The good endeavors of farmers in the epidemic

Holding the nature of generosity, Binh Duong farmers on seeing people facing hardship due to Covid-19 epidemic have helped to overcome the great stress of the epidemic by the spirit of mutual support, sharing and unity. The humane connection has thus been tighter.

Farm produces of farmers’ households in Bac Tan Uyen are preserved for gifting to those in hardship during the complicated developments of Covid-19 epidemic

To get out of hardship together

During the days when the whole province implemented social distancing to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic, looking at the melon in bloom and fruit set growing day by day, Mr. Doan Thanh Phuong at Giap Lac hamlet of Tan My commune in Bac Tan Uyen district was worried because traders could not come to take while he could not transport anywhere. The worry of Mr. Phuong was also the common concern of many farming households in the province. Understanding these thoughts of farmers, along with the flexibility of the local authorities in the commune, Tan My Commune Farmers' Association has acted as a bridge to help farmers consume agricultural products in many different ways.

Early in the morning, when he went to visit and water the melon and when he was still regretting the work of planting and taking care in such "deadlocked" sales, he received a phone call from Mr. Pham Quang Binh, Chairman of the Tan My Commune Farmers' Association, saying: "Our commune People's Committee is implementing the activity of "Going to the market to help people" to sell local farmers' agricultural products, so your melon will be sold out to serve as a local supply for people in the commune to feel secure at home during the epidemic prevention.” After hearing the announcement, Mr. Phuong was extremely happy because he was no longer worried about the "empty-handed" crop.

Struggling all morning to Mr. Phuong's farm to transport sponge gourd, Mr. Pham Quang Binh, along with officials and members of the Women's Union of Tan My Commune, contacted livestock farmers in Xom Den hamlet to support the consumption of duck eggs and chickens among others. The women's unions and farmers have been close to understand which households need to support to consume what products and how much. On the commune's fanpage and personal pages of social networks, officials and members post agricultural products such as gourds, squash, cucumbers, bitter melons, melons, cowpeas, and eggs at stable prices for people to order and get free home delivery.

Talking to us, Mr. Pham Quang Binh said: “In the past few days, the joy of helping farmers is still here. The solidarity of farmers, cadres and people will be a valuable lesson that I will keep forever." Mr. Binh said, from the beginning of August to the end of September 2021, the Commune Farmers' Association has coordinated with departments and organizations to implement the model of "Going to the market to help the people" and connecting to consume more than 5 tons of vegetables and fruits of all kinds, more than 50,000 eggs, ducks and 2,000 chicken. Particularly, the Tan My fruit tree cooperative has supported the consumption of more than 250 tons of pomelos, helping farmers not have difficulty in finding sales and not damaging their agricultural products.

As the hearts echo

In the early days of November, 2021, the atmosphere of the Great National Solidarity Day in Bach Dang Commune of Tan Uyen Town is warmer when the farmers still have the story of " love and affection" in the time of complicated epidemic. Mr. Pham Van Dieu, a farmer in the commune, recalled: “The quarantined relatives and the workers living in difficult quarters did not have food and everyone understood that situation. When mobilizing local resources and calling on farmers in the commune to support farm produce, everyone enthusiastically supported. Farmers went to the farm to harvest not for profit but for the love among people. Many tons of vegetables and fruits such as gourds, squash, melons, water spinach, cabbage, bananas, tapioca, amaranth and indispensable specialty pomelos have been given to people by local authorities and unions."

Not relatives, brothers, or families, but amidst many difficulties, when kindness called each person's name, it spread humanity to help go through the "pain" of the disease. Although they do not know each other's faces, they have been all connected for the sake of compatriots. And so, Mr. Truong Van Minh and Nguyen Van Cuong in Phu Trung neighborhood of Phu Chanh ward in Tan Uyen town smiled brightly when harvesting to donate 1,500kg of vegetables of all kinds to hostels in the ward. Farmers are like that, although their skin is darkened by the sun when they take care of the farm, more important to them is the happiness of their labor when they share a part of the difficulties of the people in the difficulties. The difficult days of the epidemic have passed, but humanity will remain forever in Mr. Dang Le Thanh Tung's pomelo garden in Cay Dung hamlet of Hieu Liem commune in Bac Tan Uyen district. The image of him and everyone quickly harvesting 1.5 tons of green-skinned pomelo to give to disadvantaged people in the district made anyone feel the warmth of their hearts.

“People who have property contribute, people who have efforts contribute; more to have more to contribute, less to have less to contribute” is the motto of Farmers' Associations and farmers at all levels in the fight of Covid-19 epidemic. Since then, we have joined hands with the CPV, government and community to bring life back to the new normal. For the spirit of "Giving up rice and sharing ", farmers in green areas also help people in red and orange areas through the organization of Farmers' Association. Tons of food, necessities, fruits, vegetables, and products made by the farmers' own hands when being transferred to support and help those affected by the epidemic, have been really all their heart.

With all his ability and responsibility in disease prevention and control, the Farmer's Union staff also promoted the spirit of "Sharing love and overcoming the pandemic." Officers and members of farmers at all levels actively mobilized many resources from members, individuals and benefactors to contribute to the people. During stressful epidemic days, for Mr. Nguyen Van Tham, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Tan Hiep Commune in Phu Giao district or Mr. Pham Quang Binh, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Tan My Commune in Bac Tan Uyen district not only was on work duty but also was a gesture to the community, contributing to alleviating the loss and pain caused by the epidemic. That spirit has been promoted by the whole community so that no one is left behind.

Reported by Kim Tuyen – Translated by Vi Bao