Illustrative image (Source: VNA) The northern mountainous province of Son La maintained its economic growth in the first half of this year, expanding by 6.8 percent annually, said a senior official.
The gross domestic product was estimated at over 12.1 trillion VND (557 million USD), up 17.4 percent year-on-year. More than 2.8 trillion VND (129 million USD) of which was from the agro-forestry-fisheries sector, or 30 percent of the original target, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Cam Ngoc Minh told a delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development during a local working session on August 6.
In its new rural development drive, Son La built 46 facilities and over 1,800 kilometres of roads, upgraded 30 irrigational systems and eliminated 11,500 makeshift houses.
Minh said the province approved a master plan in the field for 2010-2020.
However, due to limited resources, only one commune met all 19 criteria for new-style rural areas, 21 communes achieved 9-13 criteria while 78 others met 5-8 criteria.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat suggested adopting technological advances in farming, boosting connectivity between enterprises and farmers, sustainably developing forestry and reducing incidences of poverty among ethnic groups.
While building new-style rural areas, the province should scale up effective models to benefit locals, he said.
Regarding proposals on increasing financial support for staff working in plant protection and quarantine, fisheries and forestry sectors, Phat promised to convey the suggestions to relevant authorities for consideration.
The same day, the delegation visited Chieng Xom commune, the first recognised as new rural area with a mere 1.3 percent household poverty rate.-VNA
