After more than 3 years of launching the national goal program on new rural building, Binh Duong’s rural image has showed a great change in quality and quantity.

At a hi-tech pig breeding farm.

Change of rural areas Since 2011, more than VND3,900 has been earmarked to invest in rural areas in the whole of the province. Of this, budget capital only accounts for more than VND1,900bil while the remaining amount is from contribution of enterprises and people. The large capital source plus timely disbursement and effective usage have helped Binh Duong rural areas reach a positive change. Specifically, hundreds of rural traffic roads have been invested, repaired and newly built, reaching an 83.55% rate of district and commune-level roads under asphalt. This is a very impressive figure, helping rural areas not only become cleaner but serve goods transports better. In addition, rate of house gains 17.32sqm per person, exceeding 19% from the set goal. In order to reach the figure, Binh Duong has mobilized expenses from many organizations, individuals to newly build and repair houses for poor people. After a short time, across rural communes tens of markets, schools have reached the national standards on construction. Therefore, people can feel secure in production and business. Thousands of children have enjoyed newly-built schooling material facilities, thanks to acceleration of new rural building movement. Meanwhile, hundreds of grids have been invested newly, lifting rate of national electric usage at rural households up to 99.86%. After efforts of building new areas, Binh Duong has thus far had 4 communes completing 19 out of 19 criteria, 10 communes winning 14-18 criteria, 38 communes reaching 9-13 ones and 7 communes gaining 6-8 ones. In the past, most of communes reached only 9-11 criteria. Farmers enjoy benefits Until now, Binh Duong provincial economic structure has increased in service and industry and strongly decreased in agriculture. However, Binh Duong agriculture reached about VND3,024bil in value in the past year. This shows that many local people remain attach to animal husbandry and cultivation. Thanks to right ways in new rural building, local farmers have enjoyed first fruits. Specifically, their material and spiritual life in rural areas has been improved significantly with an average income of VND30.5mil per year, a 66.4% increase from 2011. Besides, work on vocational training for rural laborers has been improved remarkably, contributing to help more than 46,000 rural laborers enjoy stable jobs. Accordingly, rate of trained laborers in Binh Duong has been increased 64.81%. At present, the whole of the province has had 46 rural trades, 32 craft villages and 55 traditional craft villages. Until now, 55 cooperatives are under operation with the total asset value of VND49.7bil and with 498 members and 1,352 agricultural teams with 27.600 members. Possibly speaking, the new rural movement has brought opportunities for many laborers in Binh Duong rural area. These laborers have enjoyed many job chances right at their homeland. Thenceforth, they have improved not only income in agriculture but in service. The new rural building movement helps local farmers enjoy a better life. This is proven by impressive figures such as 55-60% of rate of cultural communes, 97.8% of communes winning medical standards, 100% of sub-poor and poor households granted health insurance cards, 100% of communes having garbage collection areas and so on. Tran Van Nam, vice chairman of the provincial People's Committee cum head of Binh Duong provincial steering board of new rural building said "Over the past years, Binh Duong has made the effort in the new rural building movement. The movement's criteria have been assessed and considered seriously and carefully. Therefore, the new rural building movement has brought many significant benefits for people".                                                                                                               Reported by K.Vinh - Translated by A.C