Poverty reduction through plum trees.

Crossing the rugged mountain slopes in Chieng Tuong commune (Yen Chau district, province)Son La), we discovered a unique economic development model: growing fruit trees on sloping land, implemented by the soldiers of the outpost themselves.Border GuardChieng Tuong initiated and has been working alongside the local people since 2016.

On the more than 1-hectare farmland of the family of Mr. Phàng Lao Lang, a Hmong man born in 1983, the trees stand tall.late plumThe trees laden with fruit signaled another season of sweet harvest. "Back then, I was planning..."planting fruit trees"We didn't know where to start. When the soldiers came to help with seedlings, planting, and technical guidance, our family was overjoyed. Since then, the trees have grown well, bearing fruit consistently, and we've been able to sell them at a good price," Mr. Lang shared.

Lang's family currently has about 550 plum trees.

At that time, the hilly land around the village was mainly used for growing corn and cassava, resulting in unstable income and low yields. With the support of the border guards and local authorities, his family received more than enough seedlings. To date, the garden...plumMr. Lang's house currently has about 550 trees. Besides the trees, he and other households participating in the model are also guided on the process of planting, caring for, treating pests and diseases, and fertilizing according to each stage of the growing season.

The process of growing plums is now perfected: after harvesting in July, he fertilizes and sprays biological pesticides to clean the trees, and prunes the branches at the end of the year. In February of the following year, when the plums bloom, he sprays pesticides to protect the flowers and fruits, and fertilizes to ensure the trees have enough strength to nourish the fruit. All pesticides are biological products of natural origin, ensuring safety and environmental friendliness.

"Thanks to the plum trees, my family has a stable income, earning tens of millions of dong each year. We have money to support our children's education, repair the house, and buy household items. Growing fruit trees is now a sustainable path," Mr. Lang confided.

According to the Chieng Tuong Border Guard Station, since 2016, the unit has surveyed and collaborated with local Party committees and authorities to select households with the need and conditions to pilot the "Fruit Tree Planting on Sloping Land" model. In the border area, there is a lot of sloping land, but the people lack technical skills, investment capital, and long-term production planning. "We have supported four households with a total of over 2,000 plum trees, planted on approximately 4.7 hectares of sloping land. For the first three years, officers and soldiers regularly went to the fields with the people to care for the trees, provide technical guidance, and accompany them through each harvest season," said Captain Vang A Nu, Team Leader of the Community Mobilization Team at the Chieng Tuong Border Guard Station.

According to Captain Nu, the model not only helps people stabilize their livelihoods,increase incomeFurthermore, it contributes to land conservation, erosion control, forest protection, and gradually changes farming practices. "Each household currently earns between 70 and 100 million VND per year, a promising figure in this border region which still faces many difficulties," he said.

This model has helped Mr. Lang's family and other households develop their economy and improve their living standards.

Building on initial success, the model of fruit tree cultivation on sloping land in Chieng Tuong is being encouraged for expansion. Each season, the white blossoms on the hillsides not only promise sweet fruits but also serve as proof of the transformation brought about by the hands, minds, and companionship of the soldiers on the border. “The soldiers helping the people is not just about protecting the forests and land, but also about protecting the villages and livelihoods. In a difficult place like Chieng Tuong, that companionship is invaluable,” shared Mr. Giang A Nu, head of Pa Kha 1 village.

The story of Mr. Phàng Lao Lang and his plum orchard today is a typical example of the right direction the program is taking.sustainable poverty reductionBased on the people's internal strength, supported by local forces, and most importantly, a change in production mindset, the future is blossoming on these sloping lands, yielding bountiful harvests.