80% of communes will meet new rural standards by 2025

On April 21, the nationwide online conference to implement the National Target Program on building new rural areas and the National Target Program on sustainable poverty reduction, chaired by Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh.

After more than ten years of implementation, by the end of 2020, the National Target Program on new rural construction has exceeded 12.4% of the number of communes that have met the standards compared with the target for the 2016-2020 period.

Specifically, as of April 2022, the whole country has 5,706/8,227 communes meeting new rural standards, of which 663 communes meet advanced standards and 71 communes meet model standards. 225 district-level units in 55 provinces and cities have been recognized by the Prime Minister to complete their tasks; 16 provinces and cities have 100% of communes meeting the standards, of which 5 provinces include Nam Dinh, Dong Nai, Hung Yen, Ha Nam, and Hai Duong were recognized by the Prime Minister for completing the task of building rural.

The whole country had 63/63 provinces and cities evaluated and classified as One Commune One Product ('OCOP') products during this period. There have been 7,463 OCOP products of 4,061 OCOP subjects with 3 stars or more, 20 products have been recognized as national 5-star products.

OCOP products gradually assert their value and quality in the market and are trusted by the people. 5-star OCOP products have been trusted by Party and State leaders and chosen as gifts at essential conferences and overseas business trips.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the goal by 2025 is to strive that the whole country has at least 80% of communes meeting new rural standards. About 40% of communes meet advanced standards, at least 10% meet new rural standards, and no more communes below 15 criteria. At least 50% of districts, towns, and provincial cities meet the standards and complete the task of building new rural areas. At least 20% of communities meeting the criteria will be recognized as newly-advanced rural districts, modeled-rural districts.

17 - 19 provinces and cities directly under the Central Government have been recognized by the Prime Minister to complete the task of building new rural areas. 60% of villages, hamlets, and hamlets belong to communes with difficulties in border areas and regions. Coastal flats and islands are recognized as meeting standards according to the criteria set by the Provincial People's Committee. In particular, strive to increase the average income of rural people at least 1.5 times compared to 2020.

To accomplish the above goals, the National Target Program on building new rural areas for the 2021-2025 period continues to implement 11 components, including 54 specific targets. Focus on implementing 6 thematic programs, including the Science and Technology program in service of new rural construction; OCOP Program; Strengthening environmental protection, food safety, and rural clean water supply in the new rural building; Developing rural tourism in new rural construction; Digital transformation in new rural construction, towards smart rural areas; Improve the quality and efficiency of implementing security and order criteria in new rural construction.

The total state budget allocated at least is VND 196,332 billion, of which the central budget is VND 39,632 billion, and the local budget is about VND 156,700 billion.

To focus on implementing and striving to complete the approved targets, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development proposed central ministries and branches develop action plans soon and organize the implementation immediately; Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, relevant agencies, and localities in, expeditiously completing the formulation and promulgation of documents guiding localities to implement the components and criteria under the set of national standards for new rural areas for the 2021 - 2025 period. Finalize the plan to assign targets and tasks to strive for in 2021 - 2025 and annually report to the Prime Minister for consideration and assign localities to implement.

The agencies of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs shall study and issue a plan to direct and guide localities to integrate capital and arrange for the implementation of component projects of the remaining 2 National Target Programs to supporting extremely difficult communes and poor districts to strive to fulfill the approved new rural construction goals according to the provisions of the national set of criteria for new rural areas for 2021 - 2025, especially no more communes meet less than 15 criteria.