5 years of implementing Resolution 30a: Part 1: The road is still long…

(Baonghean) - The program to support rapid and sustainable poverty reduction under Resolution 30a (hereinafter referred to as Program 30a) in 2008 of the Government aims to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty for specific localities throughout the country. This program is comprehensive, general and synchronous. It is this generality that makes the program unique in its aim of comprehensive poverty reduction; it is the reason explaining the necessity of implementing Program 30a - the red thread throughout the hunger and poverty reduction process, along with the "supplementation" and support of other programs... In Nghe An, there are 3 localities that benefit from Program 30a, namely Que Phong, Tuong Duong and Ky Son districts. The implementation process shows that it is a long journey that requires "going" and "looking back" to make adjustments and implementation to meet practical conditions to reach the "destination"...

Closing the nursery pots for rattan seedlings at Hanh Dich Cooperative (Que Phong). Photo: TA

Nghe An has 3 districts under Program 30a: Que Phong, Tuong Duong and Ky Son. Since 2013, according to Decision 293/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister, Quy Chau district (one of 23 districts nationwide) has received targeted support from the central budget, applying mechanisms and policies for infrastructure investment according to the norms of Resolution 30a in the period 2013-2017. Within the framework of this topic, we will only discuss 3 districts that fully benefit from the mechanisms and policies of Program 30a.

Officials of Nga My commune (Tuong Duong) discuss with the household owner of the cassava growing model supported by Program 30a. Photo: TA

Que Phong district is located in the northwest of Nghe An province, about 180 km from Vinh city, with a natural area of ​​198,543 ha divided into 14 communes and towns, and an agricultural land area of ​​4,712 ha (2.37%). The population is over 67,000 people, including 7 ethnic groups: Kinh, Thai, Kho Mu, Mong, Tho, Tay and Chut. In addition to the difficulties and limitations in terrain and climate, infrastructure and production level are still low. In particular, Que Phong district has 13 resettlement sites under the Hua Na Hydropower program, many households have not yet received land for production, so it is difficult to escape poverty, and the risk of falling back into poverty is high. At the end of 2010, the poverty rate according to the new standard was 58.22%, and the average income per capita in 2008 reached 7.2 million VND/person/year.

Tuong Duong district is located in the southwest of Nghe An province, nearly 200 km from Vinh city, with a natural area of ​​281,192.37 hectares divided into 18 communes and towns, and an agricultural area of ​​about 900 hectares (0.32%). The population is about 71,000 people, with 6 ethnic groups: Thai, Kinh, Kho Mu, Mong, Tay Poong, O Du. The weather and climate are complicated, with frequent natural disasters and floods. In addition to the difficulties and limitations in infrastructure, low educational level and production level, along with drug abuse, Tuong Duong is facing difficulties in its goal of escaping poverty. At the end of 2010, the poverty rate according to the new standards was 71.3%, with an average income per capita of 11 million VND/person/year.

Officials of Huoi Tu commune (Ky Son) visited Mr. Ho Ga Vu's 30a livestock model on Xa Long mountain, Huoi Khe village. Photo: NL

Ky Son district is located in the southwest of Nghe An province, 250 km from Vinh city. The natural area is 209,484.05 ha, divided into 21 communes and towns, mainly hills and mountains with slopes of over 35 degrees, flat land, and rice fields of about 1,000 ha (1%). The population is about 71,000 people, with 5 ethnic groups: Mong, Thai, Kho Mu, Kinh, Hoa. The climate is divided into 2 distinct rainy and dry seasons (November - March and April - October), with a large difference in day and night temperatures. In terms of economy, the transport infrastructure is limited, especially in the rainy season; production is self-sufficient, with low scientific and technological level, so crop and livestock productivity is the lowest in the province. At the end of 2010, the poverty rate according to the new standard was 80.2%, and the average income per capita reached 6.5 million VND/person/year.

The road is long

In late September and early October 2014, the Central Working Group led by the Ministry of Finance conducted an inspection and assessment of the 5-year implementation of Resolution 30a in Nghe An, within the framework of inspection and survey activities nationwide. This was an opportunity for all levels, departments and branches in the province and the Central Government to review and assess the practical effectiveness of Resolution 30a in the task of hunger eradication and poverty reduction. In particular, there were notes on some achieved and unachieved targets in the 30a districts of Nghe An:

The annual poverty reduction rate in the districts is higher than the target of reducing the average poverty rate by 4%/year of Program 30a. Specifically: At the end of 2013, the poverty rate in Que Phong was 41.18% (down 17.04% compared to 2010, an average decrease of 5.68%/year); Tuong Duong was 51.5% (down 19.8%, an average decrease of 6.6%); Ky Son is still 60.9% (decreased (19.3%, average decreased 6.43%). However, the target on the poverty rate has not been achieved: At the end of 2013, the average poverty rate of these 3 districts was 51.2%; higher than the average of the mountainous region (24.06%) and the whole province (13.4%). It is expected that it will be difficult to achieve the target set for 2015 of reducing the poverty rate to the average of the whole province. In addition, the rate of trained workers is still low compared to the set target (28% compared to 40%).

People of Hanh Dich commune (Que Phong) grow rattan in a project supported by the 30a Program. Photo: TA

What are the difficulties in implementing the above targets in the 30a districts? For the target of rapid poverty reduction, the local starting point is too low compared to the general level of the whole province. Meanwhile, the average annual reduction rate is a fixed criteria framework, applied nationwide, so it is not really suitable for the actual situation in the locality. This means that with the average reduction rate of 4%/year as proposed by the 30a Program, bringing the poor districts in Nghe An to the finish line equal to the average level of the whole province on time and on schedule is not very feasible. As for the target of sustainable poverty reduction, there has not been a clear change in the awareness and sense of responsibility of the people, even a part of the cadres. Waiting and relying on support sources, not promoting the inherent strengths of the locality, spreading investment, not having a focused development orientation and replication,... are the limitations and problems that make poverty reduction in districts 30a Nghe An not really sustainable, with a high risk of falling back into poverty, especially when the program ends.

It is undeniable that Resolution 30a is a correct and necessary policy to promote comprehensive poverty reduction, both material and human. There have been positive developments in the three districts of Western Nghe An under the "stimulus" of Program 30a. That is the initial approach to a new lifestyle and production; to a universal culture and education; to the laws and policies of the Party and State in repelling social evils. These are essential conditions to prepare the grassroots and people here with a solid foundation and luggage before accelerating the process of escaping poverty and more than that, rising to become rich right on their homeland. Looking back at the 5-year journey of implementing Resolution 30a in Nghe An, we will see the issue of economic models and their effectiveness, influence and vitality. From there, we will be led to review and re-evaluate the human issue. Because people are the focal point, the core that Resolution 30a aims to build into the "locomotive engine" for the process of escaping poverty quickly and sustainably.

(To be continued)...

Thuc Anh