Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy.

Everywhere in Ninh Thuan, people are joyfully welcoming the spring of 2024 with the joy of many achievements, the province's GRDP growth increased by 9.4%, ranking 9th out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide. In the bright economic picture, the agricultural sector continues to affirm its role as a pillar of the economy. The growth rate of the entire industry's production value is estimated at 13,683.9 billion VND, an increase of 4.55% compared to 2022, an increase of 4-5% compared to the plan, contributing significantly to the overall growth of the province.

The breakthrough of agriculture has demonstrated the flexibility and innovation of the leadership thinking of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee in restructuring the agricultural sector towards applying high technology (CNC) for specific products adapting to climate change. Many central and provincial policies supporting agricultural development of strategic significance have been put into practice, encouraging organizations and individuals to implement effective production models, creating high-quality products to meet market demand.

The orchid farm in Lam Son commune (Ninh Son) is invested in high-tech agricultural production. Photo: VM

The same land, the same product, but when Lam Son commune (Ninh Son) organized the implementation of a rural tourism development model associated with fruit garden tourism according to Decision No. 1386/QD-BNN-VPDP dated April 6, 2023 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, it created a significant increase in income for growers. Mr. Vo Xin in Lam Binh village is a typical example of getting rich from growing green-skinned grapefruit, mangosteen, rambutan, mango... associated with garden ecotourism. In the new spring sunshine, his fruit garden attracts many visitors. Just counting green-skinned grapefruit, on average, each month yields about 1.5-1.8 tons, tourists and traders buy at the garden for 30,000-35,000 VND/kg, after deducting costs, Mr. Vo Xin earns a profit of more than 40 million VND. He was excited and said: The fruit garden will attract more tourists and bring higher profits during the Lunar New Year 2024.

The model of developing rural tourism associated with fruit garden tourism is being replicated in many localities throughout the province. Taking advantage of the typical microclimate, Thai An Agricultural Cooperative, Vinh Hai Commune (Ninh Hai) invested in production according to the model of growing grapes in greenhouses using CNC with a scale of 0.5 ha and developed into a commodity product, while linking with many households participating in consumption according to the value chain with an area of over 100 ha, serving local tourism. The Cooperative invested in a spacious gate and signboard of the fruit garden to welcome many visitors, earning high income from selling fruit in the garden. The profit from implementing the model and effective services has significantly changed the lives of the Cooperative members.

In 2023, the agricultural sector will open a new direction by focusing on building production chains to ensure stable product output and overcome fragmented farming; 67 agricultural value chain links have been built, including 35 large-scale production chain links. The organization of production and business chain links in agriculture continues to be innovated to suit the market, large-scale commodity production, many linkage models between producers and enterprises and cooperatives have been widely deployed. From the implementation of the Program to support the development of collective economy and cooperatives in Ninh Thuan province in the period of 2021-2025, functional sectors and localities have supported the construction of 4 typical agricultural cooperatives, 13 agricultural cooperatives applying CNC linked according to the value chain. Visiting the melon farm in Phuoc Tien commune (Bac Ai) of the South Central CNC Agricultural Cooperative, Mr. Nguyen Trong Hanh, director of the Cooperative, said: To meet the increasing demand of customers, the Cooperative cooperates with farmers to produce melons in greenhouses, on a scale of 2 hectares. The Cooperative's melon products have been granted a growing area code, meeting export standards, promptly serving the needs of consumers during the 2024 Lunar New Year.

Farmers in Phuoc Hai commune (Ninh Phuoc) cooperate with businesses to grow green asparagus according to the value chain, bringing high economic efficiency. Photo: Tien Manh

The One Commune One Product (OCOP) program is focused on implementing in conjunction with the application of science and technology to create diverse, rich, quality products with beautiful packaging designs and traceable origins. The whole province has 186 OCOP products; of which, 27 products have achieved 4-star rating, 159 products have achieved 3-star rating. Ninh Thuan OCOP products have expanded thanks to many innovative promotional activities and creative ways; the consumer market continues to grow. The domestic market is expanded through the development of consumption channels, increasing e-commerce, and applying many creative solutions to promote the circulation, consumption and export of agricultural products. Lunar New Year is the time when OCOP product production facilities in the province promote production and supply of goods to the market.

To promote the development of high-tech agriculture, in 2023, the Provincial People's Committee directed the implementation of procedures to attract businesses to invest in broodstock shrimp production projects, deep-sea high-tech marine farming projects, and high-tech medicinal plant cultivation projects and transfer of medicinal plant cultivation technology. At the same time, the Department of Science and Technology was directed to develop a project to develop sustainable agricultural production in the Tan My irrigation system with a scale of about 4,000 hectares to attract investment in building a model high-tech agricultural area in the period of 2024-2025.

CNC agricultural production has improved thanks to the province's focus on directing resources, policy mechanisms and creating favorable conditions for businesses to invest and develop. Thereby, attracting 6 large-scale enterprises outside the province to act as the central nucleus, linking with farmers' cooperative organizations in production, processing and consumption of products; there are 38 CNC agricultural projects operating effectively. Up to now, the CNC agricultural production area is 565 hectares, reaching 113% of the plan; the concentrated production area meeting the proposed conditions and criteria as CNC agricultural areas has been recognized by the Provincial People's Committee in 3 areas. The average CNC agricultural production value is 938 million VND/ha, reaching 134% of the plan, with CNC melons and grapes alone reaching more than 1.2 billion VND/ha/year.

Hydroponic vegetable growing model in greenhouse of farmers in Bac Phong commune (Thuan Bac). Photo: Hong Lam

In the last days of the year, in the areas growing green asparagus, melons, grapes, apples,... using CNC, the atmosphere of labor and production is more bustling than usual. The fields full of spring are in harvest season, bringing high profits. Talking with Mr. Hung Ky, Director of Tuan Tu General Service Cooperative, it is known that before the New Year, local people received good news: An Hai CNC vegetable production area was recognized by the Provincial People's Committee with a total area of 130 hectares. To achieve this result, the vegetable production area received attention from the province in investing in synchronous traffic and irrigation infrastructure, the Cooperative organized production according to the value chain, applied advanced technology, biotechnology, new varieties to ensure high productivity and quality. Continuing to maintain the achieved criteria and improve the quality of the criteria in An Hai CNC vegetable production area, in the vegetable crop serving Tet, the stages of care, watering, fertilizing, adjusting temperature and humidity are all operated on the same pre-installed application. Production data is also updated weekly, clearly showing the process of vegetable, root and fruit production in the garden, indicating the specific planting and harvesting dates of the garden plots to ensure compliance with regulations. For many years, An Hai commune has not only been known as one of the most dynamic and creative localities in agricultural production in Ninh Phuoc district, but is also famous for many specialties, creating a very unique value for the coastal area. Thanks to suitable soil and the hard work of farmers, vegetables have become one of the main products of the district.

Every spring, the agricultural sector reaps more achievements. Entering 2024 with a new mindset, the entire sector confidently strives to maintain a production value growth rate of 4% compared to 2023, continuing to affirm its role as a pillar of the economy.

Tuan Anh

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