The industrialization process improves local residents' life

Land-lost farmers, especially middle-aged ones, expects to be provided with jobs

To study the real situation and effect of industrialization process in these districts, Dr Ho Cao Viet and his research group of South Vietnam’s Agricultural Science Institute conduct a research titled “Socio-economic and environmental impact assessment in the industrialization process in 2 districts of Long Thanh, Long Trach, Dong Nai province”. The findings showed that the industrialization process helped land value increase quickly with house and land price fevers. Many farmer households transferred their land in order to receive compensation and change their jobs. Many of them have a new life thanks to land transfer. Additionally, the farmer household income has also been more diversified (income from cultivation, animal husbandry, and hired labours, etc.). Thus many become rich, having enough conditions to allow their children to attend school, changing their jobs, even doing business, etc. Their life has been certainly improved. The survey showed that approximately 21% of households own houses worth below VND100 million, 50% own houses worth from VND100 million to VND300 million, and about 15% own houses worth over VND500 million, etc.

Image of resettlement area

Together with the industrialization process, farmers has enjoyed practical benefits from infrastructure investment and job creation for rural young people. Mr Huynh Minh Thao, Head of the Office of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Long Thanh district confirmed “Thanks to the industrialization and modernization, many households in rural areas have improved their life with better income when they seized opportunities to do business. Moreover, the number of migrant labours flocking to these areas enhances the development of other services”.

·        Land-lost farmers need to be supported with job change and job creation

Benefits from the industrialization process in rural areas are undeniable. But in reality, this process also has some negative impacts including environmental pollution, overpopulation and social evils, especially on those whose land was taken. Land-lost farmers have to face a lot of difficulties to stable their life. Nguyen Trong Dang, a farmer in Tam Phuoc commune, Long Thach district said that the compensation for my agricultural land was not enough for me to build a new house, let alone earning living after land clearance”.

The industrialization process has reduced the cultivated areas, but opened a lot of opportunities for local residents

Mr. Trinh Sam Chau, Head of Economic Office of Long Thanh district, said that along with distributing the resettlement land for local residents, these districts need to have a land fund so that land-lost farmers can earn their living by opening small workshops or shops. In fact, when land was taken, it is easy for young people to find jobs in factories and companies, but very difficult for middle-aged ones. Therefore, those people need to be supported with the proper policy.

It is said that many unemployed farmer households have not spent their compensation reasonably and thus they become poor and miserable. So they need to be supported and consulted so that they can adapt themselves to their new life.

Dr Ho Cao Viet stated some solutions to this matter as follows: local authorities have to prioritize the vocational training and skill enhancement as well as cooperate with enterprises to implement demand-based vocational training; timely supporting to those whose farm land is converted to industrial, commercial and residential areas; instructing farmers to use compensation logically; setting up the agro-ecological farming system with the application of high technologies; and establishing cooperative organizations for farmers, etc. All solutions will ensure local residents stable and better lives.

Reported by Thuy Lien, Translated by Minh Minh