Minister of Agriculture: The debt for new rural construction nationwide is still 1,500 billion VND.

New rural construction debt is still 1,500 billion VND

Referring to the implementation of the National Target Program on New Rural Development, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development said that in the 2016-2020 period, the criteria set has been adjusted and proven to be suitable through practice; at the same time, resources have been focused on allocating, accordingly, in this period, 193,000 billion VND has been invested to build new rural areas, 4 times more than in the 2010-2015 period.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong. Photo courtesy

Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong also said that resources are focused on disadvantaged mountainous areas. Mountainous communes are given priority allocation of 4-5 times more.

Therefore, up to now, the whole country has 3,370 communes, equal to 37.36% reaching the new rural target, it is expected that from now until the end of the year, it will exceed 40% of the communes, exceeding the target of 38% of the communes in 2018. Besides, the whole country has 53 districts that have completed the new rural construction and there are 7 files under appraisal and also exceeding the target of the number of districts reaching the new rural target of 54.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development also said that this year, 3 provincial-level units completed 19/19 criteria for new rural construction, and next year, it is expected that there will be 7 more provincial-level units.

Regarding basic construction debt in new rural development, Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong said that from 16,000 billion VND at the end of 2016, the outstanding debt now is 1,500 billion VND.

"Thus, we have basically resolved the outstanding debt in new rural construction to ensure the development picture is not for the sake of the movement but for the sake of quality, improving production and people's lives" - Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong said.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development also said that currently the National Target Program on New Rural Development focuses on three core contents: improving people's lives through restructuring agricultural production; focusing on environmental issues, security, and culture in rural areas.

3 challenges for the agricultural sector in the last 6 months of the year

Although in the first 6 months of the year, the country's agriculture, forestry and fishery sector increased by 3.93%, 1.4 times higher than the same period last year. However, according to the head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the last 6 months of the year there will be 3 major challenges.

First of all, the impact of climate change and unusual weather factors. Reviewing the situation of heavy rain causing flash floods in the Northwest and hot weather in many areas across the country, Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong emphasized that we must not be subjective in the face of erratic weather developments.

"All the efforts are wiped out by one or two storms causing damage," said the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, who assessed this as the biggest challenge.

High-tech clam breeding farm in Quynh Luu, Nghe An. Photo courtesy

Second, Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong assessed that the issue of protectionism is currently emerging, while Vietnam's agricultural exports are large, so the risk is very high, requiring timely response and coping policies. The final challenge is the epidemic problem, which contains hidden risks.

"We suggest that localities coordinate more closely with the industry so that we can have more positive solutions in restructuring the agricultural sector, overcoming foreseeable risks and dangers, to successfully restructure and build new rural areas," said the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.