The circular agriculture model (CA) is increasingly asserting its role as a driving force for green growth. The direction is emerging as an effective pathway for Dak Lak province to realize its goal of sustainable agricultural development.

Among enterprises pioneering large-scale CA model in Dak Lak province, Truong Hai Agricultural JSC is developing 7 integrated crop and livestock farming projects spanning more than 4,650 hectares in Ea Hleo coupled with Ea Rok communes, which have created regular jobs for approximately 2,500 workers with monthly incomes ranging from 10 million VND to 12 million VND/person; contributing about 150 billion VND annually to the state budget.

Circular livestock farming at a pig farm in Son Hoa commune.

Beyond generating economic value, the company’s CA model also brings significant benefits to the environment. The CA model operates by utilizing grass, corn, along with other raw materials as livestock feed; animal waste processed to produce organic mineral fertilizers together with bio-fertilizers for crop cultivation, while agricultural by-products reused. This contributes to reducing input costs, improving economic efficiency, alongside limiting environmental impact.

According to Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan, Director of the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture, Dak Lak province possesses approximately 217,000 hectares of coffee plantations, over 40,000 hectares of durian orchards, extensive fruit-growing areas, combined with a developed livestock industry, which has generated an abundant source of by-products - an principal resource that can be reused to produce organic fertilizers, animal feed, biogas, renewable energy, as well as many value-added products.

Towards a regional CA model

Besides improving resource utilization efficiency, reducing production costs, combined with increasing agricultural value, developing a circular economy is also an essential solution to diminish emissions, protect the environment, together with adapt to climate change.

Biomass electricity production from sugarcane bagasse at KCP Vietnam Industrial Co., Ltd.

Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan proposed three CA models suitable for Dak Lak provincial available conditions, including a coffee - organic fertilizer - bioenergy chain; a coffee farming combined with cattle raising and organic fertilizer production chain; together with the model of integrated crop farming, livestock raising, alongside bioenergy adapted to climate change. “These three models should not operate independently but instead be integrated into a regional circular ecosystem, which is a development direction suitable to the provincial natural conditions, production structure, along with green growth orientation, while also opening up opportunities to attract investment into agricultural value chains; promoting the connection of raw material zones with processing industries, logistics, as well as exports, leveraging the advantages of development space stretching from the highlands to the coast,” emphasized Ms. Lan.

According to Dr. Tran Ngoc Thanh (Dong A University), Dak Lak provincial agriculture has three core advantages that help it transform towards a green and circular economy, involving the large-scale coupled with diversified production; abundant by-products and biomass; adaptability to sustainable production models alongside value chains. To effectively exploit this advantage, it is necessary to shift from linear production methods to a circular production system linked to the market, while placing farmers at the center of the transformation process, which is a crucial driving force for realizing the goal of green growth, efficient resource utilisation, emission reduction, together with building a modern, sustainable agriculture.

Translated by TRINH THUY