This area, once deemed too challenging to cultivate due to wartime contamination and adverse weather, now stands as a testament to the community's determination and adaptability.
"THE AREA WAS ONCE DESERTED BECAUSE OF UNEXPLODED BOMBS. AUTHORITIES AND COOPERATIVES ENCOURAGED PEOPLE TO RECLAIM THE LAND AFTER THE WAR.”
“We didn't have much choice though, we needed to make a living. My family moved here back then, but we were extremely careful about bombs. The yield was meager, and cassava wasn't enough to feed my family," Thang recalled.
In 2012, the cooperative supported its farmers in experimenting with chive cultivation. Seeing improved economic returns, farmers in Dien Khanh village have since committed themselves to growing chives.
BACK THEN, WE PLANTED CHIVES CAUTIOUSLY, FEARING ENCOUNTERS WITH UNEXPLODED BOMBS. OUR FAMILY USES ONLY ABOUT A THIRD OF THE COOPERATIVE'S ALLOCATED LAND, FOCUSING ON THE PREVIOUSLY CULTIVATED AREA. THE REST REMAINED ABANDONED" MRS.BUI SHARED.
Before MAG cleared unexploded bombs in Dien Khanh Village, farmers of the cooperative, like Thang and Bui, grappled with abandoned land. Unexploded bombs not only posed deadly threats but also severely restricted land use and hindered long-term development prospects.
In 2019, with support from the U.S. Department of State, MAG cleared the land in Dien Khanh village of unexploded bombs. Over 1.4 million square meters of land was cleared, benefiting 560 households, including 190 households engaged in chive cultivation on the land. Within the cleared zones, 567 unexploded bombs were found and safely destroyed, marking a new era of safety and opportunity.
Over 1.4 million square meters of land cleared
567 unexploded bombs found and safely destroyed
560 households benefited, including 190 households engaged in chive cultivation on the land
“I NO LONGER FEAR GOING TO MY LAND. SINCE OCTOBER 2020, MY FAMILY HAS GAINED AN ADDITIONAL 1,500 SQUARE METERS OF LAND FOR GROWING CHIVES. CHIVES HAVE NOW BECOME OUR PRIMARY SOURCE OF INCOME. WE EARN ABOUT 30 MILLION* VND ANNUALLY, WHICH IS DOUBLE WHAT WE EARNED THREE YEARS AGO," MRS.THUYEN SHARED
*approximately 1.200 USD
According to Dien Khanh Cooperative's records, the area dedicated to chive cultivation has expanded from 200,000 square meters to a total of 300,000 square meters since 2020, following MAG's completion of the safe land handover. The cooperative's total income has also seen a significant increase, rising from 6 billion to 10 billion VND (approximately 410,000 USD) over the span of five years.
"THE SOIL IS MUCH MORE FERTILE NOW AFTER YEARS OF CULTIVATION. I CAN GROW VARIOUS VEGETABLES FOR MY FAMILY AND EVEN SELL SOME AT THE MARKET. WITH THE INCREASED INCOME, WE CAN AFFORD TO SUPPORT MY CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY MY ELDEST WHO IS ATTENDING UNIVERSITY," MRS.THAI ADDED.
The area once scarred by unexploded bombs and intense wartime battles has transformed into a thriving green garden. Where bombs once lay hidden beneath the soil, chive bulbs now flourish, promising a brighter future for Dien Khanh village.
"Having lived through the war and witnessed the transformation here, I’m optimistic about the future for my children and grandchildren. They will no longer fear working on the land as we did, now that
the threat of bombs is over," shared Bui, discussing his family's plans to pass down the land to the next generation.
Dien Khanh Cooperative's chives have earned a reputation as a hallmark of Quang Tri province. The positive changes in the area have drawn increased attention from local authorities, who are now focusing on training programs to enhance chive cultivation skills and investing in the construction of a chive preservation facility in the near future.
Source: MAG VN
