Removing "bottlenecks" in new rural building

After 15 years of implementing the National Target Program for new rural construction, Dong Nai province still has 5 communes, namely Tho Son, Nghia Trung, Phu Nghia, Bu Gia Map, and Loc Quang, that have not met new rural building standards due to various reasons.

Residents in Tho Son commune achieve dual benefits from the same area unit from organic cashew gardens. Photo: Vu Thuyen

In addition to difficulties in construction investment capital and per capita income, most of the land within the planned bauxite mining zones and forest areas has not yet been transferred to local management. These are bottlenecks that require attention and resolution at all levels.

The concern of clean agricultural production

Residents of Dong Nai commune, formerly part of Binh Phuoc province, now Tho Son commune in the newly established Dong Nai province, primarily engage in agricultural production, with cashew, coffee, and rubber as the main crops. To ensure sustainable development, increase income, and meet the demands of discerning markets, in recent years, local farmers have proactively developed value chains oriented toward organic production and VietGAP standards. This endeavor has led to the establishment of effective organic agricultural cooperatives, most notably the Bu Lach Grassland Organic Cashew Agricultural Cooperative.

Thi Khui, director of the cooperative, said that in previous years, local people faced difficulties in buying, selling, and production. Market access was unstable, and traders often pressured them on prices. In response, she conducted research, sought out knowledge, and mobilized members, teams, and groups to establish the cooperative, aiming to link production and create a clean value chain for supplying partners and markets.

By finding the right direction, the cooperative has attracted 220 members, cultivating over 2,000 hectares of organic cashews, including 500 hectares certified to European organic standards. With an abundant supply of raw materials, organic production has built trust and attracted many large, reputable domestic and international enterprises to sign product off-take agreements, ensuring a stable income.

Notably, because the cashews are grown organically, without chemical fertilizers or pesticides, thousands of gnetum vegetables (locally known as “Nhip”), a specialty plant that naturally thrives in primeval forests, have regenerated beneath the cashew canopy. As a result, cooperative members now gain dual benefits from a single cultivated area.

In addition to the Bu Lach Grassland Organic Cashew Agricultural Cooperative, in the former Dong Nai commune, there are also many cooperative groups, cooperatives, and thousands of households dependent on agriculture with key crops such as cashews, coffee, and rubber. However, 100% of the area in this region is within the bauxite mineral planning. This current situation is a concern not only for cooperative members and residents but also affects the input raw material area for partners.

Thi Khui expressed concern that residents and cooperative members have long relied on crops for their livelihood and have no other means of income. Therefore, they hope that higher-level authorities will pay attention and consider adjusting the planning to avoid affecting this clean raw material area.

Reviewing and evaluating the results of new rural construction

The newly established Tho Son commune, covering an area of over 300 square kilometers, was formed through the merger of three communes: Phu Son, Tho Son, and the former Dong Nai. It is home to a community of 18 ethnic groups, including many long-established groups such as the Stieng, Mnong, and Chau Ma.

Nguyen Thanh Hai, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Council of Tho Son commune, said: In addition to the potential and advantages of land and population, Tho Son has an advantage in transportation potential, which is the Gia Nghia - Chon Thanh expressway passing through the area for 12km, including one interchange. This project is considered an important transportation hub for people in the northern communes of Dong Nai province, including communes and wards of the new Lam Dong province. And the biggest advantage of the locality is its tourism potential, especially the 450ha Bu Lach Grassland. The problem is how to exploit this potential most effectively.

In addition to the proposal to change the bauxite planning, Tho Son commune also proposed financial support from the provincial budget to build rural infrastructure to complete the criteria for new rural areas and advanced new rural areas.

Along with other potentials and strengths, the Party Committee, authorities, and people of Tho Son are striving to achieve New Rural Status and Advanced New Rural Status by 2030. However, a major challenge for Tho Son is that two-thirds of the commune's area falls within the planned bauxite mining zone. Previously, Phu Son commune and the former Tho Son commune met new rural standards in 2018 and 2022, respectively, while the former Dong Nai commune did not, as 100% of its land lies within the bauxite planning area.

  According to Nguyen Thanh Hai, bauxite mineral planning presents both an opportunity and a challenge for the locality. If the planning is carried out effectively, with a clear timeline and exploitation roadmap integrated with the synchronized development of the economy, culture, and society, it will create significant opportunities. However, if the issue is not resolved, it will pose a major challenge for the locality.

According to the provisions of the 2024 Law on Geology and Minerals, once mineral planning is in place, public welfare projects, especially those related to new rural development criteria, cannot be funded by the state budget. Therefore, to achieve the goal of meeting new rural standards, the issues of mineral planning and improving people's incomes must be addressed.

"Based on the actual situation, we propose that provincial agencies suggest to central agencies to submit to the Prime Minister changes in bauxite planning, only then can rural projects and items be invested in and built," Nguyen Thanh Hai proposed.

Besides Tho Son, the remaining communes, Nghia Trung and Phu Nghia, are also entangled in bauxite planning, and forest land has not yet been handed over to local management; Loc Quang commune has not completed the school criteria; Bu Gia Map commune is focusing resources, striving to achieve new rural area building by 2025. These are also the remaining 5 localities in the new Dong Nai province that have not yet met new rural area building standards and need attention and investment from all levels and sectors in the coming time.

Recognizing the challenges and obstacles in new rural development, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dong Nai province is currently reviewing and assessing the status of new rural development, advanced new rural areas, and model new rural areas across 72 communes in the province, based on the 2021–2025 criteria set. Based on this review, the department will advise the Provincial People's Committee to submit a report to the Party Committee of the Provincial People's Committee, seeking the opinion of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on approving a policy to issue a directive on continuing to promote the implementation of the National Target Program on new rural development in Dong Nai for the 2026–2030 period.

By: Vu Thuyen

Translated by Mai Nga-Minho