Hanoi: 15 years of breakthrough journey in building new rural areas

(Chinhphu.vn) - Building new rural areas is one of the major policies of the Party and State to improve the material and spiritual life of rural people. From peaceful rural areas to dynamic suburban areas, Hanoi has been writing a journey of strong transformation, building a model new rural area of ​​the whole country.

Director of Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Xuan Dai inspects agricultural production in Hanoi. Photo: VGP/Thien Tam

According to the Hanoi New Rural Area Coordination Office, in 2010, the City began implementing the national target program on new rural area construction in the context of expanding its administrative boundaries (merging Ha Tay province, Me Linh district and part of Luong Son in Hoa Binh ).

The vast space creates many opportunities but also many challenges for agriculture and rural areas of Hanoi when facing numerous difficulties in infrastructure, economy and rural life. Rural areas account for more than 70% of the city's total area and more than 65% of the population, but infrastructure is still lacking, and rural people mainly engage in traditional, fragmented agricultural production. On average, each commune only meets 1 criterion; the average income in rural areas is only about 13 million VND/person/year. The poverty rate in rural areas accounts for 11.25%.

Faced with such challenges, with high determination and the participation of the entire political system, Hanoi has chosen the appropriate approach: "Not hasty, but resolute - Not at all costs, but sustainable in the long term".

To create momentum for agricultural and rural development worthy of the new space and stature, in the 3 Congresses of the City, the Hanoi Party Committee has had its own Program on agriculture, farmers and rural areas. In the 2011-2015 and 2016-2020 terms, the Hanoi Party Committee has issued 2 key work programs for the entire term, both named Program No. 02, with the main content on agricultural development, new rural construction and improving farmers' lives.

In the 2021 - 2025 period, the City Party Committee continues to issue Program No. 04 on promoting the effective implementation of the national target program on new rural construction associated with restructuring the agricultural sector and developing the rural economy, improving the material and spiritual life of farmers.

After 15 years of persistent efforts with the spirit of "Party leadership, State support, people mastery and benefit" and the drastic, direct and close direction of Party committees and authorities at all levels; the synchronous and unified participation from the highest level to the grassroots level creating a combined strength and sustainability in organization and implementation, Hanoi's rural areas have had spectacular changes - from infrastructure, economy to quality of life and environmental landscape.

Building new countryside, gradually improving farmers' lives

Picturesque mural streets in the capital's countryside. Photo: VGP/Thien Tam

Hanoi clearly identified that in order to successfully implement the new rural construction, it is necessary to prioritize the synchronous completion of institutions, policy mechanisms and planning suitable to the characteristics of the capital, with high feasibility, at the same time, concretize the national criteria system close to the actual conditions of each locality. Accordingly, the Hanoi People's Council has considered, approved and issued a series of specialized resolutions on new rural construction, agricultural development planning, piloting a number of policies to encourage agricultural development, craft villages and rural infrastructure construction.

The city has focused on completing the planning of new rural construction in conjunction with regional development planning, land use planning, production planning and promulgating many policies and mechanisms. In particular, implementing land consolidation is considered a "revolution" in agricultural land in Hanoi.

Although not included in the criteria set, it is a breakthrough for Hanoi to implement 19 criteria in new rural construction in the 2011-2015 period and is an important pillar contributing to the success of Hanoi's new rural program.

Before 2011, most of the agricultural land in Hanoi was fragmented, with small plots of land, causing great difficulties for production, infrastructure investment and application of science and technology. There was no other way but to innovate methods, to create large model fields, to bring mechanization and technical progress into production.

After only 3 years from 2012-2014, the City has basically completed the work of land consolidation. From the lowest number of plots per household being 7 plots, the highest number being 39 plots, now each household mainly has only 1-2 plots. The surplus agricultural land area after land consolidation has created conditions for localities to plan to expand welfare facilities, plan to auction land use rights to create resources for new rural construction.

Up to now, although only 185/386 communes, accounting for 47.93%, have not met the standards, they are all disadvantaged communes, located far from the center, the criteria that have not been met are all difficult criteria such as: Environment, school facilities, cultural facilities, average income per capita... The rural socio-economic infrastructure system has been invested but is not synchronous, not meeting the requirements. Infrastructure for transportation, irrigation, and electricity serving production in many places is still difficult.

The Hanoi Party Committee has established a Steering Committee for 8 work programs, including the Steering Committee for the program "Agricultural development, new rural construction, improving farmers' lives in the period 2016-2020" focusing on new rural construction.

2020, the year that ended the second phase of the program, left a remarkable mark when the added value of the agricultural sector reached 4.2%. Farmers' lives were constantly improved and enhanced, with the average income per capita in rural areas in 2020 reaching 55 million VND/person/year.

The rural appearance has changed dramatically, wearing a new coat. The socio-economic infrastructure has been strengthened; cultural, social and sports activities have been organized with attention; politics, society and national defense and security have been ensured; social security has been taken care of. More than 90% of communes in Hanoi have met the new rural standards, 13 communes have been recognized as meeting the advanced new rural standards, and 7 district-level units have been recognized by the Prime Minister as meeting the new rural standards.

The results of the program have created a solid foundation, an important premise for the City to continue implementing the national target program on new rural construction in the 2021-2025 period. The achievements in agricultural production, rural infrastructure, environmental improvement, and improvement of people's material and spiritual life not only affirm the correctness of the previous orientation but also help Hanoi confidently enter a new phase with the goal of building a civilized, modern, and unique rural area.

After 15 years, Hanoi is leading the country in new rural construction and the OCOP program. Photo: VGP/Thien Tam

Currently, Hanoi focuses on advanced and exemplary criteria - creating sustainable depth. Building new rural areas with higher criteria in the direction of linking with urban criteria, along with preserving culture, ecological environment and local identity, becoming a model of comprehensive rural development. Hanoi's agriculture and rural areas have transformed strongly for an ecological agriculture, modern countryside and civilized farmers.

The highlight is that the City has completed the task of building new rural areas at the City level in 2024 (1 year ahead of schedule). At the same time, it is the leading locality in the country in building new rural areas with impressive figures, namely 100% of communes meeting new rural standards, 229 communes meeting advanced new rural standards (reaching 146.8% of the target); 109 communes meeting model new rural standards (reaching 136.2% of the target); 100% of districts and towns meeting standards/completing the task of building new rural areas; 6/17 districts meeting advanced new rural district standards (reaching 150% of the target).

In addition, Hanoi's OCOP program also leads the country in the number of products with over 3,400 products evaluated and classified. The first two craft villages of Hanoi as well as of Vietnam, Bat Trang ceramic village and Van Phuc silk village, became the 67th and 68th members of the World Network of Creative Craft Cities.

Agricultural and forestry exports exceeded the 2 billion USD threshold. The city's handicrafts and processed agricultural products have been exported to over 40 countries and territories.

In particular, the poverty rate of the whole city will drop to 0% according to the multidimensional poverty standard of Hanoi City in the period of 2022-2025.

In the 2021-2025 period, Hanoi has made a new milestone in its journey of building new rural areas - a journey not only measured by time, but also by changes at the root. With determination and creative approaches, the capital has completed the task of building new rural areas at the city level in 2024, 1 year earlier than planned. Hanoi has also become the leading locality in the country when 100% of districts and towns have met or completed the new rural standards, hundreds of communes have met advanced and model standards.

Kindness

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/ha-noi-15-nam-hanh-trinh-but-pha-xay-dung-nong-thon-moi-102250909170114155.htm