(VOVworld) – After three years of implementing the National Target Program on building new rural areas, Vietnam’s countryside has been changed for the better and people’s living standards have been improved. Various social resources have been pooled into the process, including from business. VOV sheds light on what should be done to engage more enterprises in building new rural areas.
The Hanoi Plants and Seedlings Company applies Israeli planting technology (VNA) |
Dam Quang Thang, General Director of Agricare Vietnam, says that cooperation between the State, scientists, enterprises, and farmers have helped his company establish stable material zones to meet production and plant protection targets. "We have established many models to purchase agricultural products from farmers and build trademark for high-quality products. We provide farmers with seedlings, pesticide, and fertilizer, and buy their products after the harvest. We have zoned material areas to produce high-quality products."
There are some difficulties in appealing to enterprises to get involved in building new rural areas. As enterprises are located mainly in urban areas, only a few of small scale production is in the countryside. Pham Thi Thu Hang, Secretary General of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the rural market was large and lucrative. So enterprises should seek opportunities from the national program on rural development, generate jobs and increase incomes for farmers. Hang says: "Amidst the global increasing demand for food security, enterprises should identify opportunities for growth. They should invest in rural areas, assist farmers to access the outlet market, and contribute to building new rural areas."
In order to rally enterprises to the program, the state and relevant agencies need to finalize mechanisms and policies to create a healthy play-ground for small and medium sized enterprises. Prompt measures should be put in place for enterprises to access capital, long-term incentive loans and credits. Nguyen Minh Tien is Deputy Director of the Economic Co-operation Department and Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee on the new rural development program. "The government will issue a new decree to create a favorable environment for enterprises to invest in agricultural production. We have proposed to the government measures to minimize risks for enterprises and train rural labors."
Building new rural areas is a sensible policy which matches people’s aspirations. But without the involvement of enterprises, farmers will face difficulties in production and sales outlets, so it’s vital to attract enterprises to agriculture and the countryside.