(HBO) – Being keen on gardening, Nguyen Van Thang, born in Hanoi’s outlying Ba Vi district in 1969, has been spending more than 20 years in Thung Rech, a rich soil area in Tu Son commune of Kim Boi district (Hoa Binh province). Between 1992 and 1997, he was known as "King of Sugarcane” in Thung Rech. He was the first to grow sugarcane in the area, leading to a mass cultivation that helped local people alleviate hunger and reduce poverty.
Nguyen Van Thang stands next to a grapefruit nursery.
Thang has changed the mind
of local residents when he first brought red sugarcane to Thung Rech.
At first, he planted
sugarcane on one hectare and then expanded the area to three hectares. Each
hectare brought him an average annual income of 30 million VND. At the time, red
sugarcane growing became a solution to hunger elimination and poverty reduction
in the area and Thang was called "King of Sugarcane”. However, in 1998, all
sugarcane plantation areas were ruined by fires, causing great economic losses.
In 2000, Thang began growing oranges, mainly Xa Doai orange varieties, on a
1.5-ha area. His orange garden could produce 70 tonnes at its peak.
To date, his family’s orchards
have been expanded to nearly five hectares, of which three hectares of oranges,
one hectare of lemons and grapefruits, and one hectare of longans. The orchards
rake in over 1 billion VND in revenue each year, with a disposable profit of
700 million VND.
Thanks to his creative
dynamism and willingness to restructure the crops, Thang has turned himself
into a millionaire in Thung Rech. He has also created stable jobs and incomes for
15 labourers.
Since late 2016 when Thang
joined Muong Dong Agriculture & Trade Cooperative, he has been encouraged
to follow a farming model that is suitable to the locality’s potential and
advantages.
To help the crops develop
well, Thang combined different types of fertilizers for the best results.
Oranges from his garden
are sweet and become a favorite among consumers. Thang revealed that preventing
diseases and using fertilizers are the most important tasks in growing oranges
and mandarins. He frequently examines the garden to prune tree branches and
promptly detect symptoms of diseases. Thang and other members of the Muong Dong
Agriculture & Trade Cooperative are now following a new cultivation method
that promotes the use of organic fertilizers to ensure food safety and protect the
environment.
Thang’s achievements are
admirable, reflecting the aspiration and perseverance of a man who dares to
leave the city to settle in a remote area and always strives to get rid of poverty.
Maximizing local potential and advantages, Yen Tri commune in Yen Thuy district is actively promoting the cultivation of medicinal herbs and turning medicinal herbs into One Commune - One Product (OCOP) products.
Situated at the gateway to the Northwest, Hoa Binh province has a population of over 900,000, including about 540,000 of working age. It is home to 6,000 businesses and production facilities, providing employment for over 100,000 workers. The remaining workforce is engaged in informal jobs, works in enterprises outside the province, or contributes to agro-forestry-fisheries. Additionally, around 3,000 workers are employed abroad.
The Hoa Binh provincial People's Committee has issued Decision No. 2767/QD-UBND announcing the rankings of departments, agencies, districts and Hoa Binh city in the Public Administration Reform Index (PAR) and the Satisfaction Index of Public Administration Services (SIPAS) in 2024.
The cultivation of Dam Xanh fish (Bangana lemassoni), a unique fish species, has seen remarkable growth in Mai Chau district, thanks to its high economic value and effectiveness. Initially concentrated in Van Mai commune, farming has now extended to four other communes, namely Mai Hich, Mai Ha, Chieng Chau, and Son Thuy. These areas benefit from pristine underground water flowing from mountain crevices, providing ideal conditions for raising this specialty fish.
In 2024, the total state budget revenue of Hoa Binh Province is estimated at approximately VND 6,930 billion, achieving 183% of the Government’s target, 126% of the target assigned by the Provincial People's Council, and 145% compared to the same period last year.
In 2024, Hoa Binh province has shown signs of improvement in attracting investment and developing enterprises.
