Leveraging advantages to attract investment in agricultural processing

(ĐN)- Dong Nai, known as Vietnam’s livestock hub, also leads in developing large-scale, high-quality specialized crop areas. Its strategic location and abundant industrial labor force further enhance its appeal to investors in agricultural processing.

Fruit processing at a company in Dinh Quan district.

The provincial government has issued multiple plans to boost the livestock slaughtering and agricultural product processing industries. The focus is on improving processing capacity, diversifying products, promoting trade, and expanding domestic and export markets, reinforcing agriculture as a key local strength.

Thanks to modern, biosecure livestock farming with large herds, Dong Nai attracts investors in livestock product processing. In 2023, the province produced 676,500 tons of main meats, up 4.6% from 2022, including pork (473,200 tons), poultry (165,600 tons), and buffalo and beef (5,300 tons). Construction of two agro-processing industrial clusters—Phu Tuc in Dinh Quan and Long Giao in Cam My—is underway.

Livestock farming also emphasizes hygiene and safety, with 5 disease-safe zones, 657 certified safe facilities, and 125 farms meeting VietGAP standards by end-2023. Traceability systems have been implemented, tracking over 62,500 pigs and registering 276 farms in management software.

On crop production, by October 2024, annual crop area reached nearly 141,000 hectares, including rice, corn, sugarcane, and vegetables. Perennial crops cover about 171,500 hectares, with fruit trees occupying 78,300 hectares (45.6%) and industrial crops nearly 93,200 hectares. Major industrial crops supplying processing include rubber, cashew, coffee, pepper, cocoa, and sugarcane. Cashew production topped 48,000 tons, pepper 27,100 tons, and rubber latex nearly 34,000 tons.

Aquaculture also presents opportunities, with 8,700 hectares and 74,600 tons output in 2023, attracting processing investment.

Dong Nai hosts strong agro-processing sectors: 50 feed manufacturers (4.3 million tons/year capacity), 45 slaughterhouses (2,800 large animals and 48,500 poultry daily), and 47 meat processing firms handling 100,000 tons annually. Additionally, around 150 small-scale meat processors and 130 companies with 230 small facilities process plant-based products such as cashew, coffee, cocoa, fruits, and vegetables. Five seafood processors have a 15,000-ton annual capacity. While many firms use average technology, key sectors like cashew, coffee, fruit processing, and centralized slaughterhouses deploy advanced equipment.

Cam My district alone counts 96 processing establishments, including 13 companies and 3 cooperatives, leveraging large industrial and fruit crop zones. The district’s 23,300 hectares of industrial crops rank it among the province’s top areas. The Long Giao agro-processing cluster (54 hectares) is planned to attract more investors soon.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development collaborates closely with local authorities to implement policies and programs supporting sustainable agro-industry growth. These include slaughterhouse networks (2021-2030), sustainable forestry product development (2025-2030), and ambitious livestock processing plans targeting regional and global standards by 2030.

Dong Nai aims to increase the proportion of processed meat to 25-30% by 2025 and 40-50% by 2030, signaling strong commitment to industrial-scale, high-tech agricultural processing.

Reported by B. Nguyen