Information related to socio-economy, household income, land and migration collected through rural household surveys conducted in 12 provinces in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014, was detailed in a report released at a workshop in Hanoi on August 26.

Speaking at event, De puty Director of the Central Institute of Economics Management (CIEM) Nguyen Thi Tue Anh said the report assessed Vietnamese rural households’ ability to access capital resources, thus serving as a useful document for policymakers to design rural economic development plans.

It provided a socio-economic index vision and analysed changes in rural areas in 2014 compared to those of previous years based on the information collected.

The report summarised outcomes and findings from the Vietnam Access to Resources Household Surveys (VARHS) carried out among 3,648 households every two years between 2006 and 2014 in the northern provinces of Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Phu Tho, Dien Bien and Ha Tay; the central provinces of Nghe An, Quang Nam and Khanh Hoa; the Central Highlands provinces of Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Lam Dong; and the Mekong Delta province of Long An.

Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD), stressed that the report focuses on issues such as activities to create income, financial market, adaptation to risk and food security.

According to the report, although social welfare services in rural areas improved remarkably, disadvantaged areas and vulnerable groups still have not benefited equally in terms of income and access to services.

Ethnic minority groups continue to lag behind other groups with a lower rate of food security and income, it said.

It mentions strong diversification of livelihood activities in rural areas as well as business climate shortcomings which are considered barriers to enterprises.-VNA
VNA