Agricultural economic models in the capital
When speaking about the achievements of Hanoi’s agricultural sector obtained for the past 60 years, generations of cadres of Hanoi’s Agricultural and Rural Development Department think of an important milestone when Hanoi expanded its administrative boundary in 2008 and Hanoi’s agricultural sector thereby took over a total area of agricultural land of over 188,600ha, accounting for 56.7% of the city’s total area. The population in rural areas was nearly four million people, occupying 57% the city’s total population which posed a challenge to agricultural development in the city.
Recalling that period, Nguyen Van Chi, Director of Hanoi’s Agricultural Extension Centre said: “In 2008 after its administrative boundary expansion, Hanoi had the largest number of people involved in agriculture among cities and provinces nationwide, however, its contribution to the city’s economy was quite low. Therefore, when Hanoi’s agricultural sector started building a national target programme on new rural construction in the 2010-2020 period, we also began zoning areas for investment to form large agricultural production areas towards an agricultural market of goods production.”
A purple dragon fruit growing area in Kim Quan Commune (Thach That District). Photo: File Tending flowers at Tay Tuu flower growing area (Nam Tu Liem District). Photo: Trinh Van Bo/VNP
Dien pomelo has become a highly appreciated agricultural product. Photo: Thong Hai/VNP
Tran Nhu Giap’s farm at Dong My Commune (Thanh Tri District) with about 5000 individuals of peacocks and pheasants brings about high profits. Photo: Thong Thien/VNP
Packing safe vegetable at Duyen Ha Commune (Thanh Tri District). Photo: Thong Thien/VNP
Kids in Dong My Commune, Thanh Tri District now study at a new kindergarten built from the money of the programme of new rural construction. Photo: File
The model of growing bonsai in Hong Van Commune (Thuong Tin District) brings high income to farmers. Photo: File
A milk cow plant at Tan Linh Commune (Ba Vi District). Photo: Trinh Van Bo/VNP
As a result, many specialized farming areas have been established such as Ba Vi Milk-Cow Farm, Tay Tuu flower growing area, high quality rice growing areas of Dong Anh, Thuong Tin and Dan Phuong, safe vegetable growing areas of Duyen Ha and Tien Le, safe cattle and poultry raising areas of Dong Anh, Tu Liem, Soc Son and Son Tay and pomelo and orange growing areas. Hanoi has become famous for some agricultural products, such as Ba Vi milk, Canh oranges, Dien pomelos and Tien Le vegetables which are favourites in both domestic and foreign markets.
The pioneer in implementing the programme on new rural construction
Over the years, Hanoi’s agricultural sector has implemented drastically the national target programme on new rural construction. By the end of 2013, 19 out of 19 districts and 100% of the communes approved the planning and projects on new rural construction. Up to October 2014, 50 communes in Hanoi were recognized as new rural areas and 153 reached about 14-18 criteria, 148 communes reached about 10-13 criteria and 50 communes reached about 5-9 criteria.
After three years of implementing the programme, the economic-social infrastructure in rural areas has continually been improved. In the first nine months of this year, the number of households escaping from poverty was 8,095 and the rate of poor households in rural areas was 3.3%. Average income per capita in rural areas in 2013 reached over 24 million dong.
Up to Frebruary, 2014, Hanoi planned 73ha of agricultural land, reaching 95,9% of the plan on forming large fields, that facilitates agricultural industrialization. Photo: Thong Hai/VNP
After forming larger fields, farmers in Hanoi can use combine harvesters in harvesting the winter-spring rice crop. Photo: Thong Thien/VNP
Farmers in Hong Phong Commune (Chuong My Disitrict) apply a new model to transplanting rice. Photo: File
Duyen Ha safe vegetable growing area (Thanh Tri District) has invested more than one billion dong in a water processing plant for irrigation. Photo: Thong Thien/VNP
The irrigation system has been basically completed, assisting farmers in dealing with drought in summer and flood in rainy season. Photo: Thong Hai/VNP
At a meeting with the Hanoi Provincial Party Central Committee’s Steering Board on new rural construction held in mid- October, another 84 communes registered to complete the programme on new rural construction late this year.
Rural infrastructure has also seen a great change. The total capital for new rural construction in the city was 17,103 billion dong, including 1,966.4 billion dong mobilised from businesses and organizations and 1,691.7 billion dong from the people. Hanoi completed many criteria which are considered difficult ones to reach in the set of criteria on new rural construction, including the rate of communes having concrete roads to the commune’s headquarters at 100%; the rate of concrete village roads and inter-village roads is 95%; 98% of the communes which have units to collect rubbish; the rate of rural people which have access to safe water is 91.6%; and the rate of villages and wards which have cultural houses is 80.5%.
Regarding new rural construction in the capital, Chu Phu My, Director of Hanoi’s Agricultural and Rural Development Department affirmed: “After implementing the programme, the rural areas in Hanoi have considerably changed and Hanoi has led the country with the number of communes completing the set of criteria on new rural construction that has made great contribution to building and developing the capital.”./.
Story: Thong Thien
Photos: Thong Thien, Trinh Van Bo, Van Quyen, Thong Hai & File
Đăng ký: VietNam News