CC BY
15
PROMOTING THE POSITION OF FARMERS IN THE CURRENT PROCESS OF INDUSTRIALIZATION AND MODERNIZATION IN THE RED RIVER DELTA OF
VIETNAM Khuat Thi Vang
Khuat Thi Vang - PhD Student, VNU UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES, HANOI,
Lecturer,
PEOPLE'S POLICE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND LOGISTICS, BAC NINH PROVINCE, SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
Abstract: nowadays, the process of industrialization, modernization, and international economic integration in Vietnam requires national potential and promotes the human factor that is the primary resource and the goal of development. The Red River Delta is a key economic region and a political and cultural center. Therefore, its growth plays a significant role in the country's overall progression. Promoting the position and role of farmers nationwide in general, and farmers in the Red River Delta in particular, as the subject of the process of industrialization and modernization of agriculture and rural areas is of particular importance. Keywords: industrialization, modernization, international economic integration , agriculture, rural areas, farmers, Red river delta.
ПОВЫШЕНИЕ РОЛИ ФЕРМЕРОВ В ТЕКУЩЕМ ПРОЦЕССЕ ИНДУСТРИАЛИЗАЦИИ И МОДЕРНИЗАЦИИ В ДЕЛЬТЕ КРАСНОЙ РЕКИ
ВЬЕТНАМА Хуат Тxи Ванг
Хуат Txu Ванг - аспирант, ВНУ Социально-гуманитарный университет г. Ханой, преподаватель, Университет технологий и логистики Народной полиции, Провинция Бакнинь, Социалистическая Республика Вьетнам
Аннотация: в настоящее время процесс индустриализации, модернизации и международной экономической интеграции во Вьетнаме требует национального потенциала и способствует человеческому фактору, который является основным ресурсом и целью развития. Дельта Красной реки является ключевым экономическим регионом, а также политическим и культурным центром. Поэтому его рост играет значительную роль в общем прогрессе страны. Особое значение имеет популяризация положения и роли фермеров в целом по стране и фермеров дельты Красной реки в частности как субъекта процесса индустриализации и модернизации сельского хозяйства и сельской местности. Ключевые слова: индустриализация, модернизация, международная экономическая интеграция, сельское хозяйство, сельские районы, фермеры, дельта Красной реки.
UDC 631.171
Over the first two decades of the twenty-first century, Vietnam has achieved remarkable improvements in the Doi moi process and integration and has been a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The increasing foreign investment flows into Vietnam have accelerated industrialization and modernization, making it more vigorous. The process of industrialization and modernization has changed the distribution of productive forces in the entire national economy. It stimulates the growth of regions and territories by redistributing economic bases and spreading technological, cultural, and social progress. Besides, it creates much employment, raises the level of people's knowledge in the region, and develops manufacturing industries to meet the input needs of industry and service sectors. Finally, it provides better infrastructure for production and life and attracts domestic and international investment. With the characteristics of Vietnam, the process of industrialization and modernization in recent years has highlighted the dual nature of the economy. Firstly, the industry and service sectors have had high growth rates, but the agricultural industry still has a small and inefficient production scale with low productivity and quality. Secondly, the cities have improved a lot, but the rural area is changing slowly, and the development gap between urban and rural areas is increasing. Rural areas face various challenges, such as increasing social evils and unemployment. Solving this problem requires the efforts and attention of the Party, the State, social organizations, and the farmers themselves.
Being the central figure of rural society, farmers are the subject of economic, cultural, and social development. In the process of industrialization and modernization, the Party and State have had many policies to develop agriculture, farmers, and rural areas. They have strongly influenced the position of farmers. The first is the Resolution of the 6th plenary session of the 4th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (1979), on making production develop, especially agricultural production. The second is Directive No. 100 of the Secretariat (on January 13, 1981) on improving hiring and expanding "labor groups and workers to produce" in agricultural cooperatives. The third is the Resolution No. 10 of the Politburo (on April 5, 1988) on renewing the management of the agricultural economy by granting long-term use rights to farmers. It indicates that the Farmers' Association has become an autonomous economic unit, made a significant breakthrough for agriculture, and ensured the primary economic benefits of farmers. The fourth is Resolution No. 03/2000/NQ-CP dated February 2, 2000, on the farm economy. The fifth is the Land Law promulgated in 1987 and revised in 2001 and 2013. The sixth is the Cooperatives Law promulgated in 1996 and revised in 1996, 2003, and 2012. Lastly, the seventh plenary session of the 10th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, issued a Resolution on agriculture, farmers, and rural areas (on August 5, 2008) and affirmed: "Agriculture, farmers, and rural areas have a strategic position in the cause of industrialization, modernization, national construction, and defense, sustain socio-economic development, maintain political stability, ensure security and defense, preserve and promote national cultural identity, and protect the ecological environment." [2, p. 123]. Based on the viewpoint of the seventh plenary session of the 10th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, on June 4, 2010, the Prime Minister has approved the National Target Program on Building New Rural Areas between 2010 and 2020. To implement Resolution No. 25/2021/QH15 dated July 28, 2021, of the 15th National Assembly on approving the policy for investment in the National Target Program on Building New Rural Areas from 2021 to 2025, the Prime Minister has approved this National Target Program. The guidelines and policies are widely deployed to farmers, creating a profound change in their thinking. Farmers in the Red River Delta have become aware of their economic autonomy in household and business production. They are also mindful of democratic rights and ordinances in developing economies and building the political system, local culture, and new countryside. They have shown their position directly, actively, and creatively in economic development, industrialization, and modernization of agriculture and rural areas, built culture and politics, and maintained political security, social order, and safety.
After nearly 40 years of renovation, the country has achieved remarkable achievements, in which the agricultural economy and farmers in general and the Red River Delta, in particular, have made extraordinary contributions. The 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (January 2021) emphasized: "It's vital to promote the main role of farmers in the process of agricultural and rural economic development associated with new rural construction. Building a class of peasants should be associated with agricultural enlargement and the process of rural industrialization and urbanization, enabling rural residents to become urban ones without leading to large-scale migration. Besides, it is necessary to have a reasonable policy to transfer rural labor to non-agricultural sectors. Finally, it's to mobilize and promote other resources to implement the model of ecological agriculture, modern countryside, and "civilized" farmers [1, pp. 166-167].
The Red River Delta is one of the key economic regions of Vietnam. It consists of 11 provinces and municipalities directly under the Central Government and Hanoi (the capital of Vietnam). Hanoi is considered the political, administrative, and cultural center, the center of service exchange, trade, and tourism of the northern provinces, and an important traffic hub of the country and the world. Although the Red River Delta is one of the two biggest granaries in Vietnam, the industry is not balanced. At the same time, it has a small area and a large population. Its agricultural land area and rural labor are the lowest in Vietnam, and it is under heavy pressure from underemployment. Currently, it is a hot spot and a typical example of agriculture, rural areas, and farmers. Due to the massive industrialization, urbanization, non-compliance with the planning, and the appearance of thousands of domestic and foreign enterprises in Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi, etc., the agricultural land in the Red River Delta and the Southeast region has been acquired for developing industrial zones. The agricultural labor force also accounts for a large proportion, and the most important means of production (i.e., land) is lost, making it more challenging to ensure living and working conditions for farmers. On the other hand, the progress of industry, cottage industry, handicrafts, and traditional craft villages in rural areas has not yet taken advantage of their potential and strengths. It has not yet attracted labor from the agricultural sector, leading to many rural workers going to the cities to make a living. The land area is limited, and the labor force is large but unprofessional and has not met domestic and foreign investment enterprises' requirements, especially in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Moreover, commodity agriculture has developed, but it is not commensurate with the potential and advantages of the region. Attracting investment and accelerating agricultural and rural industrialization and modernization with a new growth model, implementing national goals on building new rural areas, training jobs, and increasing income for farmers are the leading concerns for all government institutions and farmers themselves, the subject of the current process of sustainable rural development in the Red River Delta.
In my opinion, it is indispensable to actively implement the following essential solutions to continue promoting the role of farmers in the Red River Delta in the current industrialization and modernization process.
Firstly, it is improving the people's intellectual standard, welfare, and the self-reliance of farmers.
For the rural areas of the Red River Delta, in addition to realizing the national goal of universalizing education and building infrastructure for electricity, roads, schools, and medical stations, it is essential to improve the quality of education and training and health care, culture, and information. Next, it is necessary to build a system of local cultural institutions, a civilized lifestyle, a healthy culture, and a green, clean, beautiful, safe environment, repel social evils, promote rural economic restructuring, and develop industries and services. The transfer and application of scientific and technological advances should be enhanced. The efficiency of agricultural and rural industrialization and modernization should be associated with the model of ecological agriculture, modern countryside, and "civilized" farmers towards sustainable growth, creating jobs and lifting incomes for farmers in the whole region. Besides, well-resolving the beneficial relationship between businesses, communities, and farmers plays an indispensable role. It is important to plan and invest in the evolution of craft villages and focus on treating production waste to protect the ecological environment and people's health.
Raising the sense of self-reliance of farmers in general and farmers in the Red River Delta, in particular, has been a concern of the Party and the State of Vietnam in the cause of the revolutionary struggle because: "Farmers are the main force." In the current Doi Moi process, they not only ensure the domestic demand for food and boost exports but also contribute to ensuring global food security. The agricultural sector and Vietnamese farmers have adapted to the market economy and international integration in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution very early. This is the outstanding achievement and merit of the Vietnamese class of peasants, including the contribution of farmers in the Red River Delta. Their political position is increasingly enhanced. Therefore, in addition to strengthening the economic foundation, they need to actively improve the intellectual standard, livelihood, and the will to be self-reliant, contributing to consolidating the political system and maintaining political stability in rural areas.
Secondly, it is to implement the people's democratic rights and protect the rights and interests of farmers.
After summarizing and evaluating the implementation of the 12th National Party Congress's Resolution, the 13th National Party Congress affirmed: "The people's right to mastery will be better exercised in deciding major and consequential issues of the country. It is necessary to focus on implementing democracy in both direct method and appointing representatives, especially at the local level, ensuring publicity, transparency, and accountability." [1, p. 71]. Because the Red River Delta has a crucial position, all government authorities must continuously perform democracy, respect, ensure, and protect human rights. In addition, it is principal to continue to improve the legal system and the local government apparatus to provide the good implementation of the democratic rights of farmers. Promoting democratization and implementing publicity and transparency in social management under the motto: "People know, discuss, do, monitor, and benefit" are encouraged. The processes and policies for socio-economic development directly impact their lives and permanent residences. Moreover, it is needful to perfect policies on agriculture, farmers, rural areas, and new rural construction and solve social problems. Completing, renewing, and promoting the role of existing conventions and regulations in each locality also plays a significant role.
Thirdly, it is developing commodity agriculture along the value chain and implementing social security policies for farmers.
In recent years, agricultural development in the Red River Delta has achieved great achievements. However, the arable land of farmers is still divided into small and discrete pieces, making it challenging to apply scientific and technological advances. Labor productivity has improved but remains low, and product quality has not met the demand for consumption and export. Furthermore, climate change is negatively impacting agriculture. Therefore, in the upcoming time, the Red River Delta provinces need to "restructure agriculture, expand agriculture and rural economy in association with building new rural areas under ecological agriculture, modern countryside, and "civilized" farmers." [1, p. 124]. Developing large-scale commodity-producing agriculture, applying high-tech, and promoting the region's potential and available advantages should be paid attention to. It is indispensable to closely link agriculture with industry and services, and production with preservation, processing, and consumption. Building a brand and improving the efficiency of agricultural products in value chains are also highly appreciated. We also need to encourage the enlargement of the household economy and the cooperative economy, whose core is the cooperative. It is needful to attract enterprises to invest, improve state management to raise productivity, quality, production efficiency, and adaptability to climate change, and ensure food hygiene and safety. Next, it is required to thrive a system of agricultural and rural infrastructure in the region, connect rural areas with urban ones, and encourage the National Target Program on building an enhanced new rural area. Building a new life and the countryside as a model and protecting the ecological environment play a vital role.
It is necessary to actively and flexibly implement hunger eradication and poverty reduction programs, provide vocational training, solve employment problems, and provide knowledge related to agricultural production and development, natural disaster prevention and control, disease prevention, and risk prevention in
production for farmers. It is recommended to continue innovating and promoting agricultural extension, training, and helping farmers access the varieties of plants and livestock with the high economic efficiency of other deltas and countries with developed agriculture. Exploiting the State's policies on supporting capital for farmers and actively assisting those in the Red River Delta to have health insurance are urgent tasks.
Lastly, it is promoting the role of executive committees of the party hierarchy, authorities, and Farmers' Associations from central to local levels.
Raising awareness and responsibility of party organizations, cadres, and party members in rural areas of the Red River Delta when promoting the position of farmers is a substantial duty. In addition, it is crucial to propagate and concretize undertakings of the Party, policies, and laws of the State on agriculture, farmers, rural areas, and new rural construction and implement them effectively in localities. The contingent of cadres and party members in rural areas must be pioneers and be exemplary in all aspects for farmers to follow. Moreover, officials who violate the Party's rules must be strictly punished and excluded from political organizations.
It's a good idea to consolidate Farmers' Associations at all levels, and focus on building a team of specialized staff with an appropriate structure. It is vital to continuously innovate the method of operation towards practicality and efficiency.
All levels and ministerial agencies in the Red River Delta provinces, especially the agricultural sector, Farmers' Associations, and farmers need to thoroughly grasp the content, urgency, importance, and criteria of the National Target Program to build new-style rural areas. Until 2025, "We must strive to have at least 80% of communes meet the standards of rural areas. (Northern mountainous areas need to reach 60%, and the Red River Delta must gain 100%). In which, about 40% of communes have to meet the standards of advanced rural areas, and at least 10% of communes must meet the standards of model rural areas. In particular, no commune meets less than 15 criteria. The whole country needs to have at least 50% of districts, towns, and provincial cities meet the standards of new rural areas and complete the task of building new rural areas. (The northern mountainous region shall gain 30%. The Red River Delta must reach 90%, and the North Central Region shall be 45%. There will be 17 to 19 provinces that the Prime Minister will recognize that they have completed the task of building new rural areas. (The Northern mountainous region must have one province, and the Red River Delta needs to have 10 provinces)." [3] Therefore, it's great if all provinces in the Red River Delta mobilize the power of farmers, the subject of the process of building new countryside, encourage their entrepreneurial aspiration and getting rich to create a high standard of living and good quality of life and preserve the traditional cultural values of Vietnamese rural areas as well as those of Red River Delta.
In summary, promoting the role of farmers in the Red River Delta in the process of industrialization and modernization is improving the intellectual standard and patriotism, striving for prosperity, strength, democracy, justice, and civilization, raising the will to eliminate poverty and backwardness, innovating models and ways of production, applying science and technology, fulfilling the desire to get rich, building modern countryside, and creating "civilized" farmers.
References / Список литературы
1. Communist Party of Vietnam. Document of the 13 th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Volume 1. Hanoi: National Political Publishing House, 2021.
2. Communist Party of Vietnam. Documents of the seventh plenary session of the 10th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Hanoi: National Political Publishing House, 2008.
3. Decision approving the National Target Program on building new rural areas from 2021 to 2025. [Electronic
Resource]. URL: http://nongthonmoi.gov.vn/Pages/quyet-dinh-phe-duyet-chuong-trinh-muc-tieu-quoc-gia-xay-dung-nong-thon-moi-giai-doan-2021 -2025.aspx/
(date of access: 18.05.2022).
