Can Tho (VNA) – The Mekong Delta City of Can Tho aims to have all of its 36communes by 2019 and four districts by 2020 recognised as new-style rural areas.

In 2017,the city hopes to have seven more communes and one district meet all thecriteria of the new-style rural area building programme.

To realisethe target, the city has accelerated the implementation of resolutions, plans,and action plans at all levels. The city will earmark its budget while callingfor resources from enterprises for new-style rural area building.

Effectivebusiness models will be expanded while investment in rural area will beencouraged, particularly in labour-intensive sectors, to create jobs, increaseincomes and improve living conditions for rural people.

ViceChairman of the municipal People’s Committee Dao Anh Dung said the city wantslocalities to review new-style rural area building criteria. Those that needinvestment beyond the capability of the locality will receive assistance fromthe city. Districts must take drastic measures to ensure its communes completetheir targets and improve the quality of the criteria in recognised communes.

Communitywork needs to be promoted to encourage the participation of locals in buildingnew-style rural areas, while conducting training courses for local staff.

Directorof the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Ngoc Heunderlined the need for restructuring agriculture production to raise incomesfor local people.

The cityencourages numerous large-scale economic cooperation models, such ascooperatives, cooperative groups and farms, with the application of advancedtechnology.

In 2017,the city aims to set up at least four new agricultural cooperatives in fourdistricts while supporting and upgrading operating ones.

Theagricultural sector will continue implementing projects and plan croprestructuring, large-scale farming, and farmer-enterprise connection to improveefficiency and raise incomes for farmers.

To date,Can Tho has 20 out of its 36 communes and one out of four districts recognisedas new-style rural areas.

Thesecommunes have completed at least 14 out of 19 criteria of the new-style ruralarea building programme.

Thenational programme on building new-style rural areas, initiated by theGovernment in 2010, includes 19 criteria on socio-economic development,politics and defence, aiming to boost rural areas.

The criteria cover infrastructure development,production capacity improvement, environmental protection and cultural valuepromotion.-VNA