5:02:00 PM | 8/3/2005
Van Chan is a mountainous district of
Van Chan possesses huge potentials for developing its socio-economy. The district has 4,100 ha of paddy fields, 5,000 ha of vegetable fields and a large area for growing grasses to develop its husbandry (raising buffaloes, cows, goats and others). According to geological documents, Van Chan has lead ore in Tu Le Commune, an open coalmine and a peat mine in Phu Nham-Suoi Quyen, stone in Cat Thinh, Dong Khe, Suoi Bu and iron ores in several outlying communes. The district also has a spring and river system suitable for building small and medium hydropower plants, warm springs for remedying and producing mineral water, and clays for making bricks and tiles.
Thanks to developing these advantages and potentialities, the district annually reaches an economic growth of over 10 per cent. In the economic structure, agriculture accounts for 44.5 per cent, industry and construction make up 31.5 per cent, and trade and service constitute 24 per cent. The per capita income is VND4.2 million (US$262.5) per annum. The food crop area and productivity increase year after year. The area swells to 620 ha (with 2 crops) and then to 1,600 ha (with 3 crops). In 2005, the average rice yield reaches 96 tonnes per hectare, and the total grain output hits 43,727 tonnes (an average year on year increase of 1,500 tonnes).
Apart from cultivating rice and vegetables, Van Chan grows industrial trees and fruit trees thanks to its favourable climate and soil. Industrial crops are mainly tea trees, cinnamon trees and coffee trees. Van Chan has 3,800 ha of tea trees with a yearly fresh tea bud output of 25,000 tonnes. In particular, the district has 180 ha of well-known Suoi Giang tea trees with an annual production of 30-35 tonnes and 800 ha of San tea trees. It also has 1,500 ha of cash-earning cinnamon trees, of which over 500 ha have trees of less than 6 years old. The district is planning to grow more. Van Chan also plants high yield fruit trees, with 3,112 ha in 2005, bearing 2,000 tonnes of fruit, mainly longans, oranges, tangerines, custard apples and plums. It is setting up special fruit tree zones like longan growing from Son Thinh Commune to Son Luong Commune and orange and tangerine planting in other communes.
Van Chan also has potentials to develop forestry. It has 54,232 ha of forestland, with 45 per cent coverage, which provides 2 million cubic meters of timber and millions of bamboo trees and neohouzeauna (a species of bamboo). The district is forming many zones for planting trees for paper and fibre production industry. To better exploit the forestry potentialities, the district has allocated over 30,000 ha of forestland for local households, who are working and protecting their forest portions. As a result, its forestry production increases average 8.7 per cent a year.
In addition to developing agriculture, Van Chan District is speeding up industry development. In 2005, its industrial production value is estimated to reach VND94 billion (US$5.87 million), of which the State-owned sector accounts for 52 per cent and the non-State-run sector makes up the remainder. In the industry structure, the farm and forest product processing industry holds 88 per cent. The district has so far attracted two industrial projects, embracing the 36-MW Van Chan Hydropower Plant costing VND600 billion (US$37.5 million) and a 2,400-ton/year paper factory worth VND4.6 billion (US$287,500). All economic sectors, especially the private sector, are expanding quickly, contributing to the whole economic development of the district. Van Chan now has 43 co-operatives.
To serve the life of the locals and develop the economy, Van Chan District is paying great attention to the construction of infrastructure works. The total investment capital for developing a transport system in the 2001-2005 period is VND71.8 billion (US$4.48 million), of which the State Budget accounts for VND48.35 billion (US$3.02 million) and the remaining VND23.45 billion (US$1.4 million). The national power grid reaches 30 out of 31 communes, with 82 per cent of their households connecting to the grid. The district has built 26 communal culture & post offices, which provides telephony service and newspapers for all communes. The trades and services of the district have also made a great leap forward. Van Chan has established many rural markets and expanded banking and credit services. By the end of 2005, its total capital mobilisation is estimate to stand at VND85 billion (US$5.31 million) while the lending volume reaches VND70 billion (US$4.37 million) and the debt surplus is VND190 billion (US$11.87 million).
Van Chan District has 215 villages and cultural bases. 70 per cent of its households are recognized cultured families. The district also develops sports activities, artistic performances, modern wedding styles, public festivals and funerals. It also attaches much importance to radio broadcasting and television to serve political tasks and meet the cultural and spiritual needs of the locals. Van Chan also enlarges education, including day-boarder schools, especially in the remote areas. It has lain concrete in 87 per cent of classrooms and 99 per cent of its teachers are graduates. It has three national-standardised schools, its 28 communes and towns have universalised secondary education, and 7 communes and towns have community education centres. Van Chan also develops healthcare works. Every 10,000 residents have 17.5 beds and 1.86 doctors. It can keep all disease epidemics at bay. The district also pays much attention to child care, reproductive healthcare and family planning. Consequently, the birth rate here is only 1.35 per cent.
Vietnamese
