Lesson 9: Who are the key stakeholders in building new rural areas?
(Baonghean) - Chinese experts all affirm that the main actors in building new rural areas are farmers, and they are the force playing an extremely important role in the modernization process of a country developing from agriculture. The important thing is that all levels of government must correctly assess the position of farmers as the main actors, and have policies to maximize that role, given their low income, difficult living conditions, low education level, and poor organizational skills.
According to them, the role of farmers as key players in building new rural areas should be viewed from two main perspectives: 1) Farmers are the beneficiaries of new rural areas; therefore, all issues should stem from the needs of farmers, offering many incentives to stimulate their enthusiasm and make them understand the significance of building new rural areas. 2) Farmers are the owners of the construction of new rural area projects and are the most active force in agricultural production and development. All policies promoting scientific and technological progress in agriculture, strengthening rural economic management, and implementing new rural infrastructure projects cannot be separated from farmers.
Author Luu Chi Song (Institute of Economic Management, Northeast Agricultural University) argues that farmers hold a central position in building new rural areas because: 1) Historically, they have been an independent class in society, having contributed alongside other classes to many achievements; they also have the same rights, obligations, and needs for an equal life as other citizens in urban areas; 2) Farmers are knowledgeable subjects with increasingly profound awareness. Along with socio-economic development and a higher quality of life, their position is gradually changing, increasing their understanding of equality, awareness of rights, fairness, and competition, and enhancing their self-confidence and self-respect; 3) Farmers have the right to development; they are capable of independently arranging the objects and results of their labor, pursuing the maximization of economic benefits. At the same time, they independently strive, participate in and manage government organizations in rural areas, and have the right to leave rural areas to move to new development spaces. 4) Farmers need the right to enjoy the fruits of their labor. They should not only be people who have been deprived of benefits, but also people who benefit from and enjoy the fruits of the socio-economic development process of the country as a whole.
Therefore, prioritizing the role of farmers as key players in building new rural areas has become essential and of immense significance: 1) This is an urgent requirement in the strategy to narrow the income and living standard gap between urban and rural areas, and between city dwellers and farmers; 2) This is an essential requirement for the development of social productive forces, as they are the force that best understands the needs of rural society, possess extensive experience, and are the direct laborers in agricultural production; 3) Promoting the role of farmers as key players is also an objective requirement of the practical development of rural socio-economic development in the modern era, as many agricultural inventions originate from rural areas and are created by farmers.
China's experience shows that, to effectively promote the role of farmers as key players in rural development, it is necessary to: 1) Implement farmers' self-determination regarding rural development, giving them ownership of rural development projects; allowing them to discuss, deliberate, and reach consensus on issues such as landscape changes, village architecture, and management of rural development investment projects; 2) Encourage farmers' active participation in rural development through the implementation of projects that meet their living needs; enhance their responsibility and strengthen their self-determination; 3) Organize farmers, promote the effectiveness of farmers' associations, mediation associations, protection associations, village youth organizations, women's associations, and senior citizens' associations; strengthen economic cooperation organizations; strengthen the training and recruitment of farmers into the Party, increasing the percentage of Party members in villages; establish professional associations in rural areas; and gradually implement specific operational regulations for rural organizations. 4) Establish a system of village people's conferences, considering this as a forum for them to discuss and reach consensus on actions, deciding what should and shouldn't be done, what to do first and what to do later, the scope of work, especially regarding production, housing planning, road construction, contribution systems, management, etc.; 5) Give farmers the position of being the main stakeholders in terms of property, encouraging them to invest their efforts and money in building new rural areas; consider the achievements of this construction as the private property of farmers; truly make farmers the main stakeholders who benefit from new rural areas, including economic, political, cultural benefits and their autonomy.
It is essential to have a good combination between the farmers' role as the main actors and the government's leading role in building new rural areas. The government plays the role of initiator, organizer, and motivator for farmers to implement the new rural development program. To achieve this, it is necessary to transform the functions of the government and enhance the quality of its officials; strengthen Party work in rural areas; promote the initiative and creativity of farmers; and educate them in the spirit of modern farming.
Le Duc Hoang
(Vinh University)