Vinh Long’s Binh Minh town recognised as new-style rural area

After six years of implementing the new-style rural area building programme, Binh Minh town has mobilised a total investment of VND881 billion (US$38.8 million), which was used to develop fruit tree, vegetable, rice growing and aquaculture areas, improve local infrastructure and better local people’s livelihoods, among others.

Average per capital income of the locals in 2017 was estimated at VND43.34 million (around US$1,900), or 3.77 times higher than in 2011 while the rate of impoverished households has been reduce to 1.9%.

Speaking at the ceremony, PM Phuc said that despite numerous difficulties, half of the communes in Vinh Long province have become new-style rural localities.

As building new-style rural areas means building infrastructure and enhancing the life quality of the locals, the province should continue to accelerate the application of scientific and technological advances into production and seek measures to improve production efficiency, he noted.

The government leader also laid stress on building strong socio-political organisations and implementing the Party’s policies and the State’s regulations.

The national target programme on building new-style rural areas, initiated by the Vietnamese Government in 2010, sets 19 criteria on socio-economic development, politics, and defence, aiming to boost rural regions of Vietnam.    

The list of criteria includes development of infrastructure, improvement of production capacity, environmental protection, and promotion of cultural values.    

Under a decision issued by the Prime Minister in April 2016, a district must have all communes meeting all of the criteria to be designated as a new-style rural district. Earlier, those with at least 75% of the communes satisfying the 19 criteria were eligible.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as of February 21, 2018, there were 3,160 communes recognised as new-style rural areas, 35.4% of total communes.