Dong Nai develops agriculture commensurate with its new status

As Dong Nai officially becomes a city, the locality is entering a pivotal stage of transformation with new opportunities, strengths and development momentum. In addition to being proud of Dong Nai  as the industrial locomotive of the country, local residents expect the city to develop its agricultural sector commensurate with its new status and growth pole for the region and the entire country. Besides, people also have many enthusiastic opinions for the development of the city.

Organic rice growing area in Thanh Son commune. Photo: Phuoc Tho

Dong Nai is widely recognized as one of the country’s major hubs for pigs and poultry farming, while also ranking among the country’s leading localities for large-scale specialized farming areas producing commodity crop production, including durian, bananas, cashew nuts and pepper.

Pham Van Hieu, Director of Hoang Anh Cooperative in Binh Phuoc Ward:

Building cooperatives worthy of the new city

The cooperative purchases hundreds of tons of fresh cashew apples each year that would otherwise be discarded, and processes them into value-added products such as vegetarian fish sauce, fermented cashew paste, cashew juice and cashew wine. The cooperative currently has a four-star OCOP product for cashew cake and a three-star OCOP product for salted roasted cashew nuts, while pursuing four-star certification for its cashew fish sauce product. The cooperative has partnered with an enterprise that consumes its processed cashew products in large quantities for domestic distribution, while also aiming for export markets. The cooperative’s biggest challenge is access to capital for investing in modern processing lines capable of meeting export standards. I hope that Dong Nai city would introduce

preferential credit policies and special financial support mechanisms to help cooperatives expand and become model cooperatives, contributing to local socio-economic development.

Hoang Dinh Hop, Deputy General Director in charge of the Southern region at Que Lam Group Joint Stock Company (JSC) (Ho Chi Minh City):

It is necessary to build a green and circular agricultural brand for the city.

Since 2022, Que Lam Group JSC has cooperated with the People's Committee of Dong Nai City to develop organic agriculture models. To date, organic farming practices linked to production and consumption linkage chains  have expanded in rice cultivation, fruit crops and pig farming, delivering strong economic efficiency. This impressive achievement is attributed to the strong support from the city government and local authorities, especially the Department of Agriculture and Environment, which have created all favorable conditions for farmers and businesses to implement organic linkage chains.

In the coming time, the enterprise wishes to continue cooperating with Dong Nai City to replicate organic agricultural production models, bringing practical benefits to both farmers and consumers in the city. Farming is not easy, and organic farming is even more difficult. I hope that Dong Nai City, especially its agencies, departments, and local authorities, will have practical and long-term support mechanisms and policies to ensure the long-term and stable maintenance of these linkage chains. This will promote the role of the farming community and consumers in jointly developing and building a green, circular agricultural brand for Dong Nai City.

Nguyen Ngoc Tien, a resident in Loc Ninh Ward:

Expectations for more job creation and better social welfare

Local residents are delighted that Loc Ninh has been upgraded to ward status as Dong Nai becomes the country’s seventh city. This is an important milestone, demonstrating Dong Nai's strong development in recent times, while creating more trust and expectations for the people in a new development phase. The administrative unit upgrade will create momentum to promote urban infrastructure, trade - services, as well as improve the quality of life for the people.

I expect that when Dong Nai becomes a city, Loc Ninh's appearance will become increasingly spacious and modern; the material and spiritual life of the people will continue to improve. People also hope that the city leaders will continue to pay attention to job creation, ensure social welfare, maintain security and order, and create conditions for the locality to develop comprehensively and sustainably in the coming time.

Nguyen Van Bich, a disabled athlete of Dong Nai City:

Continuing to contribute to Dong Nai sports

In recent years, sports in general and parasports in Dong Nai in particular have continuously strived, making their mark at many domestic and international tournaments. These proud achievements are thanks to the close attention of city leaders at all levels in ensuring adequate nutrition, wages, training equipment, and timely rewards for athletes in accordance with regulations.

Dong Nai becoming a city is not only a source of pride for the people but also opens up many new development opportunities for the sports sector, especially parasports. We are very excited and hope that in the coming time, local leaders will continue to invest more in high-performance sports, create more training and competition conditions, and take care of the lives of disabled athletes so that we have more motivation to contribute and bring high achievements to our homeland Dong Nai.

Vo Kim Dung, a resident in Dau Giay Ward:

Aspiration for a modern and livable city

Dong Nai’s elevation to city status is not only an important administrative milestone but also demonstrates the comprehensive development of the economy, infrastructure, and people's lives in recent times. In Dau Giay Ward in recent years, the road system has been synchronously invested, many residential areas, schools, medical facilities have been built, and commercial - service activities have developed vibrantly. People clearly feel the positive changes in their daily lives.

I hope that the people’s quality of life will continue to be improved, and Dau Giay Ward will receive stronger investment in traffic infrastructure, drainage systems, greenery, parks, and cultural institutions so that people have a better living environment. Along with the general development of Dong Nai City, Dau Giay area will become a dynamic, civilized urban area, with more job opportunities for local workers.

Truong Sy Liem, a resident in Tran Bien Ward:

Being proud and more responsible every day

Dong Nai today has changed dramatically with an increasingly complete transportation system, many modern urban areas and industrial parks, and an increasingly improved quality of life for the people. In particular, large projects such as Long Thanh Airport open up many opportunities for Dong Nai to develop more strongly in the future.

As a young citizen, I think I need to live more responsibly, comply with the law, protect the environment and continue learning to contribute to local development. I also hope local authorities will pay greater attention to the lives of the people, especially by creating more green spaces, playgrounds for teenagers, improving the quality of education, and solving environmental pollution problems. I believe that when the government and people work together, Dong Nai will not only be an economically developed city but also a livable and proud place for every citizen.

By Group of Reporters - Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha