Agricultural economy drives Ha Tinh's next phase of rural development

Transitioning from agricultural production to an agricultural economy

After more than 15 years of implementing the National Target Program on New Rural Development and Sustainable Poverty Reduction, along with over five years of carrying out the Socio-Economic Development Program for Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas, Ha Tinh Province has emerged as a leading example of rural and agricultural development in Viet Nam. These achievements have not only transformed the province's rural landscape but also laid the foundation for a new stage of development, shifting from a production-oriented approach to an agricultural economy mindset.

According to a report presented by the Ha Tinh Provincial People's Committee at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment's conference reviewing the sector's performance in the first half of 2026, the province has fulfilled all eight criteria required for recognition as a province that has successfully completed the New Rural Development Program. The poverty rate has fallen to 2.11%, while the near-poverty rate stands at 2.9%. At the same time, rural infrastructure has been comprehensively upgraded, and the material and spiritual well-being of local residents has continued to improve.

Between 2020 and 2025, Ha Tinh's agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector maintained an average GRDP growth rate of more than 2.46% per year. The value of agricultural production increased by an average of 4.07% annually, reaching USD 3,840 per hectare. Large-scale commodity production areas have been developed under the "one variety, one cropping season, one cultivation process" model, supported by farmland consolidation and the application of advanced technologies.

The province's key agricultural products have continued to strengthen their competitive advantages. The cultivation area and quality of oranges and Phuc Trach pomelos have expanded, while the red deer herd has grown in both size and economic value. Notably, Ha Tinh's deer antler industry is gradually shifting from the sale of raw velvet antlers to deep processing, product diversification, and export-oriented development. At the same time, organic farming, circular agriculture, and value chain linkages have become increasingly widespread.

Digital transformation and high-tech applications have also emerged as new growth drivers for the agricultural sector. The province now has more than 70 cooperatives and enterprises applying advanced technologies in production and management. In addition, 135 producers with more than 268 OCOP products and other key local products are marketing and selling their goods through e-commerce platforms.

Several new production models with strong economic returns have been introduced, including high-tech greenhouse cultivation of Phalaenopsis orchids in Thach Khe and contract pineapple farming in Cam Xuyen, Ky Anh, and Ky Hoa. These initiatives have helped create jobs, increase rural incomes, and improve living standards.

The forestry and fisheries sectors have also continued to make steady progress. The area of plantation forests certified under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) sustainable forest management standard has expanded, improving both economic returns and environmental protection.

High-tech aquaculture models have become more widespread, while the province's marine economy has largely recovered and continued to grow following the 2016 marine environmental disaster, providing more sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities.

Despite these achievements, Ha Tinh's agricultural and rural development still faces several challenges. Agricultural production remains predominantly small-scale and fragmented, the rural workforce is aging and has relatively limited skills, and the impacts of climate change, natural disasters, and disease outbreaks are becoming increasingly severe. Meanwhile, the rural economy and agricultural processing industry have yet to fully realize their potential, leaving many farmers without sufficient income to reinvest in and modernize production.

Changing mindsets to unlock agricultural growth

Drawing on its experience implementing national target programs, Ha Tinh Province believes that the key to success lies in unified leadership by Party committees and local authorities, active engagement of the entire political system, and broad public support. The province considers the development of agriculture, farmers, and rural areas, along with new rural development, sustainable poverty reduction, and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous regions, to be long-term strategic priorities. When local people are genuinely placed at the center of these programs, they are more likely to generate widespread participation and effectively mobilize social resources.

Another important lesson, according to the province, is the need to proactively translate and adapt central government policies to local conditions. Based on this approach, Ha Tinh has gradually refined its policy framework, prioritized resources for agricultural development, and created a favorable environment for attracting businesses, promoting private sector investment, and encouraging entrepreneurship in agriculture.

By supporting farmland consolidation, accelerating the transfer of science and technology, and capitalizing on the comparative advantages of each locality, the province has developed numerous large-scale, modern commodity production zones, laying a solid foundation for sustainable agricultural development.

According to provincial leaders, agricultural development in the new phase must move beyond increasing productivity toward building a diversified agricultural economy. This requires closer integration of production with processing, trade, services, rural tourism, and the digital economy, while strengthening value chain linkages among farmers, cooperatives, and businesses to increase the added value of agricultural products. OCOP products will continue to be developed with a focus on green, organic, and circular production models that can compete in domestic and international markets. In mountainous areas, the province has identified sustainable forest-based livelihoods, including medicinal plants, fruit cultivation, specialty livestock, ecotourism, and forest environmental services, as key drivers of long-term development.

For the 2026-2030 period, Ha Tinh aims to build a modern, ecological, and climate-resilient agricultural sector, with science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation serving as its primary growth drivers. Key priorities include reorganizing agricultural production on a larger commercial scale, reviewing development plans to align with the new two-tier local government model, capitalizing on the strengths of each ecological zone, and accelerating the transition from a production-oriented mindset to a market-oriented agricultural economy.

The province also plans to expand the application of science, technology, and digital transformation across the sector by developing digital databases, smart management platforms, new crop varieties, advanced farming techniques, and modern preservation and processing technologies.

In addition, Ha Tinh has identified the development of agricultural processing industries, logistics, agricultural trade, and stronger linkages among farmers, cooperatives, businesses, and distribution networks as key strategies for enhancing the competitiveness of its agricultural products. Through these efforts, the province aims to increase product value, promote sustainable rural economic development, and steadily improve the incomes and quality of life of its people.