Maintain the source of 'Great Wind'

QTO - Dai Phong Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative (abbreviated as Dai Phong Cooperative), in Le Thuy commune, has made its mark in the history of the nation as a typical model in the emulation movement to build socialism in the North in the years 1961-1965; was honored to be awarded the leading agricultural flag in the North during the resistance war against the US to save the country, and was praised twice by Uncle Ho in the newspaper and presented with a tractor. Over the years, the spirit of "Dai Phong Wind" has always been maintained and strongly developed by the Cooperative, maintaining its leading role in organizing emulation in labor production, helping people improve their lives, contributing to making the appearance of the homeland more and more prosperous.

Model in emulation movement

Entering the traditional room of Dai Phong Cooperative, we were impressed with many valuable documents, images, and relics about General Nguyen Chi Thanh and the emulation spirit of agricultural production of many generations of cooperative members, especially the title of leading flag in agriculture and many other noble titles awarded by the Party and the State.

Mr. Vo Nhu Hoa, former Chairman of Dai Phong Cooperative from 1974 to 1982, proudly shared: “Over the past 66 years, Dai Phong Cooperative has always stood firm in the face of countless challenges and maintained its goal of moving forward. In their thoughts and actions, generations of cadres and members have always promoted solidarity, dynamism, creativity and a spirit of dedication, enthusiastically competing in labor production so that the “Dai Phong Wind” continues to blow in the flow of time”.

Officials and members of Dai Phong Cooperative always take tradition as a "fulcrum" to continue competing in labor production - Photo: M.D

Mr. Hoa said that in the past, Dai Phong's agricultural production faced many difficulties because the fields were lower than sea level, so they were often flooded and saline. Each year, only one crop could be produced, the remaining area had to be left fallow; farming techniques were backward, so productivity was low. With the goal of eliminating poverty and facilitating large-scale production, at the end of 1959, Dai Phong Cooperative was established. After 4 months, the Cooperative reclaimed nearly 200 hectares of fields, restored over 90 hectares of deep fields, and dredged nearly 40,000 ^m3 of irrigation water.

In early 1961, General Nguyen Chi Thanh, Politburo member, Head of the Central Rural Work Committee, directly visited Dai Phong village and oriented many specific and practical solutions to help the cooperative overcome difficulties, achieve many great achievements, especially becoming a model, spreading to the whole Quang Binh province (old) and many localities in the North.

“The “Gio Dai Phong” movement, directly led by General Nguyen Chi Thanh, truly created a “new wind” in Vietnam’s rice fields during the years of the resistance war against the US. With the close supervision and companionship of General Nguyen Chi Thanh, each member of Dai Phong Cooperative was more enthusiastic in competing in labor production, building a new life of prosperity and happiness,” Mr. Hoa said emotionally.

In February 1961, the Central Agricultural Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture held a conference at Dai Phong Cooperative to evaluate the results of Dai Phong's cooperative movement, then launched an agricultural campaign on the emulation movement "Learning, catching up with and surpassing Dai Phong Cooperative" in the North. Dai Phong at this time became a model, a leading flag in agriculture, attracting many domestic and international delegations to visit and study. In May 1962, Dai Phong Cooperative was awarded the title "Leading flag in the agricultural cooperative movement in the whole North" by the Government Council.

Dai Phong Cooperative brings mechanization into production, improves service quality - Photo: Ng. Hai

Traditional support, aspiration to rise

For decades, Dai Phong Cooperative has always maintained its tradition, overcoming countless difficulties to help its members change their lives. Currently, the Cooperative has more than 2,000 members, is one of the typical examples of the province, with a total capital of more than 15 billion VND (12 billion VND in fixed capital and 3 billion VND in working capital). Mechanization has been promoted with 10 plows, 2 combine harvesters, 10 manual rice threshers; 5 pumping stations; 9 production teams with many different occupations. The productivity of crops has been increasingly improved, the rice area has reached about 370 hectares (of which, high-quality rice reaches more than 20 hectares, with a yield of 75-76 quintals/hectare).

Mr. Nguyen Cao Thanh, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of Dai Phong Cooperative, said that to achieve such proud results, the Cooperative has made many changes in its management and operation to adapt to reality, especially improving service quality, promoting the application of scientific and technical advances, bringing mechanization to the land preparation and harvesting stages, selecting high-quality rice varieties, building agricultural product brands associated with purchasing enterprises...; actively supporting people to solve difficulties such as providing fertilizers, seeds, pesticides before each crop season and returning them after harvest, providing timely support in case of natural disasters and epidemics for crops and livestock; motivating and encouraging Cooperative members to compete in labor production...

Dai Phong Cooperative has been recognized and rewarded by the Party and the State many times. Notably: Being honored and receiving the national award "For the cause of agricultural, farmer and rural development" in 2010; being awarded the Flag of the leading unit in the emulation movement by the Government in 2010; receiving the Golden Cup of Cooperative for a prosperous community in 2011; being awarded the First Class Labor Medal by the State in 2012 and many other noble titles and awards.

In addition to its role as the core of production organization, Dai Phong Cooperative also focuses on organizing many cultural, artistic, and sports activities to improve the spiritual life of its members, contributing to many social security programs and activities in the locality. Mr. Nguyen Cao Tuan, Secretary of Dai Phong Village Party Cell, said: “Dai Phong Cooperative is the pride of the locality. Since its establishment, the Cooperative has contributed to bringing a prosperous and happy life to the people and has made many contributions to the increasingly developed homeland.”

According to Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of Dai Phong Cooperative Nguyen Cao Thanh, valuable lessons on agricultural development, patriotic emulation spirit and the strength of the masses from the "Gio Dai Phong" movement are still valuable today.

“In the coming time, we will propose new solutions in organizing activities and operations to enhance the role of “midwife” in the new situation, meeting the satisfaction of members; proactively linking with businesses in production to ensure stable output; focusing on building brands of local agricultural products… Believing that, with new momentum and determination, the “Gio Dai Phong” movement will continue to create a new mark in the history of agriculture”, Mr. Thanh believes.

Minh Duc

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/kinh-te/202510/giu-vung-mach-nguon-gio-dai-phong-de87847/