Changes in the Phieng Cam highlands

In the memories of those who have been to Phieng Cam highland commune, it used to be a poor land with difficult transportation, people relied on and relied on the State. But now, it only takes nearly 2 hours from National Highway 4G, following Provincial Road 113 through green forests, we arrive at Phieng Cam commune. The commune center has many shops and services; the commune headquarters, schools, and medical stations are built spaciously, the pace of life here is changing every day.

The road to Nong Tau Mong, Nong Xa Nghe and Huoi Nha villages is concreted.

In 2019, a road of more than 50 km connecting National Highway 4G to the commune was invested, vehicles coming and going to buy agricultural products for consumption everywhere, opening up opportunities for households to develop the economy . Therefore, from Nong Tau Mong to Nong Xa Nghe, Huoi Nha, Mong and Kho Mu ethnic minority villages is quite easy. The 4 km long road to the 3 villages used to be a dirt road with long dangerous slopes, but now it has been paved with wide concrete. Mr. Lo Van Chan, Nong Xa Nghe village, happily said: In the past, agricultural products had to be transported all the way to the commune center to sell; now the village has a concrete road, trucks can come to the place to buy, no longer having to struggle to transport agricultural products for consumption.

Phieng Cam Commune was established on the basis of merging Phieng Cam and Chieng Noi communes, with 34 villages, 2,832 households, and a population of 14,395 people, including the following ethnic groups: Thai, Kinh, Mong, and Kho Mu. In the period of 2020-2025, through the State's support programs and projects and mobilizing people's strength, the whole commune will concrete 23.7 km of inter-village roads, main roads, and 14.5 km of intra-village roads; repair 3 suspension bridges for people; 1 suspension bridge; 1 spillway serving Chieng Noi Primary School; build and repair 11 village cultural houses, 100% of villages have cultural houses.

Phieng Cam Commune Public Administration Service Center.

In economic development, Phieng Cam commune propagates and mobilizes people in low-lying villages along provincial road 113 to strongly develop trade, services, industrial production, small-scale industry; grow coffee, tea, and fruit trees. The highland villages develop hybrid corn cultivation, raise large livestock, and care for and protect forests. In particular, Phieng Cam highland is located at an altitude of nearly 1,000m above sea level, with a cold climate, so tea trees have been planted for a long time. Up to now, the whole commune has nearly 30 hectares of Kim Tuyen, Bat Tien, O Long, and Taiwan tea, mainly grown in Nong Tau Thai, Nong Tau Mong, Huoi Nha, and Phieng Phu villages; tea output reaches over 300 tons/year. The production and consumption of products is conveniently undertaken by Son La Tea Joint Stock Company. The entire growing area from the care and processing process to the decision on the harvest date is strictly managed, ensuring product quality. Every year, the Company processes 40 tons of finished tea, most of which is consumed in the provincial market.

With the support of the State and the efforts of the people, the lives of Phieng Cam people have changed day by day. The commune has developed typical, high-quality products that are popular with customers, such as: Canh oranges, passion fruit, crispy persimmons, soaked persimmons, and tea trees. Many household economic models have been replicated. A typical example is the family of Mr. Hoang Van Hinh, Nong Tau Thai village, in 2020, boldly invested in planting 2.5 hectares of crispy persimmons and soaked persimmons. By 2024, his family's persimmon garden began to harvest more than 6 tons of fruit, after deducting expenses, earning a profit of more than 100 million VND. Taking us to visit the persimmon garden full of fruit, Mr. Hinh excitedly said: This year, the weather is favorable, the persimmon garden is expected to yield 11-12 tons of fruit, traders from Phu Tho province have come to buy the entire garden.

Model of growing persimmon trees of the people of Phieng Cam commune.

Mr. Dang Tien Dung, Chairman of Phieng Cam Commune People's Committee, said: The whole commune has 4 cooperatives producing in the agricultural sector, consuming agricultural products for the people. Livestock is developed in the direction of commodity production, maintaining a stable herd of over 4,000 cattle and 48,550 poultry... The poverty rate has decreased by an average of 2.6% per year.

Entering a new development stage, the commune continues to mobilize investment resources to develop socio-economic infrastructure; focusing on developing the transportation system from the commune center to the villages, inter-villages, promoting trade, creating momentum for socio-economic development and building sustainable new rural areas. Exploiting the advantages of natural resources, cultural identity and local typical products to develop high-tech, organic and environmentally friendly agricultural production. Linking agricultural production with forest protection and developing community tourism and rural experience tourism.

People of Nong Tau Thai village, Phieng Cam commune harvest tea.

With unity and determination from the Party Committee, government and people, Phieng Chin will strive to overcome difficulties to develop the economy, build a prosperous life, and gradually move towards the goal of more sustainable and comprehensive development.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/xa-hoi/doi-thay-vung-cao-phieng-cam-SnuRlQXNR.html