Mobilized more than 8,300 billion VND

Mr. Huynh Ngoc Nha, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Soc Trang province, said that in the period of 2021-2023, the province has mobilized 8,323 billion VND to implement the new rural construction program. Of which, the central budget is 284.9 billion VND, the local budget is 255.7 billion VND, the combined capital is 3,709 billion VND, the enterprise capital is 417.6 billion VND and the people's contribution is nearly 500 billion VND.

Up to now, the whole Soc Trang province has achieved an average of 18.53/19 NTM criteria in a total of 80 communes. Of which, 64/80 communes have met NTM standards (accounting for 80%), it is expected that by the end of 2023, 6 more communes will meet NTM standards; 3/10 district-level units will meet NTM standards (Nga Nam, Vinh Chau and My Xuyen), and by the end of 2023, 2 more districts will meet NTM standards.

As the first district in Soc Trang province to be recognized as a new rural district (in 2020), Mr. Dang Van Phuong, Secretary of the District Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of My Xuyen district, said that over the past 3 years, the whole district has mobilized more than 1,116 billion VND to build new rural areas. As a result, the appearance of the countryside has changed positively and clearly, the material and spiritual life of the people has been improved (the total number of poor households in the whole district is only 481 households, accounting for 1.17%).

The rural appearance in Soc Trang province is increasingly prosperous.

Up to now, the district has had 7/10 communes meeting advanced NTM standards, striving to have 10/10 communes meeting the standards by the end of 2024 to become the first advanced NTM district in Soc Trang province.

In the 3 years of 2021-2023, Soc Trang province has supported the construction of nearly 5,000 houses for poor households and households with housing difficulties, with a total cost of 241.5 billion VND, raising the rate of households with permanent and semi-permanent houses to 87.23%. By the end of 2022, the rate of poor households in rural areas will be only 4.75% (11,146 households), a decrease of 5,772 households compared to the beginning of the year.

In addition, Soc Trang has actively implemented the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Program, and to date, 235 products have been recognized as meeting OCOP product standards. Of which, ST24 rice has been recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as a 5-star OCOP product, 11 4-star OCOP products, and 172 3-star OCOP products...

The province has established a system of OCOP product display and introduction points with 8 stores across districts, towns and cities; introduced and promoted 114 products on e-commerce platforms; especially the province's e-commerce platform (soctrangtrade.vn) has been launched to bring OCOP products closer to consumers inside and outside the province.

Improve people's lives

With many creative methods, suitable to the local reality, the construction of new rural areas in Soc Trang has created a breakthrough, completely changing the face of the countryside. The most noticeable thing is that the infrastructure in hamlets, villages, and remote areas is increasingly spacious, green, clean, beautiful and safe.

Witnessing the transformation of his hometown, Mr. Lam Hoa Tha (Khmer ethnic group, residing in KoKô hamlet, Tan Hung commune, Long Phu district) said that 10 years ago, people in the hamlet mainly traveled along muddy dirt roads or rowed boats and canoes. In recent years, the State has paid attention to building spacious roads, so people are very happy, traveling and transporting goods are very convenient.

Up to now, the whole province of Soc Trang has had more than 96% of commune roads asphalted and concreted; 78% of hamlet roads and inter-hamlet roads hardened to ensure convenient car travel all year round. In addition, 100% of hamlets have national power grid, 99.3% of households use electricity regularly and safely; nearly 100% of people use clean water. The school system at all levels meets national standards at 82.21%; 80/80 communes have medical stations qualified for health insurance examination and treatment; the rate of collection and treatment of domestic solid waste reaches 61.9%.

In particular, agricultural, forestry and fishery production activities continue to develop strongly. In 2022, the growth rate will reach 7.71%, bringing in an export value of 1.4 billion USD. The value of cultivated and aquaculture products will reach an average of 224 million VND/ha.

Mr. Tran Van Lau, Chairman of the People's Committee of Soc Trang province, Head of the Steering Committee for national target programs of the province, said that from the achieved results, the province is promoting the national target program for new rural construction in a practical direction, not chasing after targets and achievements, the construction results must bring practical and sustainable results.

In particular, aiming at the goal of comprehensively improving the material and spiritual life of the people. To achieve this goal, the province is launching a movement to compete in building new rural areas as a "revolution" in agriculture, farmers and rural areas, aiming to change the thinking and awareness of the people, cadres, civil servants and public employees.