Can Tho to add more new-style rural communes hinh anh 1Illustration photo. (Source: Internet)
Can Tho (VNA) – The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho will have seven more new-style rural communes this year, raising the number of new developed communes to 19, said Hoang Kim Cuong, Head of the municipal Coordination Office for the new-style rural area building programme.

She made the remark during a conference to implement the city’s plan on the National Target Programme on New Rural Development in 2016, which was held on February 18.

This year, the city targets to have 17 other communes out of its 36 communes in total meeting 15-19 out of the 19 criteria of the programme, and no commune completing fewer than 15 criteria.

The city will focus on the application of new technologies to farm production, human resource training, and the establishment of agricultural cooperatives.

Can Tho will also multiply the “ One Village, One Product” movement as well as promote local craft villages in line with developing ecological tourism and homestay services.

Last year, the city mobilised about 1.5 trillion VND (65.2 million USD) for the new rural bulding programme and recognised 7 communes as new-style rural areas, according to the municipal People’s Committee.

The national target programme on building new-style rural areas, initiated by the Government in 2010, sets 19 criteria on socio-economic development, politics, and defence, aiming to modernise rural areas.

The criteria cover the development of infrastructure, the improvement of production capacities, environmental protection, and the promotion of cultural values.

The country aims to have 50 percent of all communes nationwide meeting all the requirements by the end of 2020.

As many as 1,526 communes and 15 districts nationwide have completed all 19 criteria and are recognised as new-style rural areas, according to the conference to review the UN Joint Project to support the programme (UNJP/VIE/051/UNJ), in early January.

Thanks to the programme, average per capita income in rural areas increased 1.9 times compared to 2010.-VNA
VNA