Nghe An National Assembly delegation works with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

Overview of the meeting. Photo: Phan Hau

3 PROPOSALS OF NGHE AN TO THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

In 2021 and the first 6 months of 2022, despite many difficulties and challenges, with the attention and direction of the Central Government, ministries and branches; the great efforts and determination of the entire political system; the consensus of the people and the support of organizations and businesses; Nghe An province's economy continues to maintain its growth momentum. The rate of gross regional domestic product (GRDP): in 2021 increased by 6.2%; in the first 6 months of 2022, it is estimated to increase by 8.44%, higher than the scenario set by Nghe An.

Contributing to that common achievement is the very important role of the agricultural sector of Nghe An province, especially in the context of many difficulties last year due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, but the economic structure within the sector continued to shift in the right direction; agriculture continued to be the foundation for the socio-economic development of the province.

Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung presented an overview of the socio-economic situation, agricultural production results of Nghe An province in 2021, estimated for the first 6 months of 2022 and the tasks of the Agriculture and Rural Development sector in the coming time. Photo: Phan Hau

This is reflected in impressive figures such as: In 2021, the province's agricultural, forestry and fishery production value reached VND 38,409 billion, an increase of 5.59% compared to the plan of 4.5-5%, the highest in the North Central region. In the first 6 months of the year, the industry continued to generate a production value of more than VND 21,840 billion, thereby, the growth rate is estimated at 4.14%.

In 2021, Nghe An province was approved by the Prime Minister to establish the North Central High-Tech Forestry Zone in Decision No. 509/QD-TTg dated March 31, 2021. This is the first high-tech forestry zone in the country according to Decision No. 38/QD-TTg dated September 14, 2016, Decision No. 327/QD-TTg dated March 10, 2022 of the Prime Minister.

In the field of rural development, by the end of 2021, Nghe An had 299/411 communes, reaching 72.75% of the total number of communes meeting new rural standards, with 7 district-level units meeting new rural standards, the average number of new rural criteria achieved per commune was 16.8 criteria per commune.

In the coming time, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung affirmed: Nghe An will continue to focus on restructuring the agricultural sector towards rapid transition to agricultural economy, application of high technology, digital transformation in the agricultural sector; applying new models to improve the efficiency of agricultural economy; continue to implement models of cooperative economic development in agriculture; attract and develop investment enterprises in the agricultural sector, linking production and processing of agricultural products.

“We set a goal of striving to maintain an average growth rate of the agricultural sector of over 4.5% per year; maintain food output of over 1.2 million tons; and continue to maintain a stable forest coverage rate of 58%,” said the Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee at the meeting.

Nghe An also sets a target of 82% of communes meeting new rural standards by 2025 (337/411 communes); 11 district-level units completing the task of meeting new rural standards.

Comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee spoke at the meeting. Photo: Phan Hau

At the meeting, on behalf of the provincial leaders, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development agree in principle to allow Nghe An province to carry out investment preparation steps; establish an investment project and construct the Lam River dam; and pay attention to investing in the project to upgrade the infrastructure of the concentrated aquaculture area in Hoang Mai town.

Consider providing additional funding for Nam Dan district from the unallocated central budget to implement the National Target Program on New Rural Development for the 2021-2025 period, to effectively implement the Rural Tourism Development Program in building new rural areas associated with preserving and promoting traditional cultural values ​​in a sustainable, inclusive and multi-valued direction, according to the Pilot Project: "Building Nam Dan district, Nghe An province to become a model new rural district in the direction of cultural development associated with tourism, period 2018 - 2025" approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 17/QD-TTg dated January 4, 2019.

Comrade Do Van Chien - Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, representative of Nghe An delegation spoke at the meeting. Photo: Phan Hau

Speaking at the meeting, Comrade Do Van Chien - Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, delegate of Nghe An, agreed with the report of the People's Committee of Nghe An province; thereby, requested the Minister and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to pay attention and support to coordinate and advise the Government and the Prime Minister. Because if these 3 contents are invested, it will be very effective in terms of economy, politics, society and environment.

Comrade Do Van Chien also proposed to support Nghe An in implementing the National Target Program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas; in which the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is in charge of very important components such as forest development.

CHANGE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION MINDSET TO AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan speaks at the meeting. Photo: Phan Hau

Speaking at the meeting, emphasizing that it is time to shift from agricultural production thinking to agricultural economic thinking. The National Assembly and the Government will have policies related to this content, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan suggested that localities contribute to the ministry and the ministry will also contribute to localities to implement it together.

On that basis, the Minister also suggested some directions for agricultural production in Nghe An, especially the need to create a difference on the basis of having economic thinking and sales people to create changes in the agricultural sector. Regarding Nghe An's proposals, Minister Le Minh Hoan basically agreed; at the same time, he oriented specific steps and approaches.

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, Chairman of the People's Council of Nghe An province spoke at the meeting. Photo: Phan Hau

At the meeting, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council of Nghe An Thai Thanh Quy emphasized: Nghe An always identifies agricultural development as a strength, a very key and important spearhead; at the same time, expressed gratitude and hope that the Minister and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will continue to pay attention and help the development of the province. Nghe An will receive and understand the opinions at the meeting and concretize them in practice.