Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ho Xuan Hung stressed this at a conference to review the programme, held in Hanoi by the programme’s Steering Committee on January 22, with the participation of Politburo members Truong Tan Sang and Ngo Van Du, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat, and representatives of relevant ministries, agencies, and localities.

According to the reports presented at the conference, there have been significant achievements made in 2010 with seven pilot communes meeting more than 10 out of 19 criteria.

Among the 11 communes the pilot programme was carried out, there have been good models of planning, mobilizing sources, developing production associated with planning of fields and infrastructure, improving people’s living condition, aligning farmers with businesses, and attracting investment in rural areas.

However, there still remain shortcomings in the implementation of the programme such as the inadequate involvement of the entire political system and the slow disbursement of capital.

In addition, localities have not paid enough attention to building appropriate production models and building a cultural lifestyle in the residential areas.

The pilot programme is aimed at testing methods and building 11 models of new rural areas before expanding it nationwide.