As many as 75 agricultural cooperatives in the northern province of Phu Tho have benefited from a programme on building new-style rural areas, which has been implemented in the locality since 2011.

Under the programme, the local authorities spent nearly 20 billion VND to assist local cooperatives in improving agricultural services for its members.

With the financial assistance, many cooperatives have helped members apply new production models and farming techniques.

Phu Tho is now home to nearly 300 agricultural cooperatives, which serve as a reliable source of assistance to farmers and play a core role in promoting the sustainable development of rural economy in the province.

In 2014, Phu Tho has allocated more than 280 billion VND to its new-style rural area building programme with the goal of raising the number of communes meeting all or most criteria to 31.-VNA