The success of a new model

The model of “Developing orchards combined with ecotourism" of Thanh Tuyen commune has reaped many achievements in recent years, thanks to the leadership of local government and positive response from the people. Since then, people’s lives have been improved; rural face is changing everyday.

A new model

Implementing Party Congress Resolution, the main task of commune People’s Committee is to support the economic development of the people, help them to escape poverty, stabilize the local situation. Therefore, commune People’s Committee directed agencies to devise new approaches, models. The result showed that local land was appropriate to fruit trees, such as durian, rambutan, tangerine, especially mangosteen. Thus commune Party and People’s Committee selected mangosteen as "pedal" to develop local orchards. People’s Committee continued to direct agencies to encourage people turn wasteland or inefficient orchards into mangosteen orchards.

Commune Party Secretary Mr. Nguyen Van Binh said, the development of fruit trees growing has opened new direction for local economic development, increasing people’s income. This was the premise of stimulating people to build up new rural.

Mr. Huynh Van Duong, commune Farmers Association's Chairman, gave instructions on mangosteen growing techniques.

With obvious profitability, the people unanimously carried out the new model. New growers were supported 100% costs to purchase and transport seedlings, 50% reclaiming costs, and 30% materials expenses; and were transferred new farming techniques through training. The goals were to build up well-organized mangosteen garden yielding 6-8 tones/ha with an annual income of 150-240 million/ha; simultaneously, build up the name of Thanh Tuyen mangosteen. In the early of 2015, the commune developed 150 ha of mangosteen orchard, achieving 86% target of 176 ha set by Resolution until 2020.

Local units and agencies have made every effort to encourage people to implement the model. Propaganda was carried out in local meetings and even door-to-door. Opinions and difficulties of people in the model implementation have been recorded and then reported to commune Party and People’s Committee for solving.

Local government also find ways to ensure orchards’ output by implementing the project “Developing orchards combined with ecotourism". Commune People’s Committee transferred 120ha land to Cu Chi Tunnels (HCM City) to expand the tunnels through Thanh Tuyen so that visitors of the tunnels could enjoy orchards.

Expectations from the people

Also thanks to the model, local people were self-employed, gradually reducing the poor households’ number to 53, and near-poor households’ number to 42 in the early of 2015.

Farmer Huynh Van Duong grew 0.5 hectares of rice in the past, but still lived in difficulty. After commune Farmers Association instructed him to change crop plant, he has grown mangosteen and some other fruit trees. He said, mangosteen is easy to grow but has 2-3 times profitability higher than rice.

Mr. Le Van Me living in Le Danh Cat hamlet has now a 1.2-hectare flourishing mangosteen and durian orchard, which was a wasteland in the past. Mr. Me said: “I feel really happy when local authorities have taken good care of people’s lives. Since then, we were relieved and contributed to local development”.

Mr. Tran Van Loi living in Rach Kien hamlet was once reluctant to switch to growing mangosteen, although he had known about its high profitability. But after local Farmers Association gave new technical training, he decided to implement the new model. Orchards combined with ecotourism provided an opportunity for people to increase income.

Agreement from the people indicated the soundness of local leadership. However, to implement the project, the commune has encountered difficulties. According to commune People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Chau An, some places in the commune have not had electricity yet. In addition, although Thanh Tuyen mangosteen won many first, second, third prizes at Southeastern Fruits Contest held at Suoi Tien Park in in 2012, 2013, 2014, brand name of Thanh Tuyen fruits, especially mangosteen, has been new and unfamiliar, thus need more supports from higher authorities.

Reported by T.Ly – Translated by Ngoc Huynh