An Giang and a new generation of professional, business-minded farmers

Turning 500 hectares of acid sulfate soils into fertile rice fields

Across the vast plains and modern farms of An Giang, the image of a new generation of farmers stands out: confident, dynamic, and ambitious. They build prosperity through knowledge and technology, continuing the proud story of Vietnamese farmers in the era of integration.

After the administrative merger, An Giang expanded its production landscape and has since been recognized as the “rice capital” of the Mekong Delta, with over 314,000 farmer members working tirelessly to produce essential goods for society. These farmers are not only the creators of material wealth but also the guardians of culture, environmental stewards, and contributors to national food security.

From a journey of traditional farmers to those adept in agribusiness, An Giang is now fostering a new generation of professional farmers - knowledgeable, market-oriented, and capable of organizing production and managing risks. They no longer see agriculture merely as a means of subsistence, but as a sustainable path to prosperity through science, technology, and value chain integration.

In the heart of the Long Xuyen Quadrangle, farmer Nguyen Thanh Tuan, owner of Tuan Linh Farm in Hoa Dien commune, stands as a symbol of resilience and modern agricultural thinking. From once-barren acid sulfate land known as a “dead zone,” he created a remarkable success story: transforming 500 hectares of desolate fields into fertile rice paddies, yielding over 7,500 tons annually, generating nearly 70 billion VND in revenue, and earning profits in the tens of billions of VND.

“We cannot prosper if we rely solely on old farming experience. To go far, we must go together: farming with technology, knowledge, and a genuine love for the land,” shared Nguyen Thanh Tuan, an Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer.

After more than 20 years working the fields and battling saline and acidic soils, Mr. Tuan has invested in a comprehensive irrigation system, fully mechanized his cultivation process, and adopted drone technology. His farm follows an organic production process certified for export to Europe. High-quality rice varieties such as ST24 and ST25 are cultivated in a closed-loop system, producing clean, premium rice.

The farm now provides stable employment for 50 workers, including 20 permanent staff earning between 8 and 10 million VND per month.

Mr. Tuan has not only created wealth for himself but also helped transform the rural landscape, spreading the spirit of professionalism among farmers – those who dare to think, dare to act, and take control of both technology and the market. The image of knowledgeable farmers mastering modern tools and data is spreading across the Long Xuyen Quadrangle of An Giang – the land that has achieved a “green miracle” for Viet Nam’s agriculture.

The digital generation of farmers

According to the An Giang Farmers’ Union, sustainable agricultural development must begin with empowering farmers. They need to be equipped with technical knowledge, market insights, environmental awareness, and digital transformation skills to meet the demands of modern production. Professional farmers today are not just growers: They are entrepreneurs who produce what the market needs, organize production along value chains, and operate within an open, dynamic economy.

Currently, more than 159,000 farmers across An Giang province have been recognized at various levels as excellent in production and business, forming the core force driving agricultural innovation. Many models applying biotechnology, greenhouse cultivation, drip irrigation, and smart sensors have helped reduce costs, increase productivity, and protect the environment. This is the generation of “smart farmers,” confidently mastering knowledge, data, and markets.

A notable example is Ms. Chau Thi Nuong, the “mushroom billionaire” from the Bay Nui region. While many people left their hometowns in search of livelihoods, she chose to start a high-tech agricultural business at home. In 2020, she founded Hien Nuong Agricultural Farm, covering 3 hectares in Co To commune, using agricultural by-products like straw, rice husks, and sawdust to grow clean mushrooms.

From just a few dozen mushroom spawn bags at the start, she mastered breeding technology, temperature and humidity control, and expanded production to hundreds of thousands of bags per year, supplying tens of tons of edible and medicinal mushrooms to the market. As Director of Ta Danh Agricultural Cooperative, Nuong gathers young people and Khmer women to produce clean mushrooms, coordinate marketing, and invest in freeze-drying technology to increase product value.

The products of Ta Danh Agricultural Cooperative, such as reishi mushrooms, black termite mushrooms, cordyceps, and oyster mushrooms, have earned 3-star OCOP certification and are available in numerous supermarkets and local businesses. On average, the cooperative achieves an annual revenue of over VND 15 billion, with net profits exceeding VND 7 billion, providing stable jobs for dozens of local workers.

“Every bag of mushroom spawn is a seed of belief that Vietnamese farmers can fully master technology to live sustainably and prosper right on their homeland,” shared Director Chau Thi Nuong.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Cop, Chairman of the An Giang Farmers’ Association, digital transformation is a lever that helps farmers step into a new era. The Association has collaborated with departments, agencies, and enterprises to organize hundreds of digital skills training courses, guiding farmers to apply technology to production management, traceability, maintaining electronic production logs, and participating in e-commerce platforms.

Mr. Cop emphasized: “A professional farmer is someone who does business responsibly and sustainably, has an economic mindset, and dares to think differently to act differently. One cannot go far alone; the strength of modern farmers lies in their spirit of cooperation and connectivity.”

The digital transformation movement among farmers is gradually shaping a generation of “digital farmers” who understand the law, master management skills, and know how to leverage data on crops, livestock, and soil to make precise business decisions. They are becoming the driving force of ecological agriculture, contributing to the development of civilized rural areas and fostering the well-being of farmers.

Professional farmers do not just sow seeds on the fields; they also sow the values of knowledge, technology, and work ethics. With this vision, An Giang is building the image of civilized farmers - agents of green agriculture, modern rural areas, and happy farming communities. This is not only a development goal but also a contemporary aspiration, where farmers become the “entrepreneurs of the fields,” accompanying the nation on the path toward green growth and sustainable integration.

Today, farmers in An Giang are not only masters of the land but also of knowledge and the market. They are fundamentally transforming their production mindset, from “selling what they have” to “selling what the market needs.” Driven by innovation and self-reliance, this generation of professional farmers is helping An Giang gradually become the center of green, modern agriculture in the Mekong Delta.

$ 1 = VND 26.339 - Source: Vietcombank.