Dong Thap Promotes Organic, Circular Agriculture as Farmers Expand Income Sources
Dong Thap is expanding organic and circular farming, linking production to market standards and sales. One farmer combines coconut cultivation with livestock, recycling byproducts from both. The province also plans to improve the quality of key crops and expand export markets.
Dong Thap Province has made organic and circular agriculture a priority in its agricultural transition, developing growing areas for rice, fruit and pangasius that meet market standards. According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, the province has more than 135,000 hectares of fruit trees and more than 2,600 livestock farms. It also has 889 products meeting One Commune One Product (OCOP) standards: 704 rated three stars, 181 rated four stars and four rated five stars.
Trần Thanh Tâm, head of the provincial crop production and plant protection agency, said Dong Thap is expanding concentrated production areas that operate to standards and fulfill company orders. The province is linking the production of safe and organic agricultural products with growing area codes, traceability and sales partnerships, while promoting the use of agricultural technology.
In Lương Hòa Lạc Commune, Dong Thap Province, farmer Nguyễn Thị Liên has added 2,000 square meters of dragon fruit and 1,000 square meters of kumquats to her one-hectare organic coconut farm. She said the coconut farm brings in 180 million to 400 million Vietnamese dong a year, while the kumquat orchard earns 2 million to 3 million dong a month. She sells the dragon fruit to buyers who place orders.
Nguyễn Thị Liên grows other crops among the coconut trees on her organic farm.（VietVance）
Nguyễn Thị Liên makes organic fertilizer from fish and shellfish, grows bananas among the coconut trees to feed her pigs, chickens and ducks, and ferments the animals’ manure for use on her crops. The local farmers’ association said it plans to work with agricultural technicians to provide training in the circular economy and green production. A representative of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment said the province will improve its production and processing chains, raise the quality of fruit cultivation, expand the use of growing area and packing facility codes, and develop export markets.
Nguyễn Thị Liên raises chickens, ducks and pigs, using bananas grown among her coconut trees as feed.（VietVance）
Source: VietVance
