Grounded in a solid foundation, Dong Nai Farmers’ Association confidently enters a new term

The 2023–2025 period marked strong developments in agriculture, and farmers’ associations and movements, establishing a solid foundation for the farmers to confidently enter a new phase of development.

Delegates at the Provincial Farmers' Association Congress for the 2025–2030 term engage in discussions during a break. Photo: Huy Anh

Looking back over the past three years in Dong Nai, clean, organic, and high-tech agricultural production models have continued to emerge. The traditional seasonal approach to farming has gradually given way to an agricultural economic mindset closely linked to markets and value chains. Rural areas, from infrastructure to livelihoods, from landscapes to community cultural life, have continued to be elevated. More importantly, the role of farmers as key players has become increasingly evident as they join hands in shaping a new, sustainable, and livable image for Dong Nai.

 Innovating to meet real needs

Communication and outreach work during the past term has shifted from a focus on quantity to an emphasis on effectiveness and the practical needs of members. Communication is no longer a one-way flow of information but has become a channel for dialogue, where farmers’ issues are identified earlier and responded to more quickly. Expanding communication platforms, increasing interaction, and tailoring content to specific localities have enabled farmers’ associations at all levels to stay closer to grassroots realities: what crop farmers need, where livestock farmers face difficulties, and how markets are fluctuating. At the same time, the application of information technology and the maintenance of online connectivity within the two-tier local government model have created a more flexible mode of administration, reducing information delays. As a result, communication is no longer merely about delivering messages; it has become an integral part of the capacity to accompany farmers and address concrete issues at the grassroots level. 

At the grassroots level, the new approach is clearly reflected in the spirit of using each specific task as a measure of effectiveness.

Nguyen Tho Dam, Chairman of the Farmers’ Association of Binh Phuoc Ward, emphasized: “Innovating the work of the association is not merely about changing methods, but about renewing the mindset of serving farmers. At all levels, the association has shifted strongly from broad-based mobilization to addressing concrete tasks, closely aligned with farmers’ production, livelihoods, and market needs while strengthening the application of digital technologies in management, operations, communication, and the connection of agricultural product consumption.”

 From the perspective of organizational quality, the system of sub-associations and groups forms a sufficiently extensive network to stay closely connected to the grassroots level. However, the priority for this term is the transition from quantity to quality, moving toward substantive impact. This is the key to enhancing member appeal, as farmers will only maintain long-term involvement when the association delivers real value to their production and daily lives.

One important benchmark of the 2023–2025 period has been the capacity to integrate resources. Capital has been expanded in a coordinated manner through the Farmers’ Support Fund, the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, and Agribank, creating greater scope for household group models and linked projects. The value of this capital lies not only in its scale, but in its project-based utilization, which helps control risks and improve investment efficiency.

Technically, the series of in-depth training programs on cashew cultivation, along with integrated courses covering cashew, rubber, poultry farming, and other areas, have demonstrated an encouraging approach: bringing farmers closer to established standards. When standards become embedded in daily production practices, agriculture can truly gain access to high-quality markets and modern distribution channels.

In other words, Dong Nai has, in recent years, developed a relatively comprehensive support structure: capital for investment, technical expertise for standardization, and organizational capacity for linkage. Strengthening market connectivity in the 2025–2030 term will enable the association to complete the support chain from production to consumption, creating an efficiently functioning ecosystem.

 From movements to development capacity

The “Farmers Competing for Excellence in Production and Business” movement is one of the association’s 3 core movements. On average, more than 120,000 households register each year, with over 61,000 households earning recognition at various levels, reflecting the widespread aspiration for legitimate prosperity.

More profoundly, its significance lies in the spirit of mutual support, with more than 2,200 disadvantaged households receiving assistance in the form of seeds, capital, technical guidance, food, and man-days. This represents a form of community benefit generated directly from farmers’ own spirit of solidarity and mutual assistance. 

Ha Anh Dung (right), Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee; Nguyen Huu Nguyen (second from right), Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, and Chairman of the Dong Nai Farmers’ Association, visit the exhibition area of agricultural products within the framework of the 1st Congress of the Dong Nai Farmers’ Association for the 2025–2030 term. Photo: Huy Anh

From the perspective of exemplary farmers, recognition is not merely a personal honor but a commitment to spreading positive impact.

Le Loc Quan, a farmer from Dau Giay Commune, shared: “The title of Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer 2025 is a strong motivation for me to continue developing a high-quality beekeeping model and to link with and support fellow farmers in improving their incomes.”

In building new-style rural areas, association members have contributed more than VND 94 billion, nearly 26,000 man-days, and donated almost 510,000 square meters of land for rural road construction. These figures reflect a strong sense of consensus and the proactive role of farmers in shaping infrastructure and a modern rural landscape.

The focus of the 2025–2030 term will be 5 groups of solutions: grassroots-oriented communication; strengthening the organization and enhancing the quality of officials; promoting farmers’ role as central actors; increasing coordination while reducing administrative formalism; and improving the effectiveness of social criticism, supervision, and the protection of farmers’ rights and interests.”

Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the province, and Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial Farmers’ Association NGUYEN HUU NGUYEN

Building on the foundations already established, Nguyen Huu Nguyen, Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the province, and Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial Farmers’ Association, emphasized that in the new term, the farmers’ associations at all levels will focus on three breakthroughs: digital transformation in management and member support; improving the quality of association officials and renewing farmers’ production mindset; and promoting the collective economy and value-chain linkages in agriculture.

With the motto “Unity – Democracy – Creativity – Cooperation – Effectiveness,” and grounded in the achievements of the previous term, the Dong Nai Farmers’ Association enters the 2025–2030 period with renewed determination, standing alongside farmers as they move confidently into the digital economy, pursue legitimate prosperity, and contribute to building a green, prosperous, civilized, and modern Dong Nai.

By Ky Nguyen - Translated by Thu Cuc, Thu Ha