Springtime in the rice-growing region of Cat Tien.

From the low-lying areas along the Dong Nai River, where rice cultivation was once the almost sole livelihood of the people, Cat Tien commune is now transforming itself.

Cat Tien Commune Center

The rice fields still stretch endlessly, but behind that familiar green lies a modernized agricultural production system, a thriving economic life, and an increasingly prosperous, green, clean, and beautiful countryside. Cat Tien's journey forward has been built upon bold changes in production thinking, the unity of the people, and the systematic and persistent steps of the local government.

Originally considered the "rice granary" of the lower Dong Nai River region, Cat Tien has recognized that agriculture remains the foundation, but it is no longer fragmented production solely dependent on experience. In recent years, the locality has focused on expanding the area of ​​high-quality rice, seed rice, and safe rice grown organically, linked to consumption along the value chain and building the "Cat Tien Rice" brand. Currently, the entire commune cultivates more than 3,800 hectares of rice annually, yielding over 23,000 tons, not only contributing to food security but also providing a stable income for thousands of farming households.

Not content with just rice cultivation, Cat Tien has proactively restructured its agriculture towards diversification and increased added value. Areas of less productive farmland are gradually being converted to growing fruit trees, mulberry trees, cocoa, coffee, rubber, and more.

Many model gardens and safe production practices linked to traceability have been established, creating a more diverse and flexible agricultural landscape in the face of climate change impacts.

Alongside agriculture, the trade, service, and small-scale handicraft sectors have also gradually developed, creating further impetus for the local economy. The entire commune currently has hundreds of business households, dozens of enterprises and cooperatives operating stably, providing employment for over 2,000 local workers. The average per capita income is projected to reach approximately 66 million VND/person/year by 2025, demonstrating the improving living standards of people in the rice-growing region and the narrowing gap between rural and urban areas.

The transformation of Cat Tien is not only reflected in the growth figures, but also in the smooth concrete roads, the rows of green trees along the riverbanks and roadsides, and the increasingly neat, clean, and beautiful residential areas.

The rate of household waste collection and treatment has reached over 90%; the movement to build a cultured way of life has been widely maintained, with nearly 98% of households achieving the title of "cultured family". The school system and health stations meet national standards, and health insurance covers 100% of the population, creating a solid foundation for social security and the quality of life of the people.

In particular, poverty reduction efforts have yielded many positive results. The multidimensional poverty rate has decreased to approximately 0.46%; dozens of temporary and dilapidated houses have been demolished, helping many families to settle down and focus on their livelihoods. Behind these figures lies the spreading spirit of striving for improvement, sharing, and solidarity within the rural rice-growing communities.

Spring arrives in the vast, open fields where egrets fly freely. Today, Cat Tien is not only a fertile agricultural region but also a rural area undergoing a powerful transformation. From traditional production to market-oriented commercial agriculture, from tranquil villages to modern residential areas, Cat Tien is gradually asserting its position as a dynamic and innovative rural area – strong in economy, beautiful in landscape, and increasingly livable, where rural life blends with the aspiration for sustainable development in this new spring.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/mua-xuan-tren-vung-dat-lua-cat-tien-423146.html