Bach Thong Commune leaders visiting and inspecting the Bo Chinh ginseng growing model in Dong Nam hamlet

Crop conversion opens a path to higher income

In the early days of summer, the Bo Chinh ginseng fields in Dong Nam hamlet burst into vibrant pink bloom. On land once associated with low-yield, single-crop rice paddies, this medicinal plant is now opening up hopes for a new direction in agricultural economic development.

Dong Nam hamlet was established by merging the three hamlets of Na Lao, Na Peng, and Na Kham, and currently has 119 households with 471 residents. Previously, most residents relied on agricultural production, with a large share of rice land yielding low economic returns, being heavily dependent on weather conditions, while requiring high costs and labor for care.

Given this reality, when the Bach Thong Commune Party Committee launched the “Skillful Mass Mobilization” emulation movement, the Dong Nam Hamlet Party Cell selected the conversion of ineffective rice land to Bo Chinh ginseng cultivation as a pilot model. This is a short-term medicinal plant suited to local soil and climate conditions, with a higher economic value than rice grown on the same area.

In 2025, the model was implemented with 9 participating households and a total area of 0.95 hectares. Throughout the production process, the Bo Chinh ginseng grew well and adapted to local farming conditions, providing a basis for further replication in 2026.

Bo Chinh ginseng deemed well-suited to local soil and climate conditions

Building on these initial results, the party committee and local government have continued to step up communication and guide residents in expanding production areas. Participating households are supported from land preparation and seed supply to care techniques and product consumption linkage. As a result, the Bo Chinh ginseng growing area in Dong Nam has expanded rapidly, now reaching nearly 3.5 hectares with 33 participating households.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Tuan, Secretary of the Dong Nam Hamlet Party Cell, said that the most encouraging outcome is not only the increase in area or the number of participating households, but the change in residents' mindset. From initial hesitation toward a new crop, many households have boldly converted their land, actively applied technical practices, and are gradually moving toward commodity production.

Ms. La Thi Bieu, a resident of Dong Nam hamlet, shared that in the early days many households were hesitant since they had never grown Bo Chinh ginseng before. However, after receiving guidance from officials and Party members and witnessing the positive results achieved by early adopters, residents boldly joined in.

It is clear that the Bo Chinh ginseng growing model not only helps make more effective use of ineffective rice land but also helps change residents' production mindset. Instead of relying solely on traditional rice farming, many households have taken up medicinal plants and are paying closer attention to techniques, markets, and economic value per unit of land.

“Skillful Mass Mobilization” builds consensus, expands the model

To achieve these results, the Dong Nam Hamlet Party Cell identified communication and mobilization as the key factor. Party members were assigned to take charge of specific groups of households, visiting each family directly to explain the benefits of the model, provide technical guidance, and share information on support policies. The Fatherland Front working group and mass organizations in the hamlet also actively coordinated in communication and mobilization efforts to help residents clearly understand the goal of crop conversion.

Party Cell members providing technical guidance and information on support policies to residents

A notable feature of the implementation process is that every policy was openly discussed at hamlet meetings. Residents were able to contribute ideas, exchange views, agree on methods, and jointly monitor implementation. This democratic, people-centered approach, grounded in residents' practical interests, has generated strong consensus and helped the model be replicated quickly.

Comrade Ha Ngoc Viet, Chairman of the Bach Thong Commune People's Committee, said that the “Skillful Mass Mobilization” emulation movement in the commune has created a strong ripple effect in recent times. Following its implementation, the commune has had 60 individuals and 42 collectives register to carry out 80 “skillful mass mobilization” models across various fields. In particular, the model of converting ineffective rice land to Bo Chinh ginseng cultivation in Dong Nam hamlet was selected as the locality's pilot model.

The reality in Dong Nam shows that when the party committee provides close leadership, officials and Party members take the lead by example, and communication work is carried out persistently, targeting the right audience and linked to residents' concrete interests, policies are more easily put into practice. Here, “Skillful Mass Mobilization” means not simply urging residents to follow, but discussing with residents, working alongside them, and jointly resolving difficulties so that the model achieves genuine effectiveness.

The lush rows of Bo Chinh ginseng on Dong Nam's land today stand as clear evidence of the effectiveness of crop restructuring and the “Skillful Mass Mobilization” movement at the grassroots level. From a small-scale model, Bo Chinh ginseng has now become a promising production direction, helping raise incomes, improve residents' lives, and generate further momentum for new rural area building in Bach Thong.