Businesses rent land and then leave it abandoned.
Gia Lai is the second largest province in the country. For many years, a large area of agricultural land, mainly forest land, has been abandoned and its use has not been effective. In Po To commune, Ia Pa district, many mountainous households lack land for production and pack up and go to pick coffee during the harvest season. Meanwhile, more than 93 hectares of land at Po To Rubber Plantation are being abandoned and overgrown with weeds. Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group was leased the land for agricultural production but has not used it for many years.
Ms. Ksor Hie (a resident of Po To commune) said: “Many areas of land are mainly owned by rubber companies and businesses that rent land. People hope to have a small piece of land to produce, grow vegetables, and trees to improve their lives and increase their income.”
In Chu Puh district (Gia Lai province), people lacked agricultural land so they rented land from Duc Long Gia Lai Group Joint Stock Company to grow rubber trees and short-term crops. However, a land dispute later arose between the people of Kuai village, Ia Blu commune and the company, leading to a prolonged lawsuit. The land continued to be used inefficiently, causing waste.
In Ea Sup district (Dak Lak province), there is also a situation where some enterprises rent agricultural and forestry land but operate ineffectively, leaving the land abandoned, causing waste.
According to statistics from the People's Committee of Ea Sup district, there are currently 26 enterprises implementing 28 combined agricultural and forestry projects on a total area of about 17 hectares. There are 3 large agricultural projects that are not assigned to manage and protect forests and are performing well. The remaining projects on afforestation, rubber plantation and forest management and protection have not met the requirements of the project's objectives.
According to the investigation, Minh Hang Company (Ya To Mot Commune), Gia Huy Company (Ea Le Commune), Vinh Hoa Company (Ya To Mot Commune), 27/7 Forest Planting Company (Ea Bung Commune) and Hoang Gia Phat Company (Ia Jloi Commune) rented land with a total of more than 4.2 hectares but operated inefficiently, causing waste of land resources. The People's Committee of Ea Sup District has proposed to the competent authority to revoke the projects of these enterprises.
Proposal to withdraw, for other purposes
Mr. Ngo Van Thang - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ea Sup district, Dak Lak province - said: "In the coming time, if enterprises do not implement projects as committed or leave land fallow for more than 12 consecutive months, the district will consider the proposed land recovery plan. Enterprises using land for the wrong purpose (subleasing, illegal construction, not in accordance with planning) will also be proposed for recovery. Thereby, the land will be auctioned again or assigned to other enterprises with the capacity to use it effectively.
According to Mr. Thang, the District People's Committee is currently adjusting the land use planning for the 2021-2030 period... to create momentum for local socio-economic development, avoiding waste of land resources. At the same time, the district is also re-planning land resources. Reviewing the land allocation plan to prioritize projects that can be implemented quickly and effectively.
Meanwhile, people in the project area have petitioned the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee to revoke and handle violations by Duc Long Gia Lai Group Joint Stock Company. The company was assigned by the Provincial People's Committee to grow rubber with an area of over 1,800 hectares. However, currently, only 300 hectares are planted with rubber, the rest is vacant land, wasting resources. Instead of using the land for the right purpose and effectively, the company should lease it to people and use it effectively.
According to Mr. Pham Minh Trung - Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Gia Lai province, the Provincial People's Committee has assigned the People's Committee of Ia Pa district and the unit to verify the origin of the land with an area of over 93 hectares. Thereby, considering land allocation, land lease, and recognition of land use rights according to authority. The allocation of land to poor households lacking land for production aims to ensure local security and order.
"For some projects that lease land to enterprises for planting raw materials and forestry production, the department will urge inspections and require investors to comply with the schedule. If violations of the law or wrong land use purposes are detected, we will resolutely propose to reclaim and handle according to regulations," Mr. Trung added.
