(VOVworld) – Hanoi has taken the lead nationwide in implementing the national new rural development program with 50 of its communes having fulfilled all 19 criteria of the program. After 3 years implementing the program, early half of Hanoi’s total 386 communes have completed most of the program’s 19 criteria. This success is due to Hanoi’s efforts to rezone fields to boost agricultural production. VOV’s Nguyen Nhung reports….

On a recent visit to Cu Khe commune in Hanoi’s Thanh Oai district, 80-year-old Trinh Thi Huu Khoat, who now lives in Hanoi’s downtown Dong Da district, was amazed to see so many changes in her hometown. She recalled that just a couple of years ago, roads in her hometown were unpaved and muddy while there was insufficient electricity. Khoat said she contributed money to Cu Khe’s efforts to repair roads, rezone fields, and upgrade the irrigation system to boost local agricultural production as part of the national new rural development program. Khoat told VOV: "It’s totally different now. All the roads have been paved and high-voltage light poles erected along the roads, making it much easier to travel when it’s dark. Cars can now reach every home in the commune. It’s obvious to see that living conditions have improved remarkably."

This is thanks to Hanoi’s determination to rezone fields to boost agricultural sproduction and upgrade the local infrastructure, according to Nguyen Cong Soai, head of Hanoi’s Steering Committee for the National New Rural Development Program, said: "Our policies to rezone fields and upgrade the local infrastructure have paid off. Although rezoning fields is not among the program’s 19 criteria for Hanoi, it’s still very important as it was part of efforts to restructure the city’s agriculture and boost production."

Rezoning fields has boosted productivity in many farming areas that had with low productivity in the past. Many farmers have shifted to growing other crops in addition to rice, doubling their incomes. Dinh Quan San, Chairman of the Dong Lo communal People’s Committee in Ung Hoa district, said: "Rezoning fields has helped local farmers restructure their production. They grow rice and other crops and raise fish and cattle at the same time, which is more effective and generates higher income. An improved irrigation system has given them more leisure time. Local farmland has expanded to 70 ha from 40 ha before the fields were rezoned."

100% of the roads in Hanoi’s rural areas have been paved, and more than 90% of rural people now have access to clean water. Rubbish collection has become more efficient. Hanoi is implementing successful new rural development models across the city and intends to make them even more effective.