Tay Ninh: Rural development, sustainable poverty reduction

Up to now, the province has 68/71 communes meeting new rural standards, of which 26 communes have achieved advanced new rural standards, 4 communes have achieved model new rural standards; 1 town has completed the task of building new rural areas.

Over the past 5 years (2021-2025), Tay Ninh province has implemented the National Target Program on New Rural Development and the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction in the context of many difficulties such as the Covid-19 pandemic, fluctuating market prices, and profound changes in the administrative apparatus. However, with the drastic participation of the entire political system, the high consensus of the people, the business community, and effective support from the Central Government, Tay Ninh province has achieved many outstanding results.

More than 95% of communes meet new rural standards

The national target program for new rural construction (NTM) in Tay Ninh over the past 5 years has not only been a movement but has become a revolution, changing the face of the countryside from roads, electricity systems to people's lifestyles and thinking. Up to now, 68/71 communes have met NTM standards, reaching 95.8%; of which, 26 communes have met advanced NTM standards and 4 communes have met model NTM standards, 1 town has completed the task of building NTM standards.

Minh Trung Agricultural Service Cooperative (Tan Chau district) sells custard apples on a digital platform.

The total capital for the program implementation reached 5,882 billion VND, of which the local budget was 3,472 billion VND, the central budget was 571 billion VND, especially the active participation of the community through socialized capital mobilization and integration from other programs up to 1,839 billion VND.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, residing in Thanh Phuoc commune, Go Dau district, shared: “In the past, the road in front of my house was muddy, making it difficult to travel during the rainy season, and transporting agricultural products to the market was even more difficult. Now the asphalt road is smooth, vehicles can travel easily, transporting goods is much faster and more convenient. Children go to school more safely. The new rural development program has changed people's lives in a positive way.”

Farmers harvest pumpkins in Tan Chau district.

Not only stopping at infrastructure, specialized programs and topics have also made remarkable progress. Tay Ninh province currently has 123 OCOP products, of which, notably, there is 1 product achieving 5 stars, opening up many opportunities for agricultural economic development and enhancing the value of local products. Many models of rural tourism, digital transformation, and environmental protection have been formed and effectively promoted, contributing to diversifying livelihoods and creating a new look for rural areas.

Tan Nhien Company Limited (Hoa Thanh town) has products that meet 5-star OCOP standards.

Rural infrastructure has been invested in synchronously and modernized, contributing to significantly improving the quality of life of the people. More than 4,772 km of rural roads have been built and upgraded, creating blood vessels connecting regions.

The power system is also focused on with nearly 185 km of medium-voltage lines and nearly 490 km of low-voltage lines being renovated, upgraded and repaired; along with the construction of about 113.7 km of medium-voltage lines, 239.2 km of low-voltage lines and 540 transformer stations, ensuring stable power supply for production and daily life.

The rate of rural households using clean water reached 72% and hygienic water reached 100%, which are important indicators, demonstrating the concern for community health. Schools, health stations, and communal cultural and sports centers have also been invested in construction and upgrading, creating favorable conditions for people to study, take care of their health and enjoy culture. Security and order in rural areas are ensured, and there are no more complicated areas.

From sustainable poverty reduction to the goal of “worth living”

In addition to the successes in building new rural areas, Tay Ninh has also made constant efforts in sustainable poverty reduction. The national target program on sustainable poverty reduction for the 2021-2025 period has been actively implemented.

The province has focused on effectively implementing component projects such as supporting production development, diversifying livelihoods, replicating poverty reduction models, and improving the quality of housing, health care, education, clean water and environmental sanitation for poor and near-poor households.

Farmers in Truong Dong commune (Hoa Thanh town) harvest longan.

In particular, the province always focuses on implementing preferential policies for remote, isolated, border areas and ethnic minorities, aiming to shorten the gap between rich and poor and ensure social justice. The work of reviewing and updating poor and near-poor households according to the new multidimensional standards is also carried out seriously, correctly, transparently and promptly.

As a result, the total number of poor and near-poor households in the province is now only 1,473 (of which, there are 335 poor households and 1,138 near-poor households), accounting for 0.45%. Compared to the beginning of the period, the province has reduced 4,368 households (including 1,740 poor households and 2,628 near-poor households), a corresponding reduction of 1.38%. This means that the scale of multidimensional poor and near-poor households has decreased by nearly 75%.

Rice fields in Phuoc Binh commune (Trang Bang town) in harvest season.

Ms. Dang Thi Huong, residing in Tram Vang 2 Hamlet, Thanh Phuoc Commune (Go Dau District) shared: “Previously, I lived in a makeshift house that was infested with termites. Then the local government supported the construction of a house for my children and I to stabilize our lives. My family has 4 children, my husband passed away a long time ago, and our family is in difficult circumstances. The local government and other benefactors supported us by giving us cows. Now, our family has risen out of poverty.”

Physical education class for students.

However, during the implementation process, Tay Ninh still faces some difficulties such as mobilizing non-budgetary resources, especially in purely agricultural areas with few businesses. Funding to support communes that meet advanced and model NTM standards has not really met the actual needs for maintenance and sustainable development.

Environmental quality, waste and wastewater treatment in rural areas are still not uniform. In particular, the staff at the grassroots level, especially those in charge of new rural areas and poverty reduction at the commune level, change frequently, significantly affecting the work of advising and implementing the program.

A traffic route in Thanh Phuoc advanced rural commune (Go Dau district).

With the achieved foundations, after completing the administrative unit arrangement, Tay Ninh strives to achieve the following goals: 90%-95% of communes meeting NTM standards, over 50% of communes meeting advanced NTM standards; average income in rural areas by 2030 will double compared to 2020; strongly develop ecological agriculture, smart rural areas, OCOP products associated with tourism; build Tay Ninh countryside "bright - green - clean - beautiful, civilized, modern, worth living"; reduce 70% of poor households in the period 2026-2030.

Hoang Yen

Source: https://baotayninh.vn/tay-ninh-nong-thon-khoi-sac-giam-ngheo-ben-vung-a191759.html