Dong Nai takes lead in developing circular agriculture

(ĐN)- Dong Nai province has a large agricultural land area, nearly 464,000 hectares in total, with more than 244,000 hectares actively used for agricultural production. The provincial agricultural sector is strongly focused on developing circular agriculture (CA), a global trend aimed at sustainable production and environmental protection.

Livestock waste is used as raw material for organic fertilizer production at Viet Farm Co. in Xuan Loc district.

The province prioritizes policies and technical guidance for CA. Being a leading livestock hub, Dong Nai is pioneering the application of digital technology in livestock farming within a circular economy model.

Agricultural waste, particularly from livestock and crop production, poses environmental risks. Statistics show that only about 20% of livestock waste is reused effectively, such as for biogas, composting, or animal feed, while the rest is discharged into the environment. Similarly, more than 80% of crop residues are either burned or discarded, causing pollution.

Farmers increasingly adopt circular agriculture by composting agricultural by-products into organic fertilizers. Farms collect livestock waste to produce biogas and organic fertilizers, contributing to waste reduction and income generation.

Dong Nai attracts investments from enterprises, cooperatives, and farmers to expand CA models. An example is Viet Farm Co., Ltd. in Xuan Loc district, which operates a closed-loop organic fertilizer production plant from chicken manure and dead chickens, processing up to 200 tons per day. The company plans to upgrade the system to 500 tons/day using advanced technology.

Another pioneer, Trong Duc Cocoa Company in Dinh Quan district, produces cocoa wine from cocoa pulp and turns cocoa husks into biochar, adding value and reducing waste.

Cooperatives such as Thanh Binh in Trang Bom district also practice circular agriculture by producing various export products from banana by-products, previously discarded after harvest.

The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development emphasizes CA development through technical training, digital technology application, and environmental sustainability. These efforts help increase farmers’ income, reduce pollution, and promote sustainable agricultural development in Dong Nai.

Reported by B.N