In the area of Pa Co commune (Mai Chau), there are currently 6 homestay business households with the high economic efficiency.
The appropriate policies have been creating the leverage for Mong village
Pa Co is still known as a commune in an ethnic minority area with special difficulties, there are complicated problems in the security situation. Nearly 90% of the population is Mong ethnic people with the distinct customs, the outdated production practices, not much science and technology has been applied to production, so the economy is slowly developing with the small and fragmented production, low per capita income… Facing with these difficulties, in order to soon help Mong village get rid of poverty to improve the quality of life for the the people and ensure social security and safety, the provincial Party Committee has issued the resolution 03 and the plan 09 on improving the quality of the social security activities, connecting with the socio-economic development, ensuring the national defense and security.
The investment interest and support for Pa Co is primarily for the socio-economic infrastructure investment. The roads to the communes have been widened and upgraded; there are concrete roads in 6 out of the 6 hamlets, which is convenient for travelling. The clean water works have been built, maintained, repaired and supplied to the hamlets of Pa Hang Lon, Pa Co I, and Pa Co Lon; 2 wells have been drilled for the people in Xa Linh village. The power grid system has been upgraded and repaired to provide the stable electricity for production and life. The communal people's market has been built with an area of more than 4,000 m2, including 245 kiosks to meet the needs of people in the commune and the region for buying and selling goods. The schools have well and solidly built. The communal health station has been invested to build 2 floors, with enough functional rooms as prescribed and a medicinal garden, medical waste treatment...
In order to preserve and promote the cultural values, in 2020, the commune invested in cultural house equipment for two hamlets, Pa Hang Lon and Xa Linh with a total capital of 60 million VND. In 2023, it is expected to continue buying equipment for the cultural houses for 3 hamlets, Pa Hang Lon, Xa Linh and Pa Co Lon with a cost of 20 million VND a hamlet.
Mr. Sung A Mang, the Secretary of the Communal Party Committee says: Over the past time, Pa Co people are very excited when they are supported to develop production and livelihood. The farmers have been supported with seeds, stables, some input materials to transform the structure of plants and animals of high economic value. The vaccination against dangerous diseases for livestock and poultry has been supported. Especially for the capital support, Agribank in Mai Chau district has disbursed loans with the amount of more than 11 billion VND to 170 households for developing economy with; District’s Bank for Social Policy has disbursed loans to 383 households, amounting to more than 15 billion VND. The investment in infrastructure and capital support is an important lever for Pa Co people's so that they can be determined to develop their economy and escape poverty.
Promoting the spirit of self-reliance and the self-reliance for developing economy
Our impression when returning to visit Pa Co and having the opportunity to talk with the people here is that Mong people have the spirit and determination to escape poverty. Every year, on the basis of the assigned socio-economic development targets, the commune develops a plan to concretize the contents of activities and things to do to propagate and mobilize the people to promote self-reliance for the economic development and sustainable poverty reduction.
The commune bases itself on the natural conditions such as weather, climate, irrigation water, soil... to determine the type of production, suitable plants and breeds for investment. With the advantage of the cool climate, in addition to the main crop of corn, Pa Co focuses on producing off-season vegetables such as tomatoes, chayote, and beans. For example, tomatoes, when they are harvested in other places, the people in Pa Co begin to sow seeds and harvest off-season with the selling price of double or triple that of the main crop. In addition, the commune maintains and expands the area of peach cultivation for the collection of products such as flowers, fruits and peach roots. Planting Shan Tuyet tea continues to maintain on 120 hectares, mainly in Cha Day hamlet; Planting Hau plums is being expanded in the area. Especially, the homestay tourism model, currently there are 6 homestays operating in the commune, the number of guests is quite stable, contributing to creating jobs and improving income for the people.
Talking with us, Mr. Sung A Mang, the Secretary of the Communal Party Committee says: With a lot of efforts, in 2022, the commune's per capita income reached nearly 20 million VND; the average growth value was 10%/year. 100% of the households have access to electricity from the national grid; Over 90% of the households have been using hygienic water. The commune achieved 15 out of the 19 criteria for the new rural construction, and it is expected to achieve 2 more criteria in 2023. However, there are still many difficulties, with newly implemented economic models that are showing good results, we believe that the local economy will prosper in the coming time. The economy has been developing, the awareness has gone up, the people's quality of life is also gradually improved. The people are assured, excited taking part in production, and the social evils have been gradually repelled.