"Tam Nong" in a new development phase

At the 7th plenum, the 10th Party Central Committee issued the Resolution 26-NQ/TW on agriculture, farmers and rural areas (or called “tam nong”). The light of the resolution changed the image of agriculture, rural areas and the lives of farmers in Binh Duong, creating a solid foundation for entering a new stage of development.

Farmers as the subject

In Binh Duong, after 15 years of implementing the Resolution of the 7th Plenum of the 10^th Party Central Committee, there was a remarkable change in the local "tam nong". The province’s agriculture has grown comprehensively, with modern production and high technology application. The material and spiritual lives of the local farmers were constantly improved; the local rural image flourishes day by day. The National Target Program on New Rural Construction has become a pervasive movement, receiving the active participation of the entire political system from the province to the grassroots, of the whole people and the business community. With the development of rural economy, together with the attention of investment from the State budget and the active response of the people, the local modernization process of agriculture and rural areas took place rapidly. By the end of 2019, Binh Duong had all 46 communes completing the target of new-style rural construction. The whole province has so far had 7 communes recognized as ones meeting advanced new-style rural standards; 1 new-style rural district and 2 townships completing the task of new-style rural development.

Harvesting agricultural products at An Thai Hi-tech Agricultural Park in Phu Giao district

The main task of the new-style rural construction program is to improve the material and spiritual lives of the local people. To achieve the goal, Binh Duong has focused on investing and upgrading socio-economic infrastructure, thereby changing the local rural image markedly. The roads have been upgraded and widened to connect urban centers with rural areas; new spacious houses along with a series of people's welfare works such as markets, schools, medical centers, cultural institutions... have been put into use, contributing to improving the level of material and spiritual enjoyment. for rural people. Infrastructure has been gradually improved with rural areas changed drastically and the distance between rural and urban areas shortened.

Especially, Binh Duong’s farmers have better promoted their role as the subject, being active in restructuring production, applying science-technology, participating in cooperation, recovery and development of rural industries. According to statistics, the per capita average income of people in rural areas has grown continuously for many consecutive years. The figure in 2021 reached VND 71 million (much higher than the national average level at nearly VND 42 million).

High-tech agriculture

From a specialized and backward agriculture, Binh Duong has so far become one of the country’s leading provinces and cities in applying high-tech agricultural models, bringing economic efficiency, contributing to improving the material and spiritual lives of people in rural areas.

According to statistics, Binh Duong now has the second largest number of agricultural farms in the Southeastern region and the fifth in the whole country. The province is assessed as one of the country’s leading groups in high-tech animal husbandry capacity. From the reality of the past time, it can be affirmed that the development of high-tech agriculture, clean agriculture, organic agricultural products under Organic, VietGAP, GlobalGAP standards is an indispensable direction in agricultural production, changing the local agricultural image and raising the level of the local agricultural development.

The Resolution of provincial Party Congress for the 2020-2025 tenure has set out a goal of striving to reach the annual growth of 2.5%-3% in agricultural, forestry and fishery production value by 2025. The proportion of the value of agricultural production applying high technology will account for over 30%. The area for growing agricultural products under GAP standards will account for 20%.

One of the province's key solutions for agricultural development is to promote high-tech agricultural production, gradually building up organic agriculture. The focus of this orientation is to increase added value for the local agricultural products, increasing competitiveness in the market, international integration towards sustainable agricultural development. Specifically, the province will strengthen scientific research in agriculture, make sci-tech transfer and application, and improve the content of science and technology in products. Especially, through incentive policies, Binh Duong will strive to create conditions for businesses to further play an key role in the development of high-tech production, creating clear breakthroughs for the local agricultural sector.

According to Pham Van Bong, Director of provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, along with achieved results, the implementation of the resolution on "tam nong" also faced many difficulties for change. The growth of the province made the cost of agricultural resources increase rapidly; many farmers quit farming; the linkage of  "the State - Enterprises - Farmers - Scientists" was still not worthy... Therefore, in order to continue creating a new transition in agriculture and rural areas, farmers, the province needs to have radical solutions towards sustainable development. Specifically, the province needs to renovate the organization of production and business, and improve production relations; make planning and building of an economic - technical infrastructure system for raw material areas; promote agricultural digital transformation, develop e-commerce; carry out model rural construction in association with the Smart Village model; develop domestic and foreign markets to ensure a stable consumption market for farmers...

Mai Hung Dung, member of provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice-Chairman of provincial People's Committee: "With the motto of "The State and the people work together", Binh Duong's new-style rural construction program has very creative steps. It is from the initial policy of not following the form, being determined to focus on quality, and persistently implementing this policy, so the province's new-style rural construction program has taken steps in the right direction, bringing great results. The new-style rural construction is a regular and continuous process with the main purpose of improving the living standards of rural residents. Therefore, on the basis of the achieved results, localities need to continue improving the quality of criteria, promoting good and creative ways in implementing the new-style rural construction program to bring about effective results, well serving the lives of rural residents, creating a clearer change in the rural areas of the province”.

Reported by Thu Thao-Translated by Kim Tin