Young people take initiative in developing the agricultural economy

Amid the growing trend of labor migration to major urban centers, an increasing number of young people in Dong Nai are choosing a different path: returning to their hometowns to build careers in agriculture.

Nguyen Van Quy tends to his durian orchard as it enters the pre-harvest stage. Photo: Pham Hue.

Rather than simply inheriting their families’ traditional occupations, these young farmers are boldly applying scientific and technological advances while adopting innovative production approaches. Their journeys demonstrate that agriculture remains a “golden land of opportunity” for those willing to think creatively and take action.

Young people nurturing agricultural dreams in Dong Nai

In less than a month, the durian orchard of Nguyen Van Quy, 31, in Xuan Dong commune will enter the harvest season. The plump fruits, gradually reaching full maturity, signal a crop filled with promise. Across the more than two-hectare orchard, Quy remains busy inspecting each tree and preparing for the arrival of traders.

Few people know that before pursuing agriculture, Quy studied sports with the ambition of becoming a professional referee. However, after graduation, he decided to return home and continue his family’s farming tradition.

“At first, I had many doubts because most of my friends chose to work in big cities. But after returning home and helping my parents care for the orchard, I realized that agriculture still offers plenty of opportunities if you are willing to learn and innovate,” Quy shared.

“In recent years, local authorities have helped young people access preferential loans, participate in technical training courses, and connect with markets for their products. I hope to continue receiving support policies related to financing, technology transfer, and trade promotion so that I can confidently expand production and contribute to local economic development.”

Le Thi Nham, owner of Khanh An Greenery Nursery

Previously, the family orchard mainly cultivated coffee and pepper. After recognizing the economic potential of durian, Quy’s family gradually shifted its crop structure. In recent years, durian has become a stable source of income, significantly improving the family’s living standards.

As a young farmer, Quy benefits from easy access to new knowledge and technologies. In addition to learning from his parents’ experience, he regularly studies cultivation techniques online and through social media, attends training programs organized by the agricultural sector, and actively visits successful farming models to gain practical experience. According to Quy, young people possess both the physical strength and the ability to quickly absorb scientific and technical knowledge. With dedication and a willingness to learn, they can succeed in agriculture.

Beyond conventional farming methods, he is also researching ways to develop his orchard in accordance with organic production standards to improve product quality and meet increasingly demanding market requirements.

While also choosing agriculture as her entrepreneurial path, Le Thi Nham, owner of Khanh An Greenery Nursery in Trang Bom ward, has carved out a distinctive niche for herself. Instead of focusing on common seedlings, she specializes in large ornamental trees for urban landscaping and public works, as well as imported plant varieties of high economic value.

Drawing on knowledge passed down from her parents, Nham independently researched cultivation techniques and market trends before gradually establishing her own production facility. Although she faced significant challenges with capital, technology, and market access in the early stages, her perseverance enabled her to expand her business steadily.

“The seedling production process at our nursery follows a closed-cycle model. We start from seeds, develop them into seedlings and continue nurturing them into mature landscape trees, specimen trees and imported varieties with strong future potential,” Nham explained.

To ensure quality products for the market, every stage of cultivation is carried out under strict supervision. Irrigation, fertilization, humidity control, and pest management are closely monitored to ensure healthy growth before the plants leave the nursery.

Thanks to her determination in building a business through agriculture, Nham was awarded a certificate of merit by the Executive Committee of the Dong Nai Provincial Youth Union (now the Dong Nai City Youth Union) in 2025 for her outstanding contributions to advanced and model new-style rural area programs through production and business activities.

Supporting young people in agricultural development

Agricultural entrepreneurship always requires perseverance, as the sector is directly affected by weather, disease, and market fluctuations. Alongside young people’s own will and determination, support from organizations, associations, and government agencies has become an important source of strength, helping them feel more confident as they build their careers.

According to Le Hoang Phung, Secretary of the Trang Bom Ward Youth Union, Nham’s model is one of the locality’s most outstanding examples of youth entrepreneurship.

“In recent years, the Youth Union has connected this model with various startup projects, which have achieved positive results. Through successful examples like this, we continue to support young entrepreneurs, particularly innovative agricultural initiatives,” Phung said.

In addition to generating economic value, Khanh An Greenery Nursery provides stable employment for dozens of local workers. Jobs range from seed sowing and plant care to transportation and logistics. As a result, many local residents have gained additional employment opportunities, earning between several hundred thousand dong and approximately VND1 million per day.

In Xuan Dong commune, an area known for its agricultural strengths, the movement of young people developing agricultural businesses is also gaining momentum.

Dang Van Dien, Secretary of the Xuan Dong commune Youth Union, said many local young people have successfully developed specialty crops such as durian, bananas, yam beans, and various other effective farming models.

To support youth entrepreneurship, the commune Youth Union regularly organizes study tours and experience-sharing visits to successful economic models. It also coordinates with the agricultural sector, the Farmers’ Association, and relevant agencies to conduct technology-transfer programs and training courses on modern production methods.

From thriving durian orchards in Xuan Dong to seedling nurseries in Trang Bom, a growing number of young people are returning to their hometowns and helping transform Dong Nai’s agricultural sector. They are not only creating prosperity for themselves but also generating jobs, fostering an entrepreneurial spirit, and contributing to the continued development of their local communities.

By P.Hue – Translated by M.Nguyet, Minho