Developing industrial crops in conjunction with processing raw material zones

Dong Nai is the country’s leading hub for industrial crops, with several crops ranking among the top nationwide in terms of area and output, including rubber, cashew, coffee, and pepper. These remain the key crop group that Dong Nai Province will continue to prioritize for development in the coming period.

Enterprises invest in automated processing lines for cashew nuts. Photo: Binh Nguyen

Specifically, under Plan No. 206/KH-UBND issued by the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee on the development of key industrial crops in the 2025–2030 period, the province will form concentrated, large-scale raw material zones for key industrial crops associated with the development of processing technology and deep processing, diversification of products and consumption markets, thereby promoting agricultural restructuring and socio-economic development.

Leveraging local potential and advantages

In 2025, the total area of key industrial crops in the province is expected to exceed 502,000 hectares. By 2030, the total area is projected to decline to just over 426,200 hectares, a decrease of nearly 76,000 hectares compared to 2025. Although the cultivation area of some key crops will shrink, output is expected to increase or decline only slightly, thanks to the use of new varieties and the application of scientific and technical advances to improve productivity.

By 2030, the area under rubber cultivation is expected to fall to just over 236,000 hectares, down more than 49,000 hectares, with output decreasing by nearly 80,600 tons compared to 2025. Cashew will drop to 163,000 hectares, down almost 12,000 hectares, but production is expected to increase by almost 46,600 tons. The pepper area is likely to decline to nearly 20,000 hectares, a reduction of approximately 3,300 hectares, while output is projected to increase by more than 9,700 tons. Coffee production is expected to shrink to approximately 1,000 hectares, down from nearly 4,900 hectares, resulting in a decline of just 12,000 tons.

The province’s development strategy for key industrial crops focuses on leveraging ecological advantages, improving product quality, adding value and competitiveness, protecting the environment, and adapting to climate change.

For many years, despite sharp price declines in pepper and coffee, Pham Xuan Hoan, a farmer in Lam San Commune, has remained committed to these two crops. Recently, he replanted his coffee area with new varieties that produce earlier harvests, offer higher yields, are more resistant to pests, and better adapt to increasingly complex climate conditions. In addition to applying new varieties and modern techniques, pepper and coffee growers are also shifting toward organic farming to promote sustainable development and ensure product quality that meets export standards for even the most demanding markets.

Expanding raw material zones linked to processing

Plan No. 206/KH-UBND of the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee sets targets for the concentrated and sustainable development of key industrial crops, strengthening linkages in concentrated production zones, applying scientific and technological advances in a synchronized manner across production, preservation, and processing, and developing products along value chains to enhance competitiveness.

As a leading cashew-growing province, Dong Nai has set an important target that by 2030, 100% of cashew kernel processing facilities will automate the shelling and peeling stages, and over 95% will apply and maintain certified quality management systems that meet both domestic and international standards. The province will also continue to attract and encourage investment in equipment upgrades and technological innovation for cashew processing, promote deep processing, and diversify cashew-based products such as refined cashew shell oil, alcohol made from cashew apple juice, and plywood from cashew wood and shell residue. The goal is to raise the deep-processing rate for cashew to 25–30%. For coffee, the province encourages investment in modern roasting and instant coffee processing plants.

Many localities are actively implementing these priorities. Nguyen Dai Thang, Deputy Secretary of the Cam My Commune Party Committee and Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, shared that the commune currently has 600 hectares of cashew under harvest, producing about 200,000 tons annually. Local enterprises have invested in deep processing and product diversification, with some products earning OCOP 4-star certification. Cashew products from the commune perform well in export markets and on e-commerce platforms. The locality aims to strengthen cooperative groups and cooperatives, and build value chains from cultivation through to procurement and processing, thereby continuously enhancing the added value of its key agricultural products.

To achieve sustainable development goals, the province continues to support and encourage enterprises to invest in advanced technologies and automated production lines, thereby reducing costs, improving product quality, and enhancing food safety.

From the processing business perspective, Hoang Chuan, Director of Hoang Phu Cashew Co., Ltd., noted that thanks to favorable soil and climate, cashew nuts from former Binh Phuoc Province are among the best in the world and have been granted geographical indication status. Therefore, the company invests in traditional charcoal roasting to build a local brand, while also seeking access to preferential credit and supportive policies to secure raw materials and expand cashew cultivation linked to processing.

By Binh Nguyen – Translated by Trieu Ngan, Minho