Reviving agriculture in Da Kia

After expanding its boundaries and entering a new phase of development, Da Kia commune is facing a great opportunity for breakthroughs. With outstanding advantages in land, climate, soil, and water resources, Da Kia is considered a region with strong potential for developing large-scale commercial agriculture, high-tech agriculture, and a diversified rural economy.

However, the reality shows that this potential has not yet been exploited to its full potential. It is time for Da Kia to have clear directions and decisive steps to "awaken" the agricultural sector of the commune.

Great potential, but still untapped.

Da Kia possesses exceptionally favorable natural conditions for the development of large-scale commercial agriculture. Its mild climate, fertile soil, and abundant water resources create an ideal foundation for many high-value crops such as long-term industrial crops, fruit trees, vegetables, and large-scale farm and livestock models.

Currently, Da Kia commune has over 17,214 hectares of agricultural land, accounting for 87.7% of its natural area, with the majority being basaltic red soil – a nutrient-rich soil suitable for intensive farming. Notably, Da Kia is surrounded by the Be River and a diverse system of lakes such as Can Don, Sok Phu Mieng, Doi 7, Doi 8, and Binh Ha 1, providing a relatively stable water source for irrigation and agricultural production.

The Bé River and the system of lakes are distributed across Đa Kia commune.

In recent years, people have boldly switched to new crop varieties, applied clean farming techniques, accessed new technologies, and initially formed many effective production models. However, the commune's agriculture generally still has structural weaknesses: small-scale production is still prevalent; businesses investing in processing and consuming agricultural products are few and weak; linkages in the value chain lack sustainability; the application of high technology is still at the pilot stage; and infrastructure serving production and rural logistics is still not synchronized.

Although agriculture, rural areas, and farmers remain the "center of the socio-economic system," they are also the most vulnerable to climate change, market fluctuations, and natural disasters, leading to the risk of unsustainable development without fundamental and breakthrough solutions.

The challenge for Da Kia is not only to correctly identify its potential, but more importantly, to transform that potential into a real competitive advantage through strategic planning, production reorganization, and innovation in its growth model.

Major directions

When outlining the development vision for the next term, the Provincial Party Committee identified the restructuring of the province's development space into four new driving forces, ensuring the achievement of double-digit growth targets. This included the agricultural-ecological- tourism zone in the northeastern part of the province, which includes Da Kia.

Cam Cu - Hoya Phuc Do garden in Da Kia commune has been listed on an e-commerce platform.

The Party Congress of the commune also affirmed: "Focus on restructuring the agricultural sector towards modernization, applying high technology… developing farm economics, and production linkage models along the value chain." Da Kia will aim to reorganize production in a concentrated manner, closely linking farmers - new-style cooperatives - businesses. The commune will encourage the development of new-style cooperative models, expand the area of ​​standard-compliant cultivation, and aim to build a brand for Da Kia agricultural products.

The livestock industry must also be oriented towards increased concentration and disease safety, with the aim of attracting 2-3 large enterprises to invest in high-tech, large-scale, closed-loop livestock farms covering everything from breeding, feed, care, and consumption. This will be a crucial driving force to enhance the value of Da Kia's livestock industry.

Improving agricultural and rural infrastructure is considered a "sufficient condition" for development. The commune prioritizes upgrading rural transportation, internal field roads, and renovating the Binh Ha 1 - Binh Ha 2 irrigation canal system; ensuring electricity, telecommunications, and digital infrastructure for smart production. Another important direction is developing rural services, e-commerce, supporting product consumption, and linking OCOP (One Commune One Product) with digital transformation, aiming to help Da Kia agricultural products access a wider market.

Breakthrough solutions need to be implemented.

Based on its potential and political orientation, five breakthrough solutions can be identified to help "awaken" agriculture in Da Kia in the coming period, specifically:

First and foremost, it is necessary to replan the entire agricultural production space in a way that is consistent with the overall planning of the commune – considering this as the foundation for all subsequent breakthroughs. A well-structured plan will help clearly identify the advantages of each sub-region, avoiding spontaneous and fragmented production; and at the same time, create a basis for attracting businesses to invest, develop infrastructure, and form sustainable value chains. Based on this, the commune can build concentrated production areas for each key crop and livestock; plan raw material areas closely linked to processing businesses; and apply planting area codes and traceability systems to ensure standards, increase competitiveness, and enhance the value of agricultural products.

Bold investment in high-tech agriculture and digital transformation is crucial; this is not just a trend but a mandatory requirement if Da Kia wants to increase productivity, reduce costs, and create a breakthrough in farmers' income. Applying smart irrigation systems, using fertilizers efficiently, and deploying IoT (Internet of Things) sensors to monitor soil and water sources optimizes inputs, reduces waste, and mitigates risks from unpredictable weather. Solutions such as traceability software, farming process management, digitized production processes, and electronic logbooks not only help agricultural products meet market standards but also open the door to deeper participation in the value chain. As product value increases, productivity improves, and costs decrease, high-tech agriculture becomes the path for the locality to break through, escape the middle-income trap, and move towards a modern, high-value agricultural system.

The formation of new agricultural economic models such as digital cooperatives, circular-ecological farms, or experiential agriculture linked to rural tourism is not only an inevitable trend but also an urgent requirement to increase production value. These models help shift from a purely production-oriented mindset to an agricultural economic mindset, where value is created from standards, the ecological environment, services, and experiences. This is also a path for localities to move away from small-scale production, enhance competitiveness, and expand new development opportunities for rural areas.

We need to create more favorable conditions to attract businesses to invest in large-scale agricultural production, processing, and livestock farming – the real "eagles" coming to "nest" in the locality. With leading businesses, stable raw material areas can be formed; with processing industries, product value can be enhanced; and with professional consumption chains, farmers can feel secure in making long-term investments. The close linkage between businesses, cooperatives, and farmers through contracts will create a modern production ecosystem, reduce risks, and ensure harmonious benefits for all stakeholders.

Developing a modern agricultural workforce is a prerequisite for the effective operation of new models and technologies. Digital training for farmers, guidance on the use of advanced management and production technologies, and the formation of a team of "professional farmers" are strategic steps. Only when farmers change their mindset, grasp new techniques, and meet market demands can Da Kia's agriculture develop sustainably, transitioning from traditional production to a modern, high-value agricultural economy.

With its rich agricultural potential and a strong shift in development thinking, Da Kia is poised for a breakthrough. With synchronized infrastructure investment, clearly defined planning, widespread application of high technology, and the formation of strong value chain linkages, Da Kia has the potential to become a new agricultural bright spot in the region, making a positive contribution to the overall development of the province. Awakening Da Kia's agriculture means awakening the local strength, creating sustainable livelihoods, increasing income, and opening up a prosperous future for its people.

MSc. Ly Trong Nhan

Provincial Party Committee member, Party Committee Secretary, and Chairman of the People's Council of Da Kia commune.

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/tin-moi/202511/danh-thuc-nong-nghiep-da-kia-e2703b0/