Overcoming numerous difficulties and challenges, Thanh Hoa's agriculture sector "reached the finish line" in 2024 with a series of significant achievements. According to Cao Van Cuong, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Thanh Hoa, these results are a positive sign in the roadmap for developing a modern agricultural sector, in line with trends and practical requirements.
Adding new milestones
According to the head of the provincial agricultural sector, 2024 will be a significant year, marking the first time Thanh Hoa has received a direct rice export order. This is a new milestone for the agricultural sector in the province, which boasts one of the largest rice-growing areas in Central Vietnam and the North. Last November, Lam Son Sugar Corporation signed an order to export nearly 300 tons of rice to Singapore. This is Japonica J02 rice, produced from a purebred rice variety of Japanese origin, grown using modern agricultural technology and VietGAP standards. This event is considered highly significant because rice is a key agricultural product of Thanh Hoa – a province with 230,000 hectares of rice paddies, accounting for a large portion of its total annual food production, which consistently maintains around 1.5 million tons. Notably, this 300-ton official export shipment is only a small part of the 35,000-ton order that the company has signed with its partner, which will be exported in the near future. The next shipments of rice are expected to be exported by the partner, Kematsu Company of Japan, to other demanding markets such as Australia and Japan.
The forestry sector also recorded a new success with the sale of forest carbon credits covering 393,361 hectares, generating nearly 200 billion VND in 2024. This is the result of many years of effort by the sector and forest growers to produce and care for forests according to stringent international standards. Alongside this, green farming models that reduce emissions are also being emphasized by businesses, localities, and farmers. Most notably, in late December 2024, Lam Son Sugar Corporation signed a cooperation agreement with Japanese businesses to implement a carbon emission reduction project for sugarcane growing areas. Accordingly, the two Japanese companies will work with Lam Son Sugar Corporation to implement a project using methods to improve and manage agricultural land, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in sugarcane production while increasing carbon sequestration in the soil. Starting in 2025, the project will be piloted on an area of 500 hectares, then officially launched commercially from 2026 and expanded to 8,000 hectares. This event not only opens up a new direction for development but also promotes sustainable agricultural development for Thanh Hoa province.
After many years of organization, the Thanh Hoa Province Agricultural Products and Food Safety Exhibition and Supply-Demand Connection Conference, held in October 2024, recorded record numbers. For the first time, the number of participating entities reached 260 booths showcasing hundreds of types of agricultural products, OCOP products, and regional specialties. Over the five days, the event attracted more than 18,500 visitors and shoppers, generating a total revenue of approximately 18.5 billion VND for participating entities and resulting in the signing of numerous long-term sales contracts.
In applying scientific and technological advancements to agriculture, in addition to many high-tech agricultural models, Thanh Hoa province has recognized and incorporated three new high-yield, high-quality rice varieties into its production structure over the past year. These are the two-line hybrid rice variety TBH222; and two three-line hybrid rice varieties, KH9C16 and TB456. This success contributes to bringing the cumulative figures to date, where the province has successfully researched and developed 12 rice varieties, imported and tested six new sugarcane varieties with high yield and sugar content; and restored five local crops: glutinous rice (Nếp Hạt Cau and Nếp Cẩm); Luận Văn pomelo; Vân Du orange; tangerine; and Kim Tân sugarcane. Simultaneously, the province has successfully applied tissue culture technology to propagate disease-free plants such as gerbera daisies, orchids, sugarcane, and bananas.
Over the past year, the Thanh Hoa Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has also made its mark in streamlining and simplifying its organizational structure in accordance with Resolution 18-NQ/TW of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The Department successfully merged three fishing port management boards: Lach Bang, Lach Hoi, and Hoa Loc into the Thanh Hoa Fishing Port Management Board, aiming for a more streamlined structure while still ensuring the fulfillment of assigned functions and tasks. The Thanh Hoa Irrigation Planning and Design Team was also merged with the Provincial Center for Domestic Water and Environmental Sanitation to reduce the number of subordinate units within the department. "This is a proactive measure by the department to reduce the number of subordinate units, although there has not yet been specific guidance from higher authorities," emphasized Cao Van Cuong, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Exceeding targets, moving towards modern agriculture.
In 2024, natural disasters caused damage to agricultural production; landslides and damage to transportation, irrigation, dike, and housing infrastructure in several localities within the province affected agricultural development. In livestock farming, the disease situation nationwide remained complex, especially in the four provinces bordering Thanh Hoa, all of which experienced outbreaks of African swine fever in pigs and rabies in dogs and cats, but Thanh Hoa managed to control the situation well. Thanks to the proactive and flexible leadership and management of the provincial and sectoral leaders, and the support of the business community and all sectors of the population, most agricultural targets were met or exceeded.
Agricultural production achieved a yield of 125 million VND/ha, an increase of 5 million VND/ha compared to 2023. Major crops continued to yield good harvests, with average rice yields reaching 61.3 quintals/ha, an increase of 1 quintal/ha compared to the plan. During the year, the province flexibly converted 1,578.2 hectares of low-yield, low-efficiency rice land, achieving 101.3% of the plan. To date, Thanh Hoa has 109 registered planting areas for rice, fruit trees, vegetables, etc., an increase of 40 registered planting areas compared to the same period. The province continues to maintain concentrated production areas linked to production and product consumption agreements, with a total area of over 80,000 hectares. At the same time, maintain and develop intensive farming areas and concentrated production areas that bring high efficiency and value, such as 150,000 hectares of high-yield, high-quality intensive rice cultivation, 20,000 hectares of intensive corn cultivation, 12,000 hectares of intensive sugarcane cultivation, 14,000 hectares of safe vegetables, 420 hectares of high-tech ornamental plants and flowers, 14,500 hectares of concentrated fruit tree cultivation, and 18,500 hectares of animal feed crops.
The fisheries sector continues to develop comprehensively and synchronously, encompassing both fishing and aquaculture, while combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and participating in the protection of maritime sovereignty. The total output of fishing and aquaculture in the province reached 219,702 tons, exceeding the plan by 3.1% and increasing by 1.9% compared to the same period last year. Specifically in aquaculture, the province continues to implement intensive whiteleg shrimp farming models using high technology, in greenhouses and net houses, covering an area of approximately 220 hectares, an increase of 50 hectares compared to 2023.
Along with successes in the livestock and forestry sectors, most of the industry's targets have been met or exceeded. The overall industry growth rate (VA) reached 4.31% (exceeding the plan by 1.31%). Food production in 2024 reached nearly 1.56 million tons. The area of land consolidation for large-scale, high-tech agricultural production reached 6,568.9 hectares (exceeding the plan by 6.2%). The forest cover rate of the province reached 53.86% (exceeding the plan by 0.06%). The percentage of rural households using clean water reached 98% (achieving 100% of the plan)...
The National Target Program for New Rural Development and the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Program have been decisively implemented, yielding significant results. In 2024, the province had an additional 2 districts and 17 communes achieving New Rural Development standards; 2 districts and 33 communes achieving advanced New Rural Development standards; 11 communes achieving model New Rural Development standards; and 120 OCOP products. By the end of 2024, the province had 15 district-level units achieving and completing the New Rural Development tasks; 377 out of 465 communes and 803 mountainous villages and hamlets achieving New Rural Development standards; 2 districts and 123 communes achieving advanced New Rural Development standards; 27 communes and 558 villages and hamlets achieving model New Rural Development standards; and 597 OCOP products recognized, including 1 five-star product, 60 four-star products, and 536 three-star products. The program has created a strong ripple effect and deepened in quality with many innovative approaches, making Thanh Hoa continue to be one of the leading provinces in the country in rural development. Most notably, and a highlight nationwide, is the movement of land donation and contribution to rural development.
According to the head of the provincial agricultural sector, "recently, there has been a trend of households, cooperatives, and businesses shifting from quantity to value in agriculture. Instead of producing what they already have, the sector and its stakeholders are gradually moving towards producing what the market needs. At the same time, they are moving towards high-tech agriculture, organic agriculture, circular production, multi-value production, and export-oriented agriculture. Many models and areas for producing clean agricultural products, specialty products, building product brands, and low-carbon emissions have emerged, such as: Cay Noi sticky rice (770ha), betel nut sticky rice (890ha), rice-fish farming (244ha), rice-worm farming (8ha), Van Du oranges (170ha), Luan Van pomelos (56ha), Ngoc lychees (47ha), and rice production with reduced emissions and carbon credits (90ha). The sector has identified several tasks to develop modern agriculture, such as building key production areas for each sector and strengthening efforts to attract investment." "Businesses develop high-tech agriculture, applying and transferring science and technology into production..."
Text and photos: Le Dong
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/dau-an-noi-bat-nong-nghiep-xu-thanh-234805.htm
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