Gia Kiem village– A well-off parish

Local cadres were sent to visit other places in order to learn experience on economic development from other localities and the effective shifting of plant and livestock breeding in the village has generated high economic efficiency. Hence, local farmers’ average incomes increased to 150-200 million VND per hectare per year from 20 million VND. Besides, cattle breeding has developed very successfully in the village. There are more than 200 breeding farms in which raise from hundreds to thousands of pigs and chickens. With economic development, the living standards of the people in Gia Kiem village have been significantly improved.

The people in Dong Bac hamlet of Gia Kiem village receives certificate in recognition of a cultural hamlet

During the past years, the villagers has contributed more than VND 20 billion to build over 20 kilometers of inter-hamlet roads that have been asphalted or concreted. At present, most of inter-hamlet roads have been concreted. Over 90 per cent of the villages households live in solid houses or semi-solid houses. 100 percent of households have television, radio sets and motorbike.

Over the past years, all Catholic believers in the village of Gia Kiem have actively participated in social activities. Particularly, they have raised money to help build nearly 80 houses for the poor from the year of 2000 up to now. The rate of poor households decreased from 45 per cent in 1975 to 2.8 per cent now. Most of the villages households have access to national electricity grid. The village has reduced its population growth to below 1.2 percent. The village has so far built 3 new primary schools and 2 new junior high schools. Every year, 20-25 students from the village of Gia Kiem passed university entrance exams or college entrance exams and they are now enrolled in various university courses and college courses.

There are about 49 Party members in the village, two third of whom are Catholics.

Reported by Huy Du