DONG THAP AGRICULTURE: RESTRUCTURING FROM THE CORE

Why is Đồng Tháp considered one of the leading provinces in building new rural areas and developing modern agriculture in the Mekong Delta?

Đồng Tháp - A bright spot in the Mekong Delta

Đồng Tháp has affirmed its pioneering role in building new rural areas and agricultural restructuring in the Mekong Delta. Beyond crop restructuring, the province links its strategy with production cooperation, agricultural digital transformation, and especially the central role of Đồng Tháp cooperatives in creating sustainable new rural development.

Đồng Tháp identifies ornamental flowers as one of its five key sectors. Photo: Internet

Restructuring agriculture for transformation

During 2021 - 2025, Đồng Tháp has been implementing the “Agricultural Restructuring Project” with the goal of building smart, specialized, climate-adaptive, and globally integrated agriculture.

A highlight is reorganizing production through cooperative economic models, forming concentrated material zones, and strengthening linkages between Đồng Tháp cooperatives - enterprises - farmers. Key sectors such as rice, mango, longan, lime, and pangasius are developed towards modernization, applying high technology and meeting VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards.

Mechanized rice harvesting in Đồng Tháp. Photo: Internet

Cooperatives - The core of the value chain

Đồng Tháp cooperatives have become the “transit stations” connecting stakeholders in the agricultural value chain, while also serving as the hub for sustainable and eco-friendly farming models. Each locality in Đồng Tháp is building at least one smart farming area linked with processing and consumption.

The Cooperative - Enterprise - Farmer model helps increase product value, secure markets, raise incomes, and contribute to sustainable new rural development.

In Tháp Mười district, the Thắng Lợi Agricultural Service Cooperative (Mỹ Đông commune, now part of Mỹ Quý) is a typical example. It is implementing the project “Developing one million hectares of high - quality, low - emission rice specialization in the Mekong Delta”.

Digital agriculture - A launchpad for growth

Starting from the 2024 autumn - winter crop, Thắng Lợi Cooperative piloted 50 hectares of contiguous rice fields, strictly following technical processes, fully mechanizing farming, and using bio - fertilizers and biopesticides. This model reduces costs, protects the environment, and lays the foundation for expansion to 440 hectares.

At the same time, Đồng Tháp is accelerating agricultural digital transformation by digitizing data from provincial to commune levels and integrating it into the management system. Cooperatives apply IoT, traceability, and e-transactions to optimize production management and reduce risks. All eligible agricultural administrative procedures are now provided online at level 4, making things easier for both citizens and businesses.

Many cooperatives in Đồng Tháp are promoting digital transformation in agricultural production. Photo: Internet

OCOP and Agricultural branding

Đồng Tháp has applied the “Digitalized OCOP Software System” to manage dossiers, evaluation, and product ranking. This helps cooperatives improve product quality, strengthen branding, and expand markets.

Many cooperatives also promote circular economy models, reusing by - products to produce fertilizers and animal feed - contributing to environmental protection and higher income.

Towards model new rural areas

Đồng Tháp not only upgrades rural infrastructure but also improves livelihoods, environment, and cultural life. Many villages have transformed with paved roads, solid houses, and diverse, sustainable economic models.

Agricultural restructuring has placed Đồng Tháp cooperatives at the core, reorganizing production, connecting markets, applying science and technology, and gradually integrating farmers into global value chains.

By 2030, Đồng Tháp aims to achieve ecological agriculture, modern rural areas, and civilized farmers. By 2045, it envisions becoming a province with modern agriculture, advanced agricultural processing, and strong logistics systems.

Conclusion

Agricultural restructuring in Đồng Tháp, with cooperatives as the foundation, has shaped a modern new rural model - including effective production organization, agricultural digital transformation, and sustainable new rural development. Đồng Tháp focuses not only on product quality but also on becoming a hub for ecological, modern agriculture that contributes to global value by 2045.