(VOVworld) – Quang Nam province has allocated 650,000 USD to upgrade the local infrastructure as part of its implementation of a national new rural development program. Thanks to government support and joint efforts by local authorities and the public, Quang Nam has seen significant improvements in local new rural development. VOV’s Tuyet Le reports…

Dien Trung commune in Dien Ban district, Quang Nam province, has been selected as a role model in implementing the national new rural development program. Dien Trung has invested much money and effort in upgrading the local infrastructure, including paving new roads and upgrading the local irrigation system. The local authorities have called on cooperatives to boost collaboration with businesses in collecting and processing agricultural products to increase economic efficiency and boost farmers’ living conditions. Dien Trung has become the first commune to complete all 19 criteria of the national new rural development program, reducing the communal poverty rate to 3% with an average per capita income of 2200 USD a year. Doan Luong, a resident of Dien Ban district says it’s the people who discuss and decide the program’s implementation and benefit from it: "The national new rural development program has brought us numerous benefits. It has helped us develop higher agricultural productivity and incomes. My family has donated land to make roads because we understand that this is all about community development."

Other communes of Duy Xuyen district have completed 17 of the program’s 19 criteria. Nguyen Van Chien, Chairman of the Duy Trinh communal People’s Committee, said his commune has set a target to complete the remaining 2 criteria by the end of this year: "The commune’s initial success in new rural development is largely thanks to local people’s contributions in addition to government support. All roads connecting communes in Duy Trinh have been paved and lighted."

Another factor contributing to Duy Xuyen’s successful implementation of the national new rural development program is the application of the vast-rice-field model. The local government has put much effort into rezoning rice fields, mechanizing, and applying advanced technologies in agricultural production to boost productivity. Duy Xuyen has rezoned fields for specific crops like hygienic vegetables, rice, and cash crops. The application of the vast-rice-field model has helped cut input costs for agricultural production while increasing economic efficiency. Van Ba Nam is head of the Duy Xuyen district division for agricultural and rural development. He said: "We have recognized the importance of earning people’s trust and consensus in new rural development, rezoning fields, applying advanced technologies in agricultural production, restructuring crops, and promoting connectivity between farmers and businesses, in order to make local implementation of the national new rural development program a success. Significant improvements have been recorded over the past 4 years."

Quang Nam province has stepped up its efforts to have 44 communes complete all criteria of the program by the end of this year.