The community-based production support program (part of the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas) in Điện Biên Đông district has shown some positive changes for local people. The district has implemented 78 projects covering 1,151.68 hectares, with the participation of 1,474 households. Notably, 41 coffee planting projects have been established with an area of 625.33 hectares across 10 communes, involving 812 households. Additionally, 18 macadamia planting projects covering 274.43 hectares and involving 271 households have also been implemented. Other agricultural models such as late-ripening lychees, taro, red peanuts, green pumpkins, and purple cardamom have created new livelihoods for hundreds of families.

Nguyễn Trọng Huế, Head of the Sub-department of Agriculture and Environment of Điện Biên Đông district, stated: “The program has been consistently supported by the province and actively coordinated by various sectors, especially the involvement of people, which has been crucial in ensuring timely project implementation. The program not only creates sustainable jobs but also helps people increase their income and stabilize their lives.”

However, the district has encountered difficulties such as low disbursement rates of funds, with the funding plan for 2023-2024 needing to be extended into 2025. Mobilizing social resources, especially from businesses, has faced numerous challenges. The literacy rate is uneven, and many poor households are hesitant to contribute funding to participate in projects, which has affected the program’s expected effectiveness. Some local agencies have not proactively or effectively cooperated in implementing the program, delaying progress.

As one of the most disadvantaged mountainous districts in Điện Biên, Mường Nhé has been actively implementing the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. This is the first time the program has been implemented on a large scale, integrating multiple policies, projects, and components, and the locality is facing many difficulties. Although central guidance documents have been issued, they are general and lack synchronization, causing confusion in understanding and implementation at the district and commune levels.

The slow project proposal process, untimely reporting, and difficulties in encouraging people to participate in revolving fund models are some of the challenges. There is still a mindset of dependency on state support among some people, which reduces the program’s effectiveness. Additionally, the rugged terrain, harsh weather, unstable agricultural prices, and poor infrastructure are significant barriers. Some officials, especially local leaders, have not fully embraced their responsibilities, and the capacity of the staff is limited, impacting the program’s implementation. Communication efforts also need improvement and should be emphasized more in the future.

There are many obstacles in implementing the National Target Program’s projects, particularly in housing, agricultural land, and water supply (Project 1). Many areas have not conducted cadastral mapping due to lack of funding, and some households in remote areas do not have land use certificates, preventing them from benefiting from the program. Projects related to planning and organizing residential areas are also facing difficulties due to complicated procedures, such as creating detailed residential area plans and clearing land, which leads to delays in progress and fund disbursement. The agricultural value chain development projects (Project 3) use animal breeds not suited to local standards, as influenced by the Livestock Law. Encouraging successful households to join these projects and support poor and near-poor households has been challenging, as these successful households are not eligible for support policies.

For essential infrastructure (Project 4), although central support has been allocated for road construction and rural markets, the level of support is set at a uniform rate across all regions, which does not cover the high costs of materials and transportation in mountainous areas, creating difficulties for local authorities in balancing funds. The gender equality and social welfare project (Project 8) has faced issues in financial settlement due to discrepancies in guidance from the Women’s Union, which do not align with decisions from the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Finance. Some indicators, such as applying 4.0 technology in production or establishing cooperatives for women, have proven difficult as the localities have not prepared sufficient resources. Project 9 (developing ethnic-specific areas) requires large funding but lacks clear guidelines, making it difficult to access. Proposal 10, which aims to develop information systems for monitoring and supervision, has unclear investment sources, with no provided software or hardware, preventing implementation.

The implementation of the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in Điện Biên has exposed several obstacles, from policy mechanisms to local realities. To achieve the program’s practical outcomes, it is essential to improve the system of guiding documents, address implementation difficulties, and increase investment resources tailored to the characteristics of mountainous regions and ethnic minorities. Flexibility in management and coordinated efforts between levels of government will be key to ensuring the program’s success.