As markets place increasingly stringent requirements on quality, traceability and sustainable development, high-tech agriculture has become an inevitable pathway towards enhancing value creation alongside competitiveness.

From natural advantages to competitive strengths

Unlike numerous localities relying on a single comparative advantage, Dak Lak benefits from a diverse agricultural ecosystem. Western Dak Lak is home to large-scale production areas for key commodities including coffee, pepper, rubber, durian and macadamia, while the provincial eastern region draws strength from a strong marine economy, aquaculture and fisheries. The integration of the highlands coupled with the coast has created an integrated value chain spanning raw material production, processing, logistics and exports.

Processing technologies being applied in the fisheries sector to enhance product value.

Dak Lak has long been recognised as one of Viet Nam’s leading agricultural production centres, with nearly 540,000ha of fertile basalt soil, accounting for more than 40% of its agricultural land, providing favourable conditions for perennial industrial crops along with premium fruit cultivation. The province is particularly renowned for its 217,000ha of coffee plantations, yielding more than 582,000 tonnes annually. Most production originates from the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Geographical Indication area and is certified under internationally recognised standards, including 4C, Fairtrade, UTZ combined with Rainforest Alliance.

In 2025, the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector remained the backbone of the provincial economy, contributing 38.47% of the GRDP. The province currently has more than 15,000ha under high-tech agricultural production together with 94 cooperatives applying advanced technologies. A growing number of specialised production areas have been developed systematically, accelerating the transition from traditional farming to modern agriculture.

A catalyst for high-tech agriculture

In recent years, the province has attracted investment in deep processing, logistics infrastructure, digital transformation alongside concentrated high-tech production areas. By the end of 2025, Dak Lak had attracted 213 agricultural investment projects with combined registered capital of nearly 28,598 billion VND, including 80 high-tech agricultural projects.

Farmers using smart sensor systems to monitor nutrient levels and irrigation for coffee plantations.

Several flagship livestock projects are currently under implementation, serving as strategic facilities for the Central Highlands. Among them is the DHN Dak Lak High-Tech Agricultural Complex in Ea M'droh commune, developed by Hung Nhon Group together with De Heus of the Netherlands. Covering nearly 50ha, the project has total investment of almost 1 trillion VND. Concurrently, high-tech projects such as Japfa Comfeed's poultry hatchery as well as advanced livestock farms in Ea Tul commune, Ea So commune and other localities futher demonstrate the provincial strong growth potential in technology-driven agriculture.

In the fisheries sector, super-intensive shrimp farming applying Biofloc technology, recirculating aquaculture systems, high-tech hatcheries alongside vessel monitoring systems has steadily improved production efficiency while meeting traceability requirements along with combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

At the cooperative and household levels, AI platforms, IoT, UAVs together with smart sensor systems are being deployed in a coordinated manner. These applications demonstrate how science and technology are steadily transforming agricultural practices, enabling farmers to take greater control of production processes.

Translated by KHUONG THAO