New-style rural area - From a dream to reality

Tan Thanh district leaders receive the Prime Minister's decision recognizing the district as meeting new-style rural standards in 2024 (photo: Chi Tam)

Harvesting many "sweet fruits"

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, in the period of 2021 - 2025, the whole province mobilized nearly 280,000 billion VND to implement the National Target Program on New-style Rural Development. Of which, the direct support capital is nearly 2,000 billion VND, the integrated capital is more than 6,000 billion VND, the credit capital is more than 266,000 billion VND, the enterprise capital is nearly 117,000 billion VND, the capital mobilized from people and the community is more than 1,000 billion VND.

Up to now, the whole province has 7/15 district-level units recognized as meeting the standards or completing the task of building a new-style rural area, reaching 70% of the plan assigned by the Central Government for the period of 2021-2025 (the target assigned by the Central Government is 10 units). Of which, 2 districts have met the advanced new-style rural standards, reaching 100% of the plan assigned by the Central Government.

Regarding new-style rural communes, the whole province has 142/160 communes meeting the new-style rural standards, accounting for 88.75% of the total number of communes, exceeding the plan assigned by the Central Government (88.2%). On average, each commune meets 18.3 criteria, an increase of 1.1 criteria compared to the end of 2020. Notably, 52 communes meet the advanced new-style rural standards, accounting for 32.5%, reaching more than 81% of the set target; 10 communes meet the model new-style rural standards, accounting for 6.25% of the total number of communes and reaching 81.17% of the plan assigned by the Central Government. Regarding the quality of criteria, there are no communes with less than 10 criteria, 7 communes with 15-18 criteria, 11 communes with 10-14 criteria. All communes with 19 criteria have been recognized as meeting new-style rural standards, demonstrating consistency and sustainability in the implementation process.

According to Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment - Dinh Thi Phuong Khanh, 3 districts: Vinh Hung, Tan Thanh and Tan Tru are the localities that have been recognized as meeting new-style rural and advanced new-style rural district standards in 2024. These localities have completed the target before the end of the district-level administrative unit's operation and are urgently conducting the recognition ceremony.

Vinh Hung is a border district with a low starting point, but thanks to the right policy and consensus from the government to the people, the district has been recognized as meeting the standards of a new-style rural district in 2024.

Farmers in Vinh Hung district converting crops to increase income

Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Vinh Hung district - Dinh Chau Phong said: "The process of building new-style rural area in Vinh Hung is not easy, especially with the characteristics of the border area, but the district has promoted its internal strength, mobilized support resources and especially created trust and consensus among the people."

Similar to Vinh Hung district, Tan Thanh district also had a low starting point when starting to build new-style rural area. With the determination and consensus of the government and people in the district, by the end of 2024, the district was recognized as a new-style rural district. Notably, the rural traffic system has been solidified by more than 90%; the electricity, clean water, health, education systems, etc. have been invested in and upgraded comprehensively; Many effective production models have been implemented such as high-quality rice cultivation, large fields, fruit tree development associated with eco-tourism, etc.

From 2011-2024, Tan Thanh district mobilized a total investment capital of more than 2,776 billion VND for new-style rural construction

Mr. Phan Van Binh (Bac Hoa commune, Tan Thanh district) shared: “Since the commune was recognized as meeting the new-style rural standards, people's lives have improved significantly. Roads are convenient, schools are spacious, medical stations have doctors on duty. People feel more attached and responsible for their homeland.”

Tan Tru district is the second unit in the province to meet the standards of advanced new-style rural district. With the orientation of harmonious development between high-tech agriculture, modern infrastructure, quality living environment and preserving traditional cultural identity, Tan Tru has completed the criteria, especially criteria on income, production organization, environment, landscape and security and order. Many communes in the district such as Duc Tan, Tan Phuoc Tay, Binh Trinh Dong, etc., have not only met the advanced new-style rural standards but are also gradually moving towards the model of a model new-style rural commune. From a rural area with many difficulties, Tan Tru has risen to become a model in building high-quality new-style rural area, with people's lives constantly improving, and the appearance of the countryside increasingly flourishing.

Tan Tru district was recognized by the Prime Minister as a district meeting the advanced new-style rural standards in 2024 (photo: Ke Vuong)

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy (Duc Tan commune, Tan Tru district) happily said: "Life is now much more civilized and convenient. There are playgrounds, beautiful roads, new classrooms. The important thing is that the government listens and the people are always united."

Continuing the new journey

In the context of the whole country implementing administrative unit rearrangement, the coming time will be a historic period when Long An province merges with Tay Ninh province, operating a 2-level local government model. This is a turning point, requiring consensus, solidarity and high determination of the entire political system because the spirit of solidarity and unanimity will be the core factor, the prerequisite for all victories in the development process of the province after the merger.

Although there are no more district-level administrative units, the New Rural Development Program will continue to be strongly implemented with the consistent guiding spirit of "New-style Rural Development has a starting point but no end point" to aim for the goal of sustainable, comprehensive and humane development.

According to the province's orientation, the newly formed communes after the administrative unit rearrangement need to continue to maintain and improve the quality of the achieved standards; effectively implement the tasks in the period of 2026-2030. The focus is on developing the new-style rural areas in a modern direction associated with industrialization, urbanization, circular economy, green development, emission reduction, in parallel with promoting the application of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation to improve management efficiency and implementation organization.

Provincial departments and branches are also required to proactively review existing shortcomings and limitations in the past period to promptly overcome them, ready to start implementing when the Central Government issues a new set of criteria. In particular, the Department of Agriculture and Environment - the standing agency of the program, continues to closely coordinate with departments, branches and localities to carry out the remaining tasks, ensuring progress, quality and efficiency.

New communes need to proactively build a roadmap to maintain the title, towards advanced and model new-style rural standards, with high consensus from the people. Ms. Le Thi Mai (Vinh Binh commune, Vinh Hung district) shared: “Whether it is an old commune or a new commune, we all hope that the place where we live will become more and more developed, modern and spacious. As long as the government works for the people, the people will always support it.”

Speaking at the conference to summarize the National Target Program on New-style Rural Development and the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction for the period 2021-2025, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - Nguyen Minh Lam affirmed: “The results in the period 2021-2025 are a solid foundation for the province to confidently enter a new stage with high spirit, belief and determination. Thereby, aiming at the goal of comprehensive new rural development and further improving the material and spiritual life of the people in the next stage.”

The journey of more than 15 years of new-style rural development in the province has created a solid foundation for the comprehensive and sustainable development of rural areas. With many impressive results such as a high rate of communes meeting standards, the number of districts finishing on schedule, Long An has affirmed its position as a bright spot in the new-style rural construction movement of the whole country. The new phase will promise more prosperity, when the new-style rural construction program is not only about the criteria but also the aspiration for a livable, modern and rich-in-identity countryside./.

By Bui Tung - Translated by Q. Thien

Source: https://baolongan.vn/nong-thon-moi-tu-uoc-mo-den-hien-thuc-a197498.html