REVIEW OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION AND SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN YÊN XÁ COMMUNE, Ý YÊN DISTRICT, NAM ĐỊNH PROVINCE, VIỆT NAM

NGUYỄN THANH LAN1, NGUYỄN THỊ THU THỦY1,
 WILHELM STEINGRUBE2

1Hanoi University of Science, Việt Nam; 2University of Greifswald, Germany

Abstract: Yên Xá is a small commune lying in the southwest of Nam Định City with a traditional handicraft village named Tống Xá, which is a pilot study of the project IWRM-Nam Định. Lying in the Red River Delta, the commune has the same natural conditions as other provinces in the area with high temperature, humidity, monsoon, high rainfall and sunshine hours which have strong impact on agricultural activities. Like many other agricultural villages, the agricultural land covers the main part in the land use structure; but the yield of rice and peanut planting is lower than that of other provinces due to medium quality of soil fertility. However, in the recent years, the living standard of residential people is increasing. The social characteristics are also changing with lower percentage of people working in agricultural sector, which is resulted from industrial development in the commune. With the attention paid by not only People’s Committee of Yên Xá but also People’s Committee of the district and province, industrial activities has been developed in the recent years in all technology, products and customers, contributing to the economic development of the commune by both sending money to state budget and providing jobs for people in the area. From that result, the commune has been oriented to industrialize the traditional handicraft with agricultural activities.

I. BACKGROUND

Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) is a process which promotes the co-ordinated development and management of water, land and related resources, in order to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems [2]. With regard to the Dublin Principles from 1992 [2] the “IWRM Nam Định” project on behalf of BMBF works at the lowest appropriate level in planning and implementation of water infrastructure. It is the goal to implement waste-water treatment facilities to clean industrial and domestic sewages in Tống Xá village which is a typical handicraft village in the Red River delta region undergoing recent industrialisation processes. For the success of such a local IWRM project, it is necessary to understand the village situation and existing planning by the local authorities. Therefore in the following spatial planning reports of Yên Xá Commune are reviewed. This is mainly drawn from the below named documents published by the People’s Committee of Yên Xá Commune [8, 9, 11].

II. INTRODUCTION

Ý Yên is a district of Nam Định Province which is situated 30 km far from the southwest of Nam Định City. There are 14 communes in Ý Yên District and living standard of residential people in Ý Yên is improved year by year, especially after “Đổi mới” because of handicraft villages that produce and process cast iron, iron and copper casting, bamboo, carpenter, rice wine cooking, sewing, conic hat making. As a result, total income of residential people has been becoming higher in recent years. But this change accompanies with a fact that their health as well as expectancy is lower year by year. These handicraft village activities are also the reasons for natural environment problem such as surface and ground water, air, noise pollution.

Among 14 communes in Ý Yên District, Yên Xá is a well economically developed commune because of traditional casting activities. There are two villages in the commune, named Tống Xá in the north and Cổ Liêu in the south.  

III. CHARACTERISTICS OF NATURAL CONDITIONS OF YÊN XÁ AREA

Yên Xá has the total area of 199.26 ha and boundaries with Yên Bình in the north, Yên Ninh and Yên Bình in the south, Yên Dương in the east and Yên Khánh in the west.

In general, Nam Định is in Red River Delta; because of it, Yên Xá is in the same topographical features. Topography of Yên Xá is flat and gradually lowering from northeast to southwest because Đáy River is situated in the southwest of the area. There are 4 seasons in each year in this area: spring, summer, autumn and winter, which are influenced by general climatic characteristics of the Red River Delta. This area is characterized by monsoon, high humidity (80-85%) and rain. Average annual temperature is 23-24 °C, in winter average temperature is 18.9 °C and in summer one is 27 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1,700-1,800 mm but is distributed unequally in a year that affects negatively on agricultural activities. The average annual sunshine time is 1,650-1,700 hours in 250 sunshine days. The sunshine hours in summer-autumn harvest are about 1,100-1,200 hours, making up 70% of the sunshine hours in whole year. The dominated wind direction is northeast in winter and is southeast in summer.

Main stream flows in Yên Xá are Quy Đô River with the length of 1.1 km and Tống Xá channel lying in the centre of the village. Besides, there are irrigation systems with the total length of 17 km for agricultural activities [8]. Water for living and producing activities, mainly from surface, ground and rain water, is plentiful.

IV. CHARACTERISTICS OF LAND USE IN YÊN XÁ

1. Land use status

The total area of Yên Xá Commune is 199.26 ha which is composed of agricultural land, homestead land, special used land and unused land (Tab. 1). According to land use structure (Fig. 1), the agricultural land is the biggest part in Yên Xá (covers 73.05%), which is typical for agricultural villages in Red River Delta; special used land makes up 17.24%; homestead land is 7.87%; and the last is unused land with the lowest percentage of 1.84%.


Figure 1. Land use structure of Yên Xá Commune in 2005 [9]

·     Agricultural land includes annual crops land, miscellaneous garden and water surface land. The main agricultural land is for 2-rice crops (83.85%) while 1-rice crop land (1.2%) and specified land for farm production (0.22%) are smaller, making up a very small land use structure in agriculture. As in other agricultural villages, Yên Xá spends 11.24 ha (7.72%) of agricultural land for rice seeding. Aquaculture in Yên Xá is not typical in agriculture activities; there are only some households that have small ponds for fish rising in household scale. So that, the ponds and lakes land in Yên Xá makes up only 3.72% (Fig. 2).

Figure 2. Agricultural land structure in Yên Xá in 2005 [9]

·     Special used land covers 17.24% which includes construction land (8.01 ha), transportation land (8.85 ha), irrigation and water surface land (12.31 ha), historical and cultural sites (0.12 ha), land for construction materials (0.75 ha), cemetery land (4.05 ha) and other special used land (0.27ha).

·     Homestead land of Yên Xá is 15.69 ha (7.87%), but all of it are used for residential land

·     There are 2 kinds of unused land which covers 3.66 ha (1.84%): unused flat land (0.23 ha) and unused water surface land (3.43 ha).  

Table 1. Land use status of Yên Xá Commune in 2005 [9]

 

Total area according to
administration boundary
(ha)

Divided by different beneficiaries

Total area
(ha)

Household (ha)

Economic
organization (ha)

Managed by
People's Committee (ha)

Others (ha)

Total area

199.26

199.26

150.04

5.59

42.32

1.31

I. Agricultural land

145.55

145.55

134.35

 

10.88

0.32

1. Annual crops land

135.35

135.35

125.82

 

9.44

0.09

2. Miscellaneous garden land

4.78

4.78

4.51

 

0.07

0.20

3. Water surface land for fishery

5.45

5.45

4.02

 

1.37

0.03

II. Special used land

34.36

34.36

 

5.59

27.78

0.99

1. Construction Land

8.01

8.01

 

5.59

1.43

0.99

2. Transportation land

8.85

8.85

 

 

8.85

 

3. Irrigation and water surface land

12.31

12.31

 

 

12.31

 

4. Historical and cultural sites

0.12

0.12

 

 

0.12

 

5. Land for construction materials

0.75

0.75

 

 

0.75

 

6. Cemetery land

4.05

4.05

 

 

4.05

 

7. Other special used land

0.27

0.27

 

 

0.27

 

III. Homestead land

15.69

15.69

15.69

 

 

 

1. Residential land

15.69

15.69

15.69

 

 

 

IV. Unused land

3.66

3.66

 

 

3.66

 

1. Unused flat land

0.23

0.23

 

 

0.23

 

2. Unused water surface land

3.43

3.43

 

 

3.43

 

According to data from Yên Xá People’s Committee, agricultural land is mainly in level H3 and H4 [9] in the land quality rank, which is divided in 6 levels, from H1 to H6 with the fertility of soil decreasing. The area of land in H3 and H4 level is 121.26 ha, making up 83.31% of the total agricultural area (Tab. 2). 92.76% of the main land for cultivation, the 2-rice crops land, (113.21 ha) is in H3 and H4 levels. The area of land with high fertility (in H1 and H2 level) is only 5.18 ha, making up 3.56%. Land with low fertility (in H5 and H6 level), making up 13.13%, is mainly specified for farm production, farm land, ponds and lakes. This number shows that agricultural land of Yên Xá is in the medium quality in fertility. In 2006 the mean rice yield of Ý Yên District is 55.1 quintal/ha, the average of Nam Định Province is 61.3 quintal/ha [5].


Table 2.  Areas of agricultural land divided by land quality (fertility) rank [9]

Types of land

Total (ha)

Divided by land quality (fertility) rank (ha)

H1

H2

H3

H4

H5

H6

2-rice crops land

122.04

0.2

3.85

49.41

63.8

4.52

0.26

1-rice crop land

1.75

 

 

 

 

0.3

1.45

Specified for rice seeding

11.24

 

1.13

4.24

3.81

2.06

 

Specified for farm production

0.32

 

 

 

 

 

0.32

Farm land

4.78

 

 

 

 

 

4.78

Ponds and lakes

5.42

 

 

 

 

 

5.42

Total

145.55

0.2

4.98

53.65

67.61

6.88

12.23

Percentage

100%

0.14

3.42

36.86

46.45

4.73

8.40

2. Land use change in the period 1995 - 2005

Like many other agricultural villages in the Red River Delta, Yên Xá follows also the trend of change from agricultural land to special used land. In 10 years, from 1995 to 2005, the agricultural land has been reduced 3.36 ha, while special used land has been increased 3.16 ha (Tab. 3). The agricultural land has been changed in using purpose to special used land mainly to meet the needs of land for construction. During recent years, Yên Xá has taken an area of about 6 ha (half of it was just established in 2000) to establish an industrial zone to move all companies there. This shows that the development orientation of the commune increases the living standard by industrial activities applied to traditional handicraft.

There is also a small increase in homestead land (0.2 ha). This is from the area of ponds and lakes that were filled to deliver to new split households.

Table 3. Land use change in Yên Xá from 1995 to 2005 (unit: ha) [9].

Types of land

1995

2005

1995-2005

Agriculture land

148.91

145.55

-3.36

Special used land

31.2

34.36

3.16

Homestead land

15.49

15.69

0.2

Unused land

3.66

3.66

0

V. CHARACTERISTICS OF POPULATION OF YÊN XÁ

As recorded in 28 March 2007, the total population of Yên Xá Commune is 3,442 people with the density of 1727 people/km2, which is higher than the average of Ý Yên District (1,017 people/km2) and the whole province (1,197 people/km2). This value has been increasing from 1,644 people / km2 in 2000 to 1,723 people / km2 in 2006 (Fig. 3).

In 2006, there are 875 households in Yên Xá Commune with the average people in a household of 3.95 people. The total population of Tống Xá village is 2,346 people with 551 households, so the average people in a household is 4.26 people, higher than that of the whole commune.

 

Figure 3. Density of population in Yên Xá from 2000 to 2006 [11]

The birth rate in Yên Xá changes unstably from 2000 to 2006. It increased suddenly to the highest in 2003 (2.04%) due to traditional thinking of Vietnamese people that 2003 was a good year to give birth to children. In 2001 and 2005, the birth rate is the lowest (1.11%). In other years, it is about 1.5%, changing with small difference (Fig. 4). This value is higher than the average birth rate of rural area in Nam Định Province (1.39%) and of the whole province (1.37%).

Figure 4. Birth rate in Yên Xá from 2000 to 2006 [11]

The average percentage of female in Yên Xá is higher than that of male, approximately 52.5-53.5% in compare to 46.5-47.5% in the year 2000 (Fig. 5). This is higher than the average of Nam Định Province (48.4% male and 51.6% female).


 

 

Figure 5. Ratio of male and female in Yên Xá in 2000 and 2006 [11]

This ratio can be explained by: 1) Number of dead male people is usually higher than the number of dead female people; 2) Number of female who get married with male in Yên Xá is higher than the number of female who leave the village to get married (Tab. 4).

Table 4. Number of birth and death people move in and out of Yên Xá from 2000 to 2006 [11]

Year

Birth (people)

Death (people)

People move to Yên Xá

People move out of Yên Xá

Total

Female

Male

Total

Female

Male

Total

Female

Male

Total

Female

Male

2000

52

29

23

18

9

9

15

2

13

18

11

7

2001

37

25

12

18

2

16

11

4

7

11

7

4

2002

44

19

25

13

4

9

31

16

15

42

28

14

2003

69

32

37

17

4

13

17

3

14

27

25

2

2004

60

30

30

18

5

13

25

11

14

32

25

7

2005

38

18

20

20

10

10

19

5

14

39

18

21

2006

53

24

29

19

8

11

14

2

12

43

31

12

In 2006, the number of people in working age in Yên Xá Commune is 1,272, in which the number of female is 723 (making up 56.84%) and the number of male is 549 (43.16%). People in working age make up only about 27% of the whole population in the commune (Fig. 6). According to the information from Yên Xá People’s Committee, the percentage of people working in agricultural sector is about 61.2% and the others are 38.8% [8], mainly working seasonally for casting and lathing companies.


Figure 6. Percentage of people in working age in Yên Xá in 2000 and 2006 [11]

VI. CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING STANDARD OF RESIDENTAL PEOPLE IN YÊN XÁ

1. Electricity: There are 2 electricity transformer stations in Yên Xá with total capacity of 1,000 kVA with 11 km in total length of medium and low tension wire. 100% of the residential area and 100% of households in the area have access to electricity.

2. Education: In general, facilities for education in Yên Xá Commune, including schools, teachers are relatively enough for people’s needs.

Table 5. Education status in Yên Xá Commune [8]

 

Teachers

Pupils

Class rooms

High school

54

750

16

Secondary school

18

279

8

Primary school

25

513

15

3. Public health: According to the report of Centre of Gender, Family and Environment for Development (CGFED) about sanitation in Ý Yên District, Nam Định Province, average life expectation of people in Yên Xá Commune is 60, the lowest among all other communes of the district. About 25% of people in Yên Xá have respiratory problems, because of environmental pollution from industrial activities.

4. Income: Because of well-developed industrial activities, income of people working for companies in 2006 is about 1,200,000 VND per month (CGFED), while income of others (not working for companies) in 2000 is about 5,000,000 VND per person per year. This fact shows the way for people in Yên Xá to increase their living standard by developing industrial-oriented handicraft, instead of depending mainly on agricultural activities.

VII. CHARACTERISTICS OF INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES

Industrial activity is the principal economic one of Yên Xá Commune, especially in Tống Xá. Since some recent years People’s Committee of Nam Định Province has paid more attention in this commune. In 2000, the second industrial zone was established in the south of the commune with the total area of 5 ha which was combined with the first one which is 3 ha. The investment for it was 7.6 billion VND while state budget was 2.7 billion VND for infrastructure [1]. At that moment, there are 53 running companies. In 2005 the Mechanical Casting Association of Ý Yên was founded by People’s Committee of Nam Định. This association leads casting companies in working and developing as well as producing.

The area currently covered by the industrial group Tống Xá amounts to 8.9 ha. The current process of expanding in local mechanical casting industry is resolving the job situation. It is producing income for local inhabitants and inhabitants of various neighbouring regions. The overall production income of the small scale industry and construction sector was 20 billion VND (approx. 1 Mio €) in the year 2000 [8]. In 2006, the overall production income of the small scale industry and construction sector was nearly 200 billion VND, this amount is higher than 2005 by 25%. By 2006 these companies sent in national budget approximately 10 billion VND [3].

VIII. CONCLUSIONS

Total area of Yên Xá Commune is 199.26 ha, which contains agricultural land, homestead land, special used land and unused land, in which the industrial zone covers 6ha and agricultural land is the biggest in total of land. Agricultural land of Yên Xá is in the medium quality in fertility. During the recent 10 years, land use has changed in using purpose to special used land, mainly to meet the needs of land for construction and industrial activities. Besides, population and people density in Yên Xá Commune are higher than Ý Yên District and the whole province, but Tống Xá is even higher. Especially, ratio of female of Yên Xá in general and Tống Xá in particular is always higher than male, because of the fact that female moving to this area for getting married is higher than female out. People in working age are mainly in agricultural sector (about 61.2%) and the others (mainly casting and lathing) are 38.8%. In general, living standard of residential people in Yên Xá is increasing that not only shows in education, public health, pipe water, electricity supplied, but also shows in the total income of residential people.

In some recent years, People’s Committee of Nam Định Province has paid attention in industrial activities of traditional handicraft village and Tống Xá is a village that got special attention from them. Industrial companies had risen from 23 in 2003 to 53 in 2006. The increasing number of companies brings about the development of industrial activities, such as infrastructure, producing process equipment, quality of production income, as well as the rising awareness of residential people and companies about environmental protection.

In general, Yên Xá has the socio-geographic characteristics, that are typical for a traditional Vietnamese handicraft village. With its potentials, both in natural conditions and human resources, Yên Xá is following the trend of industrialization, changes to an industrial-oriented village in order to increase the living standard of people, but still keeps the characteristics of a traditional handicraft and agricultural one.

REFERENCES

1.   Đào Huy Quý, 2003. Environmental issues in socio - economic development strategy of Nam Định Province. J. of Geology, B/21: 16 - 22. Hà Nội.

2.   GWP, 2000. Integrated Water Resource Management. TAC Background Papers 4.

3.   Hiệp Hội Cơ khí đúc huyện Ý Yên, 2007. Thống kê doanh thu năm 2006.

4.   Lê Thị Lài, Nguyễn Thị Hằng, 2003. General characterization of the craft settlements Vân Chàng, Xuân Tiến and Tống Xá in Nam Định Province. J. of Geology, B/21: 23 - 31. Hà Nội.

5.   Nam Định statistical office, 2007. Nam Định statistical yearbook 2006. Statistical Publ. House. Hà Nội

6.   Statistical office, 2004. Statistical year book. Statistical Publ. House. Hà Nội.

7.   Trung tâm Nghiên cứu giới, gia đình và môi trường phát triển (CGFED), 2006. Báo cáo kết quả nghiên cứu cơ bản điều kiện vệ sinh môi trường tại huyện Ý Yên, tỉnh Nam Định.

8.   Uỷ ban nhân dân xã Yên Xá, 2003. Báo cáo quy hoạch sử dụng đất đai xã Yên Xá đến năm 2010.

9.   Uỷ ban nhân dân xã Yên Xá, 2005. Sơ bộ thuế xã Yên Xá, huyện Ý Yên, tỉnh Nam Định năm 2005.

10.    Uỷ ban nhân dân xã Yên Xá, 2006. Về thực trạng vệ sinh môi trường cụm công nghiệp làng nghề xã Yên Xá, huyện Ý Yên.

11.    Uỷ ban nhân dân xã Yên Xá, 2007. Báo cáo tình hình dân số biến động từ ngày 1 tháng 1 năm 1999 đến tháng 3 năm 2007.