The central province of Nghe An strives to reduce its household poverty rate to 10 percent by the end of 2014, one year ahead of its schedule.

Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Ho Duc Phoc said the province will accelerate the popularisation of this work, drive socio-economic development, create jobs as well as offer more vocational training.

It will also raise the capacity of officials in poor communes and encourage businesses and social organisations to give assistance to disadvantaged localities, he added.

The rate of poverty-stricken families in Nghe An is still higher than the national average. The number of those close to the poverty line stands at some 109,300, representing over 14 percent of the province’s households.
 
This fact is partly attributable to the province’s large land area, big population and harsh climate, while the income of almost all impoverished households comes from agricultural production.

In the last three years, Nghe An has poured some seven trillion VND (333.3 million USD) into the poverty elimination programme.

In particular, Ky Son, Tuong Duong and Que Phong districts, where household poverty rates account for over 50 percent, have received 353 billion VND (16.8 million USD) to build 75 infrastructure facilities.

They have also been supported with another 120 billion VND (5.7 million USD) to develop agriculture and forestry and attract young intellectuals.-VNA