An international conference took place in Hanoi on October 22, focusing on appropriate approaches to help Vietnam better its new rural development policies.

The event was held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), and the Vietnam Rural Development Science Association (PHANO).

Nguyen Minh Tien, Deputy Director of the Economic Cooperation and Rural Development Department under the ministry, said that over the past three years of implementation, the new rural development programme has gained important achievements and attracted the attention and participation of the community.

However, he also emphasised the need to update and reform policies that match reality to see sustainable development.

FAO Vietnam representative Bae Jongha affirmed that the organisation supports Vietnam in coordinating and implementing the national target programme on building new rural areas, with the focus on providing the country with high-level technical consultation on rural development, as well as building the capacity of producers in rural areas and Government officials.

Honorary Professor of the US Corneil University Randy Barker stressed the consideration of the relationship between agricultural and non-agricultural production, especially in the Mekong Delta.

He also noted the important role of water source management in Vietnam and highlighted the need to have an intervention in policies to help farmers benefit more in the agricultural production chain.

Meanwhile, Professor Kim Jungho from the Republic of Korea’s Kyengpoo University shared lessons from the New Community Movement or Saemaul Undong for rural development in the country in the 1970s. The movement helped increase the income of farming households as well as improve the living environment and production facilities in rural areas.-VNA