Agriculture sector strives to overcome challenges

Following the merger of administrative units, the apparatus of the agriculture sector and communes has made significant efforts to overcome difficulties, streamline operations, and proactively implement solutions to restructure and innovate their operating models, ensuring that professional tasks continue without disruption. As a result, the sector has maintained strong growth with many notable achievements, creating a solid foundation for meeting the year’s targets.

In particular, the agricultural sector is prepared to leverage the province’s post-merger advantages to develop agriculture in a modern, sustainable, and multi-value direction.

Vo Thi Hien (far right), owner of Co Hai Clean Pepper Production Facility in Dak O commune, introduces the commune's key agricultural products to delegates visiting the exhibition area of agricultural products and OCOP products at the Dak O Commune Party Congress, 2025-2030 term. Photo: B.Nguyen

Overcoming difficulties to achieve many important results

In the first seven months of 2025, Dong Nai province’s agricultural sector achieved several important results: the GRDP of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries increased by nearly 4%; forest cover reached approximately 25.3%; and the poverty rate, based on national standards, fell to 0.26%. Across the province, 560 linkage chains for the production and consumption of agricultural products were established. In addition, the New Rural Development Program and the One Commune, One Product (OCOP) Program recorded positive outcomes. Crop and livestock production grew and developed well, in line with planned targets.

Alongside its advantages, the agricultural sector continues to face numerous difficulties and challenges. According to Nguyen Van Thang, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, natural disasters and climate change are expected to remain complex. At the same time, new epidemics affecting crops and livestock may emerge, impacting agricultural production. Notably, the global economic and political situation remains complicated and unpredictable, driving up production costs and the prices of agricultural input materials. In addition, competitive pressure in both domestic and export markets is intensifying, especially as countries impose increasingly stringent standards.

Nguyen Thi Hoang, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee, requested that the Department of Agriculture and Environment, along with localities, continue to vigorously implement agricultural restructuring toward modernity, efficiency, and sustainability. The focus is on adjusting crop and livestock structures to match ecological conditions and market demand, enhancing the quality of key products, and expanding organic production models and high-tech agriculture. This undertaking is the key to Dong Nai to increase added value and deepen its integration into the global value chain.

In each field of animal husbandry and cultivation, many difficulties and obstacles need to be resolved. Nguyen Truong Giang, Head of the Sub-Department of Livestock and Fisheries, proposed: Commune-level veterinary staff play an important role in livestock management, veterinary medicine, aquaculture, and animal disease prevention and control in the locality, and are also a bridge between state management agencies and the people, playing an important role in protecting animal health, ensuring food safety, and developing sustainable livestock. Currently, the disease situation in livestock and poultry is very complex; there are many potential risks of outbreaks. It is proposed that the Provincial People's Committee consider approving the allocation of the number and allowance for commune-level veterinary staff in the province after the two-tier local government arrangement until there is a resolution of the Provincial People's Council on the allocation of new veterinary staff to replace the old resolution.

Creating new momentum to attract investors

Following the merger of administrative units, Dong Nai province has many significant opportunities to develop agriculture: a vast agricultural land area of over 1 million hectares; a diverse ecosystem; favorable natural conditions with minimal impact from natural disasters; relatively fertile soil; and abundant water resources supported by a large irrigation reservoir system. Despite its great potential and many opportunities, the agricultural sector still faces numerous challenges and difficulties. It urgently requires preferential and timely support policies to create momentum for comprehensive development in the current context.

Nguyen Huu Nguyen, Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Dong Nai Province, and Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial Farmers' Union, remarked that through the actual work of the Farmers' Union with wards and communes, many difficulties in socio-economic development have been identified. One major issue is that a large area of land has been designated for bauxite mining projects, but no investors have been secured. Localities have proposed that the province review and reduce this planned area to allow residents more room to develop production activities.

Currently, while the agricultural sector benefits from many preferential policies, their implementation has not delivered the expected results. There is hope that these policies will be more effectively executed so that people can better access capital and support for production development.

Nguyen Minh Quang, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology, remarked that Dong Nai ranks among the leading provinces nationwide in several areas, including livestock, industrial crops, and fruit cultivation. The province has implemented numerous support programs to assist establishments in trademark registration, intellectual property protection, and the development of agricultural product brands. Dong Nai is home to many agricultural products with geographical indications, as well as a growing number of established product brands.

In the coming period, the Department of Science and Technology will continue to actively promote the implementation of these programs, with a particular focus on strengthening outreach efforts and further developing trademarks, brands, and geographical indications. In the agricultural sector, technology evolves rapidly; relying on outdated technology reduces competitiveness. The Department of Science and Technology stands ready to serve as a bridge for transferring scientific knowledge, technology, and techniques to farmers, farms, and businesses.

Localities in the province hope to be provided with policy mechanisms, especially investment in rural infrastructure, to create a favorable environment to attract investors. Tan Loi commune has an advantage in livestock development and has attracted many large-scale farms applying high technology. Currently, this locality still has a large land fund for livestock development. Le Cam Tu, Vice Chairman of Tan Loi Commune People's Committee, proposed: The Provincial People's Committee and departments should provide policies and development orientations for land use in the new commune, pay attention to allocating funds, and create conditions for the commune to establish planning and attract investment. To attract investors, the locality hopes the province will pay attention to supporting investment in the electricity system and infrastructure for the concentrated livestock farming planning area.

By: Binh Nguyen

Translated by Mai Nga-Minho