The average arable land per capita is increasingly limited, while the "labor-intensive" production mindset continues to hinder the economic growth of the province's rural areas. It's time for a revolution from "agricultural production" to "agricultural economy." In other words, it's time for a substantive transformation of crop and livestock structures, focusing on crops and livestock that truly deliver high, stable, and sustainable economic value.

The refrain "work hard to earn a profit"

For generations, rice and corn have been considered a "safety shield" for household economies . However, in the whirlwind of the market economy, that safety is becoming a barrier. Fertile fields now serve more as land preservation than as a source of profit.

The paradox is not limited to costs; the fragmentation of production resources is also hindering agricultural development in many localities, especially in the southern communes of the province.

With arable land in some areas reaching less than 300 m2 per person, the homeland is no longer sufficient to support the livelihood aspirations of young people.

According to the latest report from the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the total cultivated land area in the province is 300,785 hectares, of which the area of annual agricultural crops is over 220,000 hectares. With a population of over 1.86 million people, if we only consider the area of land used for annual crops, the main means of production associated with rice and corn, this figure is alarmingly low, equivalent to about 3.2 sao (approximately 3200 square meters) per person.

Another reality is that not every inch of land is precious. Geographical variations, the degradation of irrigation systems, and climate change are rendering many areas of arable land unproductive. Statistics show that at least 300-350 hectares of agricultural land are converted to other uses annually due to inefficiency.

Besides disease outbreaks, complete reliance on imported industrial feed puts livestock farmers in a vulnerable position. When world raw material prices fluctuate, farmers' profits are eroded immediately.

Fragmentation in production

While consistently recognized as a pillar of the economy, the agricultural sector's growth rate has not yet met expectations. According to annual reports from the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the value of agricultural, forestry, and fisheries production, while maintaining a growth rate of over 4% per year, still lags significantly behind other economic sectors.

Finally, the slow pace of breakthroughs also stems from an overly cautious mindset regarding food security. Absolute loyalty to rice and corn cultivation, even on land no longer suitable for these crops, has inadvertently hampered opportunities to transition to higher-value industrial or fruit crops.

Source: Vietnam.vn 

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