(VOVworld) – The New Rural Development Program has yielded significant results over the last 5 years but policy adjustments are still needed to match conditions in each locality.

More than 1,760 communes and 17 districts in Vietnam have completed the new rural development program. 27 communes in Dong Thap province have been recognized as new-style rural areas, making Dong Thap a leader in the new rural development program in the Mekong Delta. Over the last 5 years, the province has invested approximately 1.7 billion USD in the program, 35 million USD of which was donated by local residents. Nguyen Anh Kiet of Thanh Binh district said: “New rural development has changed our lives for the better materially and spiritually. The people should be aware of the program and work closely with the local government in implementing it.”

Nguyen Minh Tien, head of the New Rural Development Program Coordinating Office, said new models of rural development have appeared in many localities so relevant policies and criteria should be adjusted to match each locality’s conditions: “We have been unable to find appropriate ways to protect the environment, treat wastes and develop production models that connect value chains.”

The National Steering Committee for the New Rural Development Program has proposed allocating to each locality specific accomplishment targets for 2020. This would help disadvantaged communes move forward, narrow the development gap between regions, develop production chains, and monitor funding disbursement. Nguyen Minh Tien, head of the New Rural Development Program Coordinating Office, said capacity building in new rural development at the local level is needed: “The government will give priority to improving the capacity of local officials in new rural development at the district and communal level. Heads of cooperatives, farm owners, village elders, and village chiefs will also receive training. We are awaiting the National Assembly Standing Committee’s instructions on expanding training for these people, who are the main force in building new-style rural areas.”

Vietnam is anticipating that 50% of its communes will complete the new rural development program and each central province will have at least one new-style rural district by 2020.