Developing efficient and sustainable agriculture

In early 2025, we had the opportunity to visit My Thuy port. Before reaching the white sand area with many promises of breakthroughs in the near future, the flat asphalt arterial road took us through peaceful villages nestled in the middle of vast rice fields in season. The closer the rice fields were to Dien Sanh town, the rice began to take root, dotted with green carpets that were pleasing to the eye. The closer the rice fields got to the sea, the more water still covered them, as vast as the scenery of a miniature "Dong Thap Muoi". We suddenly understood that, to develop an effective and sustainable agriculture from such unique natural conditions, Hai Lang people must have a new way of doing things, a way that is different from other places.

Dien Sanh organic rice, Hai Lang district is well received by consumers - Photo: D.T

Creating development from hardship

50 years ago, at exactly 6:30 p.m. on March 19, 1975, Hai Lang district - the last district of Quang Tri province - was completely liberated. Having the opportunity to talk with revolutionary veterans and district leaders of different periods, we imagined a desolate Hai Lang just after coming out of the war that lasted more than 20 long years.

The economy of the whole district at that time was extremely weak. The initial infrastructure was almost non-existent. Agriculture was monoculture of rice, self-sufficiency, backward farming techniques, no irrigation system, rudimentary farming tools, and low level of labor skills of the people.

In addition, most of the land was abandoned, there were still many mines and bombs left, the people's lives faced many difficulties, especially the problem of food. Nearly 100,000 people, including a part of the people who evacuated to the liberated areas of Gio Linh, Cam Lo, Quang Binh province since 1972, returned to their homeland, some people from the South returned to their homeland, life was extremely difficult. Most of the people had no houses, their fields and gardens were abandoned, food and some essential foods all depended on the State's relief.

In that context, the Hai Lang District Party Committee led the People to determine: Agriculture is the main economic sector of the locality, it is necessary to urgently re-plan 13,000 hectares of land capable of cultivating agricultural crops in the plains, accounting for 26% of the natural land area. The area for growing two rice crops and more than 3,000 hectares of land for growing agricultural crops were immediately put into production. By the end of 1975, the whole district reclaimed and restored an additional 9,500 hectares of rice fields, bringing the cultivated area to over 16,300 hectares in the winter-spring crop of 1975-1976.

During this time, the district focused on capital and human resources to complete sand-blocking dyke projects in Hai Ba, Hai Que, Hai Duong communes, Hai Tri, Hai Vinh, Hai Son pumping stations, anti-flooding and acidification stations in Hai Tho, Hai Thien, renovating Hoi Yen and Cau Nhi bridge pumping stations, Phuoc Mon dam, Vinh Dinh river dredging project, Cuu Ha estuary, Nhung river trough dam... put into use, partially meeting the irrigation and drainage needs of thousands of hectares of cultivated land.

Thanks to those efforts, the district's agricultural production situation has had a positive change. The average rice yield increased from 1.2 tons/ha in 1975 to 2.5 tons/ha, the total food output in paddy equivalent reached 31,000 tons in 1976.

Along with that, livestock farming, forestry, and aquatic and seafood exploitation also began to recover, creating momentum for development in the following stages.

Towards circular, high-tech agriculture

Reviewing a few features of the agricultural production situation 50 years ago in Hai Lang to see that, in any difficult circumstances, the Party Committee and People of Hai Lang always had strategies and solutions to overcome and achieve good achievements.

50 years later, facing the requirement to promote organic agricultural production, natural farming, circular agriculture, high-tech agriculture, and linkage in agricultural product value chains under the direction of the Provincial Party Committee, Hai Lang district has also had outstanding creative ways to bring high efficiency.

To effectively exploit the land potential and natural conditions, Hai Lang district has deployed agricultural production in all three main areas: the marine economy - sand area, the plain area and the hilly area. In the plain area, currently on the total annual cultivated area of ​​17,188.5 hectares, the average rice yield of the whole district is 64.67 quintals/ha, Hai Lang farmers have obtained a total grain output of over 90,300 tons.

In particular, the production value per unit area has reached 126 million VND/ha. Hai Lang is also a leading district in high-quality rice production with over 9,500 ha; the large-field production area is nearly 1,700 ha. The district continues to focus on promoting organic production, VietGAP, linking production and rice consumption with businesses and has linked consumption of 467.1 ha.

On the hilly areas, the district has made its mark of change by strengthening the direction of concentrated orange growing. Up to now, the whole district has 97.8 hectares of concentrated oranges, of which 25 hectares have linked consumption, have been certified with 3-star OCOP, with an average income of 250-300 million VND/ha/year. Some households are continuing to apply organic and intensive orange growing methods, using water-saving irrigation systems.

Along with orange trees, pepper trees (30 hectares), rubber trees (over 47 hectares) are also bringing income to the people. Taking advantage of natural conditions, people in the district have also focused on investing in raising the buffalo herd to about 936 heads, the cow herd to nearly 4,000 heads, of which crossbred cows account for over 90%. The program to improve the cow herd by artificial insemination has mated 1,100 cows as of October 2024.

The district has also focused on directing the development of large timber plantations and FSC-certified forests; the first FSC certificate has been granted to 3,242.03 hectares, bringing the total FSC forest area of ​​the district to 3,592.6 hectares. In 2024, the district has exploited 2,431.21 hectares of concentrated production forest; timber output is 197,392.8 tons (equivalent to 246,7841 m ³ ); pine resin output is over 21.5 tons. Maintaining forest cover at 42.09%.

Hai Lang has a 12 km coastline, with advantages in fishing and aquaculture with a total of 705 boats, including 662 motorboats with a total capacity of 9,120 CV and 143 rowing boats. The seafood output for the whole year of 2024 will reach about 4,500 tons, of which seafood has an export value of 1,451 tons.

In the district's orientation, to create a breakthrough in agricultural production, by 2025, Hai Lang strives to have over 255 hectares of crops cultivated according to organic standards, including more than 250 hectares of organic rice, natural farming linked with processing and building the Quang Tri organic rice brand. By 2030, there will be over 510 hectares of crops cultivated according to organic standards, including more than 500 hectares of organic rice, natural farming organized in production according to the value chain.

By 2030, the rate of organic livestock products will reach at least 10% of the total livestock products of the district. At the same time, the area of ​​organic and ecological aquaculture will reach 100%; 100 hectares of FSC-certified forests and high-quality raw material forests will be developed; at least 15% of agricultural cooperatives will apply high technology, digital transformation in production, processing, and develop sales channels with electronic traceability systems...

Half a century has passed since Hai Lang district was liberated. From the desolation and ruins of the post-war period, Hai Lang has made many efforts and had appropriate and effective solutions to gradually develop with its own potential and internal strength.

Entering a new development period, the district has mobilized and integrated resources, proactively and resolutely implemented tasks and solutions to innovate production organization methods, orient production to meet the goals of green growth and sustainable development. Promoting agricultural production in the direction of organic farming, natural farming, linking production according to sustainable agricultural value chains, continuing to affirm the role of the agricultural sector as a "pillar" for the economy of Hai Lang district.

Dan Tam

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/phat-trien-nong-nghiep-hieu-qua-va-ben-vung-nhin-tu-hai-lang-191061.htm