7.1 Conclusions
A significant assertion “New vision of rural development” stated by McLeod Rivera et al., (2003) is the most important proof for scientific analysis’
orientation in this PhD dissertation. “A new vision of rural development must extend beyond agriculture, recognizing the income potential and economic importance of diversified interests such as on-farm non-agricultural activities, ecotourism, cottage industries and off-farm activities. Physical infrastructure and also social infrastructure such as recreational activities are needed.”
(McLeod Rivera et al., 2003)
Because sustainable agriculture and sustainable rural development are the best solutions for almost countries which are ongoing a progress of achieving SDGs (of United Nations Agenda 2030 and of inheriting the possible learning of UNs Agenda 21) for rural areas. Those are also the encouragements of Vietnamese government and people in the National target programme in building new rural areas to making Vietnam as a modern industrialised country by 2020.
So I conceive that building new rural areas does not only build roads, drainage (sewage works), irrigated cannels, schools, residential houses, community halls …but also is the way for farmers and rural residents to access the goals of programme and to promote themselves to be confident, self-decisive, creative in a new dynamic and sustainable rural areas. This is not an investment project of state; it is the work, which farmers and rural residents should participate in as “stakeholder involvements” to have a better quality of life.
State/Government will support for the progress as a join-partner (or facilitator).
Therefore, the biggest difficulty is not only the expense of the programme, but it is the awareness of rural residents when they participate directly into process.
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Finding the visible outcomes of sustainable rural development is the objective of this PhD dissertation. So this section has reviewed the rethinking about sustainability in the 21st century of Adams (2006) with argumentation such as:
“The conventional understanding of sustainable development, based on the
‘three pillars’ model is flawed because it implies that trade-offs can always be made between environmental, social and economic dimensions of
“sustainability”; “The three ‘pillars’ cannot be treated as if equivalent.”
Because “the economy is an institution that emerges from society. The environment is different since it is not created by society … the environment underpins both society and economy.” Therefore, author stated such as
“Sustainability and sustainable development are effectively ethical concepts, expressing desirable outcomes from economic and social decisions...”
In my opinion, “The problems of ‘sustainability rethinking’” are new critical view to consider the recommendations of this PhD dissertation. I recognize that sustainable rural development is the needs for rural areas even the progress of achieving overall goals can be conflicted with natural well-being of rural residents under three socio-economic and environmental pillars.
Sum up, the sustainable rural development is a significant solution for any rural areas if it takes account three pillars of economic - social - environmental aspects into an effective synergy and interactive scheme under the nation’s efforts such as sustainable development strategies and RDPs.
7.2 Recommendation on policymaking
7.2.1 Learning lessons derived from the RDPs period 2007-2013 in the EU At the holistic point, Chapter 6 of this PhD dissertation verified RDPs in the EU period 2007-2013 to support learning lessons for analysis about rural development progress in Vietnam. Therefore, this section considers more EU view on agricultural development for developing countries to achieving sustainable development goals comprehensively in rural areas.
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The EU is strongly committed to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development) with a reaffirmation in the EU Consensus on Development such as “agricultural and rural development are key to reducing poverty, boosting food and nutrition security, stimulating economic growth and protecting the environment within the context of climate change. They can play a role in promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls.” In the fact that the EU has supported for efforts to enhance the resilience of households and rural communities. “Unleashing the potential of the rural economy is not only a national imperative for individual countries, but also an international one, as it will facilitate more sustainable resource use, contribute to reduced poverty and global stability, and reduce migratory pressures.” The EU is supporting countries and institutions to address numerous challenges and seize opportunities to further their development. “The EU is convinced that accelerated levels of responsible investments - domestic and international, public and private - in agriculture and agri-businesses need to be achieved to create the required dynamics for sustainable growth and resilience across the rural areas of developing countries” (European Union, 2019)
From this view, I recommend for the effectively implementation of National target programme in building new rural areas that policy making can apply the guideline of EU Consensus on Development to gain effective outcomes for rural living in Vietnam.
7.2.2 Finding effective impacts for policy making of building new rural areas in Vietnam
The decision-making is so important for management and organization of governments (or local authorities) in both of promulgation and critical evaluation for policies.
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(1) This PhD dissertation verifies the orientation of Vietnamese government for agricultural and rural development (ARD) through the priorities in the Vietnam SD Strategy period 2011-2020. Those priorities are important to shift the restructuring for agriculture and rural areas in Vietnam towards modernization and industrialization. They are listed in the Decision No.
432/QĐ-TTg of Prime Minister dated on April 12, 2012 such as: “promoting regional advantages; lifting quality of agricultural products; matching production with local and international markets and using efficient natural resources; raising income per hectare; improving rural living standard, developing sustainable craft villages”. Those priorities are correspondent with the objectives of PhD topic: finding specificities of building new rural areas and its impacts on sustainable rural development in Vietnam.
At the scale of decision-making, it is necessary to consider the long-term objectives for the plan of restructuring the agricultural sector in Vietnam towards improving value-added in value chain and sustainable development.
“The restructuring plan is viewed as a major turning point in agricultural policy. It signals an important change in emphasis: from extensive development based on quantity to one focused on quality and efficiency improvement. It also identifies a changing role for the government: from service provider to facilitator.” (OECD, 2015)
I have recommended for the objectives of restructuring of agriculture’s sector in Vietnam which should based on the methods of building new rural areas.
This restructuring should do a shift from conduction of top-down approach of Government policies to being an interaction projection by considering bottom- up approach of rural residents’ feedback during transition to the new rural areas. All objectives (of ARD plan) should contain connotation of sustainable rural development in which ARD have the coherent relation.
(2) This PhD dissertation considers some agrumentations of McLeod Rivera et al., (2003) because they can supply references for decision making of
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agriculture and rural development’s priorities in the Vietnam SD Strategy period 2011-2020 and for the long-term objectives in the ARP plan (since 2013) as well as the objectives of research topic of this PhD dissertation.
The first proposal was that “An interesting approach to local development is the World Bank's promotion of projects that empower rural people via community driven development, encouraging communities toward self- determination. …In which Governments have forged partnerships with other sectors of society.” (McLeod Rivera et al., 2003)
The second proposal was that “Strategies for agricultural and rural development require situational analyses and needs assessments.… Finding out about the livelihood systems of poor people is an essential first step in identifying the options they have for improving their lot, and that profiling of vulnerable groups is a useful way of doing this.” (McLeod Rivera et al., 2003) The third proposal was that “Strategies that include communication for rural development as a significant aspect of agricultural and rural development are sorely needed.” (McLeod Rivera et al., 2003)
Based on those proposals I recommend that Governments need to verify organizational scheme of agricultural and rural development policies. In which the organizational tasks should divide into two dimensions of “the coordination of multi-sectoral entities (public, private and third partner) and the implementation of programmes to assist diverse rural communities, farmers’
groups and households toward improved farm systems and livelihoods.
(McLeod Rivera et al., 2003)” These tasks need dialogue and cooperation to call for new attitudes and skills (of farmers, of rural population and concerns).
(3) Finally, to conclude for all recommendations on PhD topic I want to proposal for establishing an upgraded secondary data source of rural areas in Vietnam (with digital statistical data source, digital maps, and annual social- economic-environmental atlas) to serve for research and decision-making, monitoring and evaluating of rural development programmes.
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