Green in the countryside of Phu Lac

We visited the new rural commune of Phu Lac (Tuy Phong) in the autumn weather of August. Walking through the village with many spacious houses with beautiful architecture, long clean concrete roads... the peaceful countryside has put on a new coat.

Meeting new people to know about the new rural construction in Phu Lac not only brings people a way of thinking and doing business effectively but also better promotes the potential and strengths available in a land with a rich and unique cultural tradition.

Promote the role of the subject

Meeting us, the abbot Thuong Xuan Huu in Lac Tri village expressed his feelings: "Everyone is happy and excited because the commune has achieved the new rural standards." According to the abbot, who is also the Chairman of the Council of Brahmin Clergy of Binh Thuan province, when implementing the policy of building new rural areas in Phu Lac commune, the people in the commune were very unanimous, because everyone understood that they were both the subject and the beneficiary. That has aroused the spirit of initiative and positive action of the people, without the mindset of waiting and relying on the State.

On the day of the ceremony to announce Phu Lac commune meeting the new rural standards in 2022, the leader of Tuy Phong District People's Committee said that Phu Lac's success is due to the good application of the motto "People know, people discuss, people do, people inspect, people contribute, people enjoy". Vice Chairman of Tuy Phong District People's Committee Vo Duc Thuan commented that in building new rural areas, Phu Lac relies on internal resources, promoting the autonomy of cadres, party members and people of all walks of life. It is worth noting that there is the contribution of prestigious people in the community, including many dignitaries who have propagated and mobilized people to work with peace of mind and join hands with the government to mobilize the construction of many civil works, economic-social works to better serve people's lives.

Looking through the history of Phu Lac, we know that during the resistance wars against invaders and to protect the Fatherland, Phu Lac commune was one of the key areas attacked by the enemy. Overcoming many losses and sacrifices, the people of all ethnic groups united to follow the Party to make revolution, to gain independence and freedom for their homeland and country. Now, that revolutionary tradition and spirit of solidarity continue to be promoted, creating strength for the people to "join hands and hearts to build a new countryside", to build Phu Lac homeland to flourish as it is today.

Green in the countryside

Mr. Qua Tu Chuyen - Secretary of the Lac Tri village Party cell, a Cham ethnic person, said that in the past, Lac Tri village still had many difficulties, the poverty rate was still high, and the average income per capita was low. Traffic was still on dirt roads, making it very difficult to travel during the rainy season... "After 10 years, the lives of the villagers have completely changed. Every family has fields and gardens, green fruit trees, and enough to eat and save" - Mr. Chuyen commented. Mr. Chuyen said that at its peak, the villagers earned hundreds of millions of dong from raising cows, goats, and growing dragon fruit, grapes, apples, etc. In particular, many people invested in machinery combined with providing additional agricultural services from land preparation, harvesting, transportation, fertilizers, and agricultural product purchasing centers... so there was still enough to cover the living expenses of a family in the countryside.

It turns out that the reason why Phu Lac people have been able to focus on strong economic development in recent years is because the rural traffic system has been invested in concrete or asphalted, along with the inter-field roads and irrigation canals that have been effective. The lighting system, domestic water, schools, medical stations, village cultural houses, etc. have all been invested heavily, creating favorable conditions for people to improve their spiritual and cultural life and develop the economy.

Mr. Mai Duc Nghia - Vice Chairman of Phu Lac Commune People's Committee said that the commune has 9,077 people living in 3 villages of Phu Dien, Lac Tri, Vinh Hanh, most of whom are Cham ethnic group. From 2012 to now, the commune has mobilized resources to build new rural areas of more than 165.3 billion VND, creating a clear change in socio-economic development, improving people's lives. According to Mr. Nghia - Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, the commune has so far achieved 19/19 new rural criteria. The criteria on traffic, culture, schools, health, villages, markets, housing, clean water, environment, cooperatives... are all quite good. In particular, the average income per capita of the commune has increased every year, up to now reaching 44.3 million VND/person; the poverty rate is 4.9%, lower than the prescribed level.

With the advantages of terrain, rivers, irrigation, fertile land and creative, hard-working labor force... Phu Lac has a prominent position in agricultural production, becoming a key agricultural area of Tuy Phong district today and even during the war. Walking on the roads through the fields, the well-invested concrete canals, we were really impressed by the appearance of agricultural, rural and farmer development here. Standing in the middle of the Lac Tri rice fields in their prime, along with the Hong Nhat grape gardens, apple gardens... swaying with sweet fruits, I felt cool in my heart. As if to help me understand more, Mr. Mai Duc Nghia - Vice Chairman of Phu Lac Commune People's Committee said that the commune pays great attention to agricultural extension models, not only training and guiding farmers on scientific and technical advances but also supporting farmers to learn information, analyze, evaluate the market, preserve agricultural products, and even guide farmers to participate in agricultural services. "In the past few seasons, despite the high prices of fertilizers, agricultural materials and unfavorable market developments, people still have a good income, everyone is happy" - Mr. Nghia confided.

I know that in agriculture, the story of “fishing rods and fish” is always a concern for the government and farmers, but in Phu Lac, it is a vivid proof showing the results of investment attention, supporting the socio-economic development of ethnic minority areas, and building new rural areas. Pointing to the green fields, Mr. Nghia smiled happily and said, “With fishing rods, we farmers will catch more fish, the bigger the fish, the happier.”

Coming to Phu Lac, the countryside is peaceful with clear laughter and hospitality. Everyone is diligent in their work, together maintaining security and order in the village, in which the monks and dignitaries are always exemplary, advising their clansmen and descendants to live in solidarity, harmony and filial piety. The good news is that the people of Phu Lac always preserve and promote the tradition of studiousness and cultural traditions from ancient times. The temples, towers, shrines and pagodas here are all unique architectural works of art, imbued with the national spirit; not only are they places for cultural activities and religious beliefs, but they also reflect the economic development, cultural life and spirit of solidarity and love for the homeland of the people of Phu Lac.

According to dignitaries, the Cham people and other ethnic groups in Phu Lac live very closely, working together, relying on each other in all activities to support each other in a practical and friendly way. It is this support that brings the Cham people and other ethnic groups closer together, as a natural complement in life. Such a harmonious life has created cultural exchanges and acculturation in all aspects between ethnic groups such as food, clothing, language, religion, beliefs, etc. In particular, through many historical ups and downs that have affected the sentiments and challenges of training people here throughout history through generations, the people of Phu Lac have always upheld the tradition of solidarity, the spirit of self-reliance, unity, building and cultivating good traditions in production and life, in combat, in the struggle for survival with harsh nature to overcome poverty and backwardness.

Farewell to Phu Lac - the land of green and prosperity. The Kate Festival has come, the countryside will be happier with graceful and flexible Cham dances, the fluttering sound of Ghinang and Paranung drums, the shrill sound of Saranai trumpets... captivating people's hearts.

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