Border Farmers in Vietnam Cultivate Prosperity Through Innovation

In Loc Thanh commune, Dong Nai city, located along the border, residents are overcoming challenging natural conditions through ingenuity, contributing to regional economic development and improved living standards. Loc Thanh commune is situated adjacent to the border, with 40% of its population belonging to ethnic minorities. This area is one of the most difficult regions, characterized by rocky terrain and severe water shortages during the dry season. However, farmers are adeptly incorporating high-value crop cultivation and integrated farming to overcome these challenges. For instance, Nguyen Viet Duong, in his 30s, cultivates "Hong" tangerines (on 3 hectares), primarily sold during Tet (Lunar New Year), and 100 "Musang King" durian trees, which fetch over 120,000 VND per kilogram, on his approximately 8-hectare farm. He states, "It is even more difficult to get rich farming on land with rocks and the risk of water shortage. But it is possible with experience and securing water sources." His farm employs about 10 local residents at a monthly salary of around 9 million VND, and even migrants from afar are enjoying stable lives. Duong is also developing agri-tourism, leveraging the beauty of the tangerines during harvest season. This initiative helps increase product visibility and expand sales channels, generating annual revenues of approximately 1.5 billion VND. Meanwhile, Dang Cong Khanh practices an integrated economic model on his 16-hectare land, combining major crops like durian, rubber, and jackfruit with livestock farming. To stabilize income during the long cultivation period of perennial crops, he focuses on raising cattle (30-40 head) and pigs (around 100 head). Cattle, purchased at 30-40 million VND per head and appreciating to 50-60 million VND after about a year, generate stable cash flow. Khanh actively adopts scientific and technological advancements, utilizing self-grown fodder, corn, and even jackfruit as feed to reduce costs and improve production efficiency. This integrated model yields him an annual profit of about 500 million VND and provides stable employment for four local residents at a monthly wage of approximately 9 million VND. These success stories highlight the dynamism and creativity of border region farmers, and how the application of science and technology contributes to regional economic development, job creation, and improved livelihoods for residents.