Cham: Economic boom and tradition in harmony!

Cham: Economic boom and tradition in harmony!

What's going on in the picturesque village of Cham? The tranquil village sits on Highway 55 and has changed rapidly in recent years. Spacious houses with red tiled roofs dominate the picture, and the once muddy streets are long a thing of the past. Now concrete roads connect the hamlets, providing a pleasant environment surrounded by shady trees. Living conditions have improved significantly, which is not least thanks to the committed secretary of the party cell, Mr. Thong Phi. He emphasizes that residents' environmental awareness has also grown and reports an increase in living standards in the community.

There are currently 335 households living in the village of Cham, most of which work in the agricultural sector. Over 350 hectares of rice cultivation area are available here, supplemented by 40 hectares of rubber cultivation and 10 hectares of cashew plantations. Many of the households earn annual incomes of several billion dong, resulting in average to high incomes. Mr. Thong Phi himself is doing pioneering work in rubber cultivation, having built up a considerable fortune through trading in agricultural products. Thong Van Thanh's family, which farms 20 hectares of rubber, also has an annual surplus of around VND3 billion, while Mr Thong Tan's 7 hectares of rubber earns over VND1 billion.

Ecological challenges and sustainable cultivation

Although the cultivation of natural rubber can bring prosperity, it also has its downsides. As the Federal Environment Agency reported, there is little knowledge about the ecological and social impacts of rubber cultivation. Rubber plantations often contribute to the deforestation of tropical forests, which is similar to the problem with palm oil cultivation. The SÜDWIND e.V. project aims to educate both tire and automobile manufacturers about these topics and to make the value chain more sustainable. The aim is to find solutions that both further develop cultivation and improve the social conditions of small farmers.

Interestingly, it turns out that 85% of natural rubber imported into Europe is used in the tire and automotive industries. However, many rubber plantations have been abandoned in recent years or old trees are no longer being replaced as natural rubber prices have fallen dramatically since 2011. Awareness of environmental issues and social injustices is growing, and rubber processing companies are only beginning their efforts to adopt sustainable practices.

Community and culture

The economic progress goes hand in hand with an active cultural life in the village. Various clubs and groups promote both the cultural and sports movements. Even a men's soccer team and an art group for traditional Cham performances are part of village life. In this way, not only is ethnic identity preserved, but also a community is created that sticks together strongly during traditional festivals and community activities.

Thanks to the commitment of the party and the state, Cham was able to benefit enormously not only in the area of ​​infrastructure, but also in training and environmental projects such as tree planting campaigns and cleaning campaigns. 13 state employees, including teachers, doctors and people's police officers, support the community and promote the overall quality of life in the village.

The example of Cham clearly shows how traditional ways of life can be harmoniously combined with modern developments and could serve as a model for other villages that want to overcome similar challenges.