Hau Giang has become the first province in the Mekong Delta region successfully developing more than 20 communes into new-style rural areas with Dong Thanh commune joining the ranks on October 10. The recognition of Dong Thanh commune as a modern rural area also contributes to realising the province’s target that all district-level units have at least one commune recognised as a new-style rural area. Dong Thanh has focused on developing key crops and raising animals in accordance with local conditions, such as orange trees, pomelo trees and seedless lemons. The commune has more than 1,000 hectares of fruit trees, generating high value produce for local farmers. The commune’s household poverty rate dropped from over 11 percent in 2011 to 4 percent at present with its annual per capita income increased from 11.5 million VND (511 USD) in 2014 to 29 million USD (1,289 USD) currently. The commune is home to nine cooperatives providing high-quality seedling trees and expanding markets for local fruit products. Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Lien Khoa said Dong Thanh commune will do its utmost to eliminate poverty and develop the local economy in order to become the province’s role model in the new-style rural building drive. In 2014, as many as 785 communes nationwide, or 8.8 percent, fulfilled all 19 criteria of the programme; 1,285 communes reached between 15 and 18 of the criteria. The nation’s communes have satisfied an average of 10 criteria, double the 2010 average. Building infrastructure, improving production capacity, constructing public works, protecting landscapes and the environment, and promoting local traditions and cultural identities are among the criteria of new-style rural areas under the programme initiated by the Government in 2010.-VNA