young managers, capable of holding key positions in the department and the farm; mechanized reclamation, mechanical and manual integration, contracted product implementation. The conference was especially important to the company, setting out the strategic plan for the 5-year plan of 1981-1985.

1981 was considered the "initiation" of the implementation of the cooperation agreement between Vietnam and the Soviet Union in Dau Tieng. With the slogan of "All for the new plantation to win," the reclamation work was carried out at an urgent pace. The mechanized reclamation team, assisted by the Soviet technical experts, combined with manual labor reclamation, created a dynamic emulation on the farms. At the end of the rainy season in 1981, the plantation cooperated in greening the previously abandoned lands. In the first year of implementation of the cooperative, the company has implemented 192.5% of the planned new reclaimed land. With this achievement, the company was awarded the Third Class Labor Medal. This was the first honor for Dau Tieng Rubber Corporation workers and the Soviet Union experts - the victory of the cooperation.

Le Van Khoa recalled the manual reclamation encountering many difficulties that without your mechanical assistance the plan could never be completed. Along with repairing mechanical equipment, Soviet experts were also directly involved with workers in the reclamation and new cultivation.

Nguyen Van Thu, former Secretary of Party Committee of Dau Tieng Rubber Corporation, said that the cutting of trees and stumps of workers was very difficult, however, the modern machines under the guidance of Soviet experts made the land reclamation much easier, thus, the land reclamation was guaranteed.

"They (the experts) were very active and responsible, not afraid of difficulty nor of suffering. When ther drivers were tired, they even worked as the drivers,” Thu said.

Ripe fruits

Not mechanical equipment support alone, Soviet Union also helped with capital resources, fertilizers and other initial costs. Thanks to the help together with the tireless efforts of all employees of the company, the reclamation of 20,000 hectares of new rubber trees hit the target sooner than expected. The celebration of the 68th anniversary of the Russian October Revolution was also the day when Dau Tieng Rubber Corporation announced the completion of the five-year plan of the Vietnam-Soviet Co-operation Agreement with more than 20,000 hectares of new rubber plantation.

Specifically in five years (1981- 1985), the company had planted 20,007.87 hectares of rubber trees, reaching 109.63% of the plan allocated by the State. The rate of new planting was higher year on year. Compared with 1981, the new planted area in 1982 increased by 10 times, in 1983 it was 13 times, in 1984-1985 was 21 times. On average, the company grew 4,001 ha of rubber trees annually, which was 25 times higher than in the 1976-1980. Such remarkable results, according to Le Van Khoa, was first of all thanks to the help of leaders of the provincial Party Committee who created the land condition, following by the support of capital, facilities quality, machinery and professionals from Soviet Union. Thanks to such timely support, the company had implemented over 20,000 hectares of new rubber trees within five years.

"Under difficult conditions, nobody believed that after 5 years, the company would be able to reclaim new land with such a large area," said Khoa.

In 1981-1985, Dau Tieng Rubber Corporation had leaped on the targets assigned by the State. Staff life had been of great concern in all aspects. The education and healthcare sectors were well-served by the company to meet the demand of medical examination and treatment of children of the company's workers as well as people in the area. By the end of 1985, the number of employees increased to over 20,000 people, an increase of 7 times compared to 1981. In order to solve the difficulties of housing for workers, the company has built 5,777m2 permanent housing, 17,800m2 semi-solid housing. Compared to before the company's establishment, the index of solid and semi-solid housing increased 1.5 times. Speaking about the achievements of the five-year plan of 1981-1985, Le Van Khoa acknowledged the victory of the five years of Viet Nam-Soviet cooperation creating important foundation for the company to build and excel. In the next periods, the splendor of the cooperation between Vietnam and the Soviet Union was an unforgettable sign of friendship in Dau Tieng.

Reported by Tri Dung – Translated by Vi Bao

Share

The Russian impression in Dau Tieng

HIGHLIGHTS

MOST READ