(VOVworld) – After 4 years of implementing a national new rural development program, the 3 communes of Vinh Thuy, Vinh Thach, and Vinh Kim in Vinh Linh district, Quang Tri province have completed all of the program’s criteria. Vinh Linh has set a target of becoming the 1^st district in Quang Tri to complete the program by 2020. VOV’s Dinh Thieu reports….

Vinh Thach has become the first commune in Quang Tri province to complete all the criteria of the national new rural development program after 4 years of implementation. Nguyen Van Hien, a resident in Vinh Thach said that the local people, old and young alike, had joined hands to donate land, labor, and money to upgrade the hamlet’s infrastructure as soon as the program was launched: "People have enthusiastically responded to the program, especially in activities to pave roads and upgrade the local traffic system. There are more and more effective economic models and we are focusing on high-yield agricultural products."

The initial success of Vinh Thach’s new rural development is attributed to the joint effort of and consensus reached between the local government and people plus the support of local enterprises. In addition to millions of USD provided by local enterprises to upgrade infrastructure and develop household economies, local people have donated land and labor worth around 160,000 USD to the program. Nguyen Nhu Thanh is Deputy Chairman of Vinh Thach communal People’s Committee: "Vinh Thach’s basalt soil is ideal for planting rubber and pepper trees which could bring in revenues 4 times higher than other crops. The communal authorities are calling for more investment and sponsorship for scientific and technological projects to help local farmers increase their productivity."

After 4 years of implementing the program, Vinh Linh district has allocated 20 million USD for new rural development, of which, a quarter was contributed by local people and businesses. Local farmers have acknowledged the importance of appropriate soil exploitation, contributing to reducing the poverty rate to 8.5%. Role models in new rural development have been expanded across the district. Pham Tien Dung is deputy head of Vinh Linh district’s Steering Committee on the implementation of the national new rural development program: "Our current top priority is rezoning the production zone while mobilizing all capital resources to upgrade the local infrastructure. Improving rural people’s incomes is also of great importance."

Vinh Linh is confident of completing all new rural development targets by 2020.