To help the highlanders change their way of thinking and doing things

Results from changing mindset

For more than 15 years, the main income of Mr. Dinh Van Linh's family - Hamlet 2, Phuoc Nang Commune (Phuoc Son) has depended on a 2-hectare acacia plantation. After about 4-5 years of planting, when it comes to exploitation, the income is only enough to buy seedlings for the next crop, cover family expenses, pay off debts and wait... for more than 4 years.

For Mr. Linh, although acacia trees do not bring in much income, they have helped his family overcome poverty, without worrying about output and without requiring much care. The conversion of local crops has been encouraged and recommended a lot, but it is not easy to change the traditional production habits of the people.

“Hearing the district and commune officials promote the conversion from acacia to native plants and medicinal herbs, I was initially very interested. But then I wondered if anyone would buy other plants, what the prices would be… While acacia does not bring high income but is easy to grow, not hard work” – Mr. Linh expressed his opinion to the Phuoc Nang commune officials when they came to the residential area to promote the policy of “Changing the way of thinking and doing” of the Phuoc Son District Party Committee. This is also the common thought of many people here when mentioning the conversion of crops. They are worried about having to change…

In addition to converting 2 hectares of acacia to giổi, Mr. Dinh Van Linh also intercropped purple Morinda officinalis. After more than a year of conversion, both types of plants have grown and developed well.

Mr. Linh and his wife switched from growing acacia to growing large timber trees, intercropping with purple Morinda officinalis. Photo: VQ

Mr. Ho Van Khu - Chairman of Phuoc Nang Commune People's Committee said that the income from acacia trees converted into labor after a harvest is very low. If this mindset is maintained, people will certainly be stuck in poverty and unable to rise up. To change their thinking and way of doing things, commune officials have been tirelessly mobilizing and guiding them according to the motto "slow and steady wins the race", "real people, real work and real results".

[VIDEO] - Mr. Dinh Van Linh's family - village 2, Phuoc Nang commune (Phuoc Son) switched from growing acacia to growing purple Morinda officinalis:

After the first households stepped out of their “comfort zone”, there was a strong change in the awareness of the community. Gradually, many households began to convert acacia plantation areas to large timber plantations according to local orientation.

“

The officer was right, growing acacia provides food but it will not make you rich. Getting rich is even more distant. We should boldly do it, the local government will accompany and guide us, we are sure there will be good results."

Mr. Dinh Van Linh - Village 2, Phuoc Nang Commune (Phuoc Son)

People of Phuoc Nang commune grow organic rice. Photo: QV

The most obvious result of the change in mindset and practice in Phuoc Nang is that the 120-hectare large field has switched to organic rice cultivation, replacing the traditional farming method of many generations. Mr. Khu said that at the beginning of the campaign, people were still very confused. They did not know how to use mechanization in rice production, crop calendar, rice plants, economical irrigation, etc.

Therefore, the commune officials persistently mobilized, trained, and introduced the rice production model in provinces and cities with similar natural conditions that had successfully converted. Finally, the people agreed to pilot the first crop at the end of 2023.

From the effectiveness of the organic rice growing model, people in the Phuoc Son highlands share their experiences for mutual application. Photo: VQ

Farmers have more confidence in the local direction, when the organic rice yield reaches 62 quintals/ha, 20 quintals higher than the traditional farming method. Notably, the lack of use of pesticides results in high market prices, with traders continuously purchasing. The black rice variety alone costs up to 50,000 VND/kg.

[VIDEO] - Mr. Ho Van Khu - Chairman of Phuoc Nang Commune People's Committee shared about the positive signs of people changing their thinking and ways of doing things:

Promoting traditional culture

Along with changing the way of thinking and working in economic development thinking, the people of Phuoc Son highlands are also encouraged to eliminate inappropriate customs and develop traditional culture in a positive direction. Thanks to that, the situation of early marriage or the custom of burying alive children "carrying the fate of forest ghosts" or the story of hasty burials for fear of "forest ghosts"... no longer appears.

Abandoning bad customs is easy, but preserving and promoting cultural values ​​is a difficult and challenging journey. Mr. Ho Cong Diem - Vice Chairman of Phuoc Son District People's Committee said that many years ago, when meeting with village elders, they often wondered how to preserve culture. However, when discussing this issue in depth, they did not know where to start. Incorporating the opinions of village elders and prestigious people, Phuoc Son District People's Committee is focusing on changing the mindset of those working in cultural preservation, artisans and the younger generation. First of all, we must make them proud of culture and become the subject of preservation work.

The annual traditional cultural festival of the Bhnong people in Phuoc Son district is an activity that creates many highlights and values ​​for the work of preserving and promoting traditional values.

The festival includes activities such as displaying typical historical, cultural and tourist artifacts of communes and towns; performing traditional crafts, performing traditional cuisine, performing gongs, singing and responding, performing traditional costumes; performing and reenacting rituals in traditional festivals of the Bhnong people such as worshiping land to establish villages, celebrating new rice, worshiping and eating on the 5th day of the month (chahthok), marriage rituals, water trough worshiping ceremony... This cultural playground has become a "meeting place" for people to proudly introduce the unique traditional cultural values ​​of their community to friends everywhere.

“

The festival is an opportunity for the Bhnong people in the district to remind each other of their unique customs and practices. At the same time, through competitions and reenactment programs, the people also enthusiastically practice, preserve and conserve their culture intact."

Mr. Ho Cong Diem - Vice Chairman of Phuoc Son District People's Committee

In addition, Phuoc Son has supported the purchase of gong instruments and encouraged the establishment of many gong clubs in the villages. To preserve the art of playing lithophones of the Bhnong people, the locality has provided funding for local artisans to perform and teach to other villages. It is through these practical ways that the thinking about cultural preservation of Phuoc Son people has changed in both breadth and depth.

Highlights of Phuoc Son highland cultural festival. Photo: VQ

Reenacting traditional rituals of the Bhnong people. Photo: QV

[VIDEO] - Unique cultural features of the ethnic minorities in Phuoc Son highlands are preserved and promoted:

Create a ripple effect

Mr. Le Quang Trung - Chairman of Phuoc Son District People's Committee said that after learning from models in localities with similar natural conditions, on February 9, 2023, Phuoc Son District Party Committee issued Directive No. 27 on implementing the campaign "Changing the thinking and working methods of ethnic minorities to gradually rise up to escape poverty sustainably" with 10 contents of changing thinking and 10 contents of changing working methods.

In which, the focus is on encouraging people to focus on developing agricultural and forestry economic models; knowing how to apply science and technology to production; knowing how to accumulate capital for reinvestment in production; having a stable production model; participating in cooperatives and cooperatives. The goal is to reduce the poverty rate from 4-5%/year , to below 10% by 2030.

“

Our campaign does not stop at propaganda and encouragement but also focuses on investing in facilities and providing pilot support. Because we believe that if we are in an environment with adequate facilities and a civilized life, people's thinking will also change."

Mr. Le Quang Trung - Deputy Secretary of District Party Committee, Chairman of Phuoc Son District People's Committee

Phuoc Son District Farmers' Association launched a household group model "Changing thinking and working methods". Photo: QV

Trieng village, Phuoc Kim commune (Phuoc Son) is the most typical example of changing thinking and working methods. Previously, people here lived in temporary houses, the landscape and environment were shabby. After being relocated from the landslide-prone area to a planned residential area, Trieng village transformed in all aspects. In the new conditions, with full electricity and clean water, people planted trees to create landscapes, boldly pooled capital together to invest in economic development.

"Investing in building inter-commune roads and roads leading to production areas has helped people change their business thinking. Since the roads were built, people have contributed money to hire trucks to transport agricultural products to their fields, significantly increasing economic value. There is no longer the scene of carrying agricultural and forestry products from the forest and fields, walking for hours to the point of sale, which is both time-consuming and labor-intensive and has little profit. Seeing the effectiveness, gradually, one household imitates another, the next village learns from the previous village, etc., changing together, developing together" - Mr. Trung added.

The appearance of Phuoc Son highland changes day by day as people change their thinking and way of doing things. Photo: QV

[VIDEO] - Mr. Le Quang Trung - Chairman of Phuoc Son District People's Committee shared about the implementation of the campaign to change thinking and working methods:

“

Changing the way of thinking and doing things is a long-term process, requiring boldness and courage from the people. With persistent advocacy and timely and reasonable support from the entire political system of Phuoc Son district, Directive 27 of the District Party Committee will truly enter life, contributing to sustainable hunger eradication and poverty reduction and improving the quality of life, towards civilization and progress."

Mr. Doan Van Thong - Secretary of Phuoc Son District Party Committee

Works participating in the journalism contest "Spreading positive energy for Quang Nam's aspirations"

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/de-dong-bao-vung-cao-thay-doi-nep-nghi-cach-lam-3144870.html