Son Tan Commune: A boost from crop conversion

In recent years, the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas implemented in Cam Lam District has achieved many results. In particular, supporting livelihoods for people in difficult areas, especially supporting crop conversion, has brought new momentum on the journey to escape difficulties and become rich. Typically, in Son Tan Commune, many poor households have become well-off and economically stable thanks to the policy of supporting crop conversion.

People actively participate

Mr. Mang Xe (Suoi Coc village, Son Tan commune) said that the agricultural production area in Suoi Coc village is quite remote, previously it was very difficult to travel, the roads were small and narrow. His family grows cassava and corn, and every time they harvest, they often have to carry it down, which takes a lot of effort. In the past 5 years, the State has invested in a wide concrete road leading straight to the fields, not only making travel more convenient, but also as a boost to help people boldly switch to growing higher value crops. His family has 4 hectares mainly growing acacia and corn. Along with investing in convenient roads, the State continues to support people with seedlings, fertilizers and organizes many training courses to convert crops. 4 years ago, with State support, along with his family's counterpart capital, he planted 1,600 mango trees and 100 durian trees. He also intercrops bananas, harvesting nearly a thousand bunches of bananas each year, earning nearly 200 million VND/year, covering living expenses and enough money to invest in fertilizer and water for fruit trees.

Mr. Mang Xe harvests bananas.

Thanks to diligence and hard work, along with timely and necessary support from the State's policies, and taking root in a relatively fertile hill, the mango trees and Monthong durian trees of Mr. Mang Xe's family have all grown well. The mango trees have been yielding fruit since the third year and have been harvested en masse since the fourth year. He also raises 2 breeding cows, 10 goats, chickens, black pigs, etc. to increase his income and stabilize his life.

Not only Mr. Mang Xe, the crop conversion activity has become a widespread movement throughout the commune. Through that, the economic life of the people has been constantly improved, poverty has been gradually pushed back. The family of Mrs. Bo Bo Thi Xem in Suoi Coc village is an example. Mrs. Xem's family has risen out of poverty, stabilized the economy thanks to short-term support, hard work and timely support from the State's support policies. Mrs. Xem said that growing bananas not only sells the fruit, but also the leaves, stems and banana hearts. From the money from selling bananas, her family focuses on taking care of the mango garden of more than 500 trees.

Step by step change of thinking in production

Mr. Cao Hong Phong - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Son Tan commune said that in previous years, people in the commune mainly grew mixed gardens, some households grew cashews but the economic efficiency was not high. Thanks to the support of the State, through encouraging people to switch to crops with higher economic value, the area of ​​mango and durian in recent years has continuously increased, replacing the previous mixed gardens. In the commune, some households have boldly converted crops and achieved initial results such as the households of Mr. and Mrs. Mang Ly, Mau Tiep, Bo Bo Cuoc, Mang Quoc Lam, Tro Tenh, Tro Nen, Mau Da, Mau Thi Kieu...

Mrs. Bo Bo Thi Xem harvests mangoes.

The leader of Son Tan Commune People's Committee said that in recent years, the conversion process is not simply changing from one crop to another, but also helping people access and care for crops with higher cultivation levels, thereby gradually changing their thinking in production. Many households have mastered the techniques of planting and caring for some popular fruit trees. In 2024 alone, the whole commune converted nearly 300 hectares. Of which, nearly 260 hectares of people converted from mixed gardens to mango cultivation. In addition, some households switched to growing bamboo for bamboo shoots with an area of ​​3 hectares; restoring rice production in Suoi Lach field in Va Ly village of 3.6 hectares after many years of abandonment. In the commune, a cooperative has also been established to produce and trade mangoes and durians to support each other in development. 5 hectares of durian of farmers have met VietGAP standards and have been granted a growing area code. The conversion of crop structure has contributed to reducing the rate of poor and near-poor households in the commune in recent years. The commune has 324 households, 95% of whom are Raglai people. If in 2015, the rate of poor households accounted for more than 50%, by the end of 2024, the commune will have only 15 poor households and 43 near-poor households.

According to the leader of the Commune People's Committee, along with the Socio-Economic Development Program for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas, the commune has also effectively implemented the Sustainable Poverty Reduction Program and the New Rural Development Program. These three programs are combined and complement each other, taking care of the socio-economic development of the people in the commune, from essential infrastructure to healthcare,education , housing, loans..., especially the livelihood support contents that have gradually helped people escape poverty and become economically stable.

HONG DANG

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/kinh-te/202506/xa-son-tan-cu-hich-tu-chuyen-doi-cay-trong-ae6699a/