Building an agricultural economy with new stature

This is a solid foundation for repositioning and elevating the new province's general agricultural brand on the national and international market map, towards a modern, multi-value agricultural economic model.

Mui Dien (Dong Hoa town, Phu Yen province). Photo: Huynh Le Vien Duy

Dak Lak and Phu Yen have their own distinct agricultural identities, shaped by natural conditions and development history, and have both achieved impressive achievements.

In particular, Dak Lak is famous as the "capital" of coffee, with an area of up to 212,502 hectares and an estimated output of 550,890 tons in 2024, accounting for the majority of the province's perennial industrial crop area. In addition, other valuable products such as pepper (77,100 tons), rubber (30,769 tons), and cashew (36,850 tons) also contribute significantly to the province's agricultural export turnover.

With over 121,000 hectares, Dak Lak's rice fields are becoming the country's high-quality rice material region. Photo: Minh Nguyen

In particular, Dak Lak is considered the "second West" in terms of fruit trees, demonstrated by its area of 68,368 hectares, especially durian, which has risen to the top of the country with an area of about 35,000 hectares and an impressive output of about 317,690 tons (in 2024), mainly exported officially to the Chinese market, bringing high income to farmers and contributing greatly to the country's durian export turnover.

Agriculture has become an important “support” of Dak Lak’s economy, contributing nearly 42% to the province’s economic structure. The total value of agricultural, forestry and fishery products in the area (GRDP at 2010 comparative prices) reached over VND 23,520 billion, 1.4 times higher than the national average.

In the East, Phu Yen has the distinct characteristics of a coastal province. In 2024, the value of agricultural, forestry and fishery production (at 2010 comparable prices) reached more than 14,485 billion VND. Phu Yen's strategic advantage lies in the aquaculture sector, with 189 km of coastline and a system of lagoons and bays.

Processing tuna for export at a business in Phu Yen province. Photo: Ha Kieu My

Total output of exploitation and aquaculture is estimated at more than 87,118 tons in 2024, the value of aquatic product production (at 2010 comparable prices) reached 4,717 billion VND.

The marine exploitation industry stands out with an ocean tuna output of about 3,533 tons, affirming its position as one of the leading localities in exploiting this high-value seafood.

Aquaculture has also developed strongly, especially lobster with an estimated output of 2,260 tons, making Phu Yen the “lobster capital” of the country. The province is also aiming for organic agricultural production for export and applying high-tech models.

According to the analysis of Mr. Nguyen Minh Huan, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dak Lak, the merger of the two provinces will create a new agricultural space, with a large scale and a diverse ecosystem, complete from mountains to sea, from cultivation - livestock - forestry - aquaculture. At the same time, the difference in climate allows for the diversification of crops, livestock and flexible crop arrangements throughout the year, minimizing risks due to climate change and epidemics, contributing to strengthening food security...

Coffee is the main agricultural product of Dak Lak province. Photo: Minh Nguyen

The above advantages show that the combination of large-scale agricultural supply from Dak Lak and processing and logistics strengths of Phu Yen will create a strong driving force for the growth of the new province's export turnover. In 2024, Dak Lak achieved an impressive agricultural export turnover of nearly 1.7 billion USD. Dak Lak agricultural products have reached about 80 countries and territories, marking a step forward in the global value chain. Phu Yen also has remarkable export achievements, with total export turnover in 2024 reaching 333.4 million USD.

“With its own potential and advantages, the merger of Dak Lak and Phu Yen provinces will create a new development space by connecting forests and seas. Connecting forests and seas will create a corridor for the development of the marine economy, industries, agriculture, tourism, services, logistics, promoting investment attraction, contributing to the formation of a strategic development center in the South Central Coast - Central Highlands region”.

Deputy Secretary of Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of Phu Yen Provincial People's Committee

Dak Lak and Phu Yen are both provinces whose economies are based on agricultural development - that is a common point besides their own characteristics.

Therefore, when merged, it will create a large-scale production area in the region, because just talking about rice production, Dak Lak province can become a large production province of the country, with 176,663 hectares and nearly 1.3 million tons.

And this is the basis for building new strong agricultural value chains of the province, which can attract large investors and create concentrated production areas. In particular, the Nam Phu Yen economic zone will promote the development of agricultural production and processing facilities that are favorable for Dak Lak province after the merger.

With the seniority of a former "commander" of the agricultural sector of Dak Lak province - Mr. Nguyen Hoai Duong commented: The merger of Dak Lak and Phu Yen is not simply a matter of combining area or population, but a "launching pad" to create an agricultural economy with new stature and value.

Combining the plateau's large-scale production strengths with the coastal province's processing, logistics and diverse marine products, the province has a golden opportunity to reposition itself on the global agricultural map.

The way forward is to develop multi-value agriculture, apply high technology and build a sustainable chain from farm to table, from mountains to sea.

To turn the vision into reality, it requires strategic planning, synchronous infrastructure investment and breakthrough policy mechanisms. When the agricultural "pieces" from the two regions are completed, the agricultural economy of the new province will have the opportunity to break through, bring sustainable prosperity and affirm its new position.

The Nam Phu Yen Economic Zone will promote the development of agricultural production and processing facilities to facilitate the new Dak Lak province. Photo: Ngoc Thang

From a management perspective, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dak Lak province Nguyen Minh Huan emphasized that the combination of forest and sea will create conditions for the development of the value chain of "raw material - processing - export". Not only that, the merger opens up opportunities for agricultural development associated with tourism, especially agricultural - cultural - ecological tourism. The strategic vision for the new province is to shift from purely agricultural production to developing a modern, sustainable and more deeply integrated agricultural economy.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/tin-noi-bat/202505/kien-tao-nen-kinh-te-nong-nghiep-voi-tam-voc-moi-4cc15e6/