HÀ NỘI – New-style rural areas should be built by farmers who have knowledge, creativity, and a startup spirit, said Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc.

Speaking yesterday at a Hà Nội teleconference on new-style rural area development, the PM cited processing machines made by farmers to clarify his view.

To carry out new-style rural building programme in the next five years, ministries, agencies and localities should enable rural residents to access information and science-technology with heed paid to e-commerce and the number of internet users and businesses in rural areas.

New-style rural construction should be combined with rural economic transfer, suitable urbanisation, civilised urban area building, environmental protection and fresh water supply, especially in localities hit hard by climate change, he said, urging localities to continue diversifying capital resources for work.

The Government leader described new-style rural area building as a revolution and political task that requires all-level Party Committees and authorities to step up their responsibilities.

A report released by the Central Steering Committee for National Target Programmes in the 2016-20 period shows that as of mid-September, the country had 2,045 new-style rural communes, 23 per cent of communes nationwide. The figure is expected to hit 50 percent by 2020.

During the 2011-15 period, more than VNĐ850 trillion (US$38.25 billion) was mobilised for the programme, of which only 11.6 per cent came from the State budget.

The programme is expected to require over VNĐ193 trillion ($8.7 billion) in the next five years.

To hit the target set for 2020, the committee suggested focusing on essential infrastructure, promoting production in combination with agricultural restructuring, protecting the environment and ensuring safety and security in rural areas.

To mark the occasion, PM Phúc launched a nationwide emulation campaign on new-style rural area building for 2016-20. — VNS