New-style rural development: Breakthrough from digital technology

The implementation of the national target program on new-style rural development has significantly transformed rural areas across the province. The city’s rural infrastructure has been comprehensively invested in and increasingly perfected, meeting the demands of development.

Proactive and creative solutions in implementation

Duong Van Minh, a resident of Bach Dang commune in Tan Uyen city, proudly speaks of the transformation in his hometown: "Thanks to the new-style rural development program, all the roads in our commune are now paved with concrete or asphalt, making transportation, production and daily life of people much more convenient. Flowers planted along the roadsides add to the beauty of our village. "The lives of the people in the commune are becoming more prosperous and our hometown is flourishing”, Mr. Minh shared. "My family always strives to develop our household economy, contributing to the local development”.  

According to provincial Steering Committee for National Target Programs, the new-style rural development program has become a widespread and deeply impactful movement. It has engaged the entire political system, local communities and businesses, creating momentum for rural economic growth. Under the program, Binh Duong has focused on integrating resources to develop modern, synchronous infrastructure that meets the needs of both residents and businesses. Along with a strong commitment to completing essential infrastructure, localities have restructured the agricultural sector to drive rural economic growth, enhancing the quality of rural residents’ life and narrow the development gap between urban and rural areas.

Pham Van Bong, Director of provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment affirms that Binh Duong has considered new-style rural construction as an ongoing mission—one with a starting point, but no endpoint. To date, all communes in the province have met advanced standards on new-style rural construction, with four communes achieving standards on model new-style rural status. Through proactive and innovative approaches, Binh Duong has significantly improved rural infrastructure, expanding and upgrading numerous facilities. High-tech and organic farming models have also been promoted, contributing to changing the local rural image.

Enhancing quality through digital technology

To improve the quality of new-style rural development, provincial People's Committee has recently issued a plan to implement a digital transformation program aimed at building smart new rural areas by 2025. The goal is to establish a unified and synchronized new-style rural construction program on a digital platform, ensuring that at least 90%, 80% and 60% of province/district/commune levels, respectively are processed online. Additionally, 100% of localities and units will use document management software and all communes will meet the standards for information and communication as well as public administration under the province's new-style rural criteria for the 2021-2025 period.

To narrow the gap between rural and urban areas, Binh Duong is implementing a smart new-style rural construction plan by 2025. This plan focuses on three key criteria—governance, economy and society via information technology solutions. A major priority is the completion of a comprehensive database system for agriculture, rural area and farmers, which will facilitate the management of planting area codes and product traceability. Additionally, in order to enhance the competitiveness of agricultural products, particularly those under the OCOP ("One Commune, One Product") program, Binh Duong is developing multiple online platforms and virtual reality applications for trade promotion. Farmers are encouraged to bring their products to e-commerce platforms, apply online payment solutions and collaborate with technology enterprises to implement digital contracts, e-invoices…

As of now, more than 2,000 organizations and individuals have registered to participate in e-commerce platforms while 17,000 organizations and individuals in the agricultural sector have created accounts for buying and selling on these platforms. Binh Duong aims at having 70% of communes applying information technology in agricultural production, farm management, plantation zoning and market access by 2025. Regarding the development of a digital society in the new-style rural construction program, Binh Duong strives to ensure that by 2025, at least 50% of local administrative units (at the commune and district levels) provide at least one essential service and collect opinions from residents and communities on the program’s outcomes via online applications. Additionally, 1 or 2 communes will be piloted as smart new-style rural communes and e-commerce communes at the goals of the digital transformation program for smart new-style rural construction for the 2021-2025 period.

In the coming time, Binh Duong will continue effectively implementing regional planning, ensuring the execution of economic-social development strategies, urban development plans, rural territorial organization in line with the localities' orientations and potential. The province will also prioritize the implementation of the OCOP program, the development of agricultural and rural tourism, science and technology programs, digital transformation, the promotion of smart new-style rural areas, environmental protection, food safety…

Reported by Thoai Phuong-Translated by Kim Tin