Promote Rural Economic Development Towards Green and Digital Transformation

Recently, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development held a consultation workshop to collect opinions on the direction of implementing the National Target Program (NTP) on new rural construction (NTM) for the period 2026 - 2030.

Workshop "Consulting and collecting opinions on the implementation orientation of the National Target Program on New Rural Construction for the period 2026-2030"

At the workshop, Mr. Ngo Truong Son, Chief of the Central NTM Coordination Office, said that the NTP on new rural construction was implemented with the purpose of concretizing and bringing the Party's Resolutions on agriculture, farmers, and rural areas into life, contributing to improving the vitality and appearance of rural areas, effectively restructuring the agricultural sector, and gradually improving the quality of material and spiritual life of rural people. Continuing to promote the achievements achieved in the period 2010-2020, the program for the period 2021-2025 continues to be implemented, making important contributions to changing the appearance of rural areas and effectively restructuring the agricultural sector.

By January 2025, the whole country had 6,250/8,014 communes (78%) meeting the NTM standards (an increase of 9.8% compared to the end of 2021 and reaching 97.5% of the target for the period 2021-2025); of which, 2,275 communes (36.4%) met the advanced NTM standards (an increase of 1,172 communes compared to the end of 2021, reaching 91% of the target for the period 2021-2025) and 550 communes (8.8%) met the model NTM standards (an increase of 507 communes compared to the end of 2021, reaching 88% of the target for the period 2021-2025). The average income per capita in rural areas in 2024 will reach about 56.4 million VND/person/year (an increase of 1.35 times compared to 2020). The total agricultural production value achieved a growth rate of 3.3%; the rural environment was improved towards bright - green - clean - beautiful, the rate of rural people using clean water reached 58% (an increase of 7% compared to the end of 2020)

In addition to the achieved results, the National Target Program on New Rural Development still has some shortcomings and limitations that need to be further overcome and resolved, namely the development gap between regions. Many communes in remote, mountainous areas have not yet met the standards, and infrastructure conditions are still difficult. The quality of the standards is not really sustainable. Specifically, some localities have difficulty maintaining and improving the quality of criteria after meeting the standards. Digital transformation and technology application in agricultural production are still limited, not creating a breakthrough in improving productivity and increasing the value of agricultural products. In particular, environmental issues, waste and wastewater treatment in rural areas have not been thoroughly resolved...

The National Target Program on New Rural Development for the 2026 - 2030 period strives for over 90% of communes to meet new rural standards; of which, 50% of communes strive to meet advanced new rural standards; over 70% of district-level units meet new rural standards, of which 35% of district-level units strive to meet advanced new rural standards. The average income of rural people in 2030 strives to increase by 2.5 - 3 times compared to 2020"; focus on solving local limitations and urgent issues to narrow the development gap between regions, especially in mountainous areas, remote areas and extremely disadvantaged areas... In addition, focus on implementing specialized programs (One Commune One Product program; Rural Tourism Development Program in New Rural Construction; Program to Strengthen Environmental Protection, Food Safety and Rural Clean Water Supply; Digital Transformation Program in New Rural Construction, towards Smart New Rural Construction; Program to Improve the Quality of Security and Order Criteria in New Rural Construction...) to ensure the construction of a new rural area that is substantial and in-depth, creating a solid foundation for the development of modern and civilized rural areas, contributing to improving the quality of life of people and deeply integrating into the international economy.

Contributing ideas to the development of the National Target Program for New Rural Development in the period of 2026 - 2030, Mr. Cao Duc Phat, Former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that in order to build a "Modern Rural Development Program", it is necessary to promote rural economic development in the direction of green transformation, digital transformation capable of creating jobs and rapidly increasing local income for rural residents, equal to income in urban areas. Preserving and promoting national cultural identity. Resolutely protecting and improving the environment, enhancing the ability to adapt and withstand climate change. Continuing to upgrade rural infrastructure and services to meet the requirements of economic development and modern life associated with urbanization. Mr. Le Minh Hoan, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, said that new rural areas do not mean rural urbanization. We need to preserve cultural identity and natural landscapes, but at the same time, we must bring technology, digital transformation, and e-commerce to rural areas, so that rural people are not left behind in the digital era.

The Vice Chairman of the National Assembly called on localities to build a "Rural Bookshelf", creating conditions for people to have the opportunity to access knowledge. Not only books on agricultural techniques, but also stories about startups, lessons about the market, about cooperatives, about the circular economy.

In addition, there should be training and coaching programs, mobilizing experts, scientists, and entrepreneurs to rural areas to guide, transfer technology, and create new jobs suitable to the conditions of each locality.

The delegates also focused on a number of contents such as: prioritizing support from the state budget so that the remaining communes can meet the new rural criteria associated with sustainable poverty reduction. Planning, orienting, and supporting the construction of modern rural areas in purely agricultural areas on the basis of developing agriculture in an ecological direction associated with the development of industry, services, and rural occupations. Combining state support with attracting private investment and mass movements. Reviewing the appropriate assignment and coordination between the National Target Program on New Rural Development and the sustainable poverty reduction program and the socio-economic development program for ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the period 2021-2030.

Source: Vietnam Business Forum