{
  "id": 8902499,
  "title": "Ho Chi Minh City urban agriculture embraces hi-tech transformation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/ho-chi-minh-city-urban-agriculture-embraces-hi-tech-transformation",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-21T10:37:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SGGP English Edition Business",
    "slug": "sggp-english-edition-business",
    "url": "https://en.sggp.org.vn/ho-chi-minh-city-urban-agriculture-embraces-hi-tech-transformation-post129818.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ho Chi Minh City's urban agriculture sector is undergoing a significant technological transformation, with the aim of promoting sustainable economic growth and environmental protection. Mr. Doan Duc Hoa, a resident of Chau Duc Commune, began his agricultural journey in 2019 and has invested in a nearly 2-hectare durian orchard. Recognizing the suitability of the region's soil for durian trees, he acquired experience across Southeast and Central Highlands to perfect his cultivation techniques. To reduce labor costs and ensure precise care, he implemented an advanced irrigation system and a state-of-the-art plant protection spraying mechanism.\n\nThe orchard's yield averages 25 tonnes per hectare, with some years exceeding 30 tonnes. With an average selling price of VND43,000 - 45,000 ($1.65 to $1.73) per kilogram, the 2026 harvest generated nearly VND2 billion ($77,000) for his family after deducting expenses. Similarly, the Tuan Ngoc Agricultural Cooperative in Long Truong Ward has developed a recirculating hydroponic vegetable farming model using IoT technology. This model allows for the cultivation of 100 kilograms of vegetables daily, compared to 10 kilograms in traditional soil farming on a similar footprint. The cooperative has expanded its greenhouse system to 5,000 square meters in Lam Dong.\n\nHo Chi Minh City's natural area spans over 677,000 hectares, with 63.3 percent dedicated to agricultural land. Rapid urbanization and climate change pose significant challenges, necessitating the agricultural sector to adopt high-tech applications and pivot towards green, circular, organic, and digitally transformed development pathways. Currently, 692 facilities and 24 organic production establishments employ advanced technology across 18,432 hectares and 248 hectares, respectively. Additionally, 131 planting area codes and 61 packaging facility codes exclusively serve export purposes.\n\nIn the livestock sector, there are 797 high-tech pig, cattle, and poultry farms, housing approximately 14.5 million heads. The city also operates 171 high-tech brackish water shrimp farming facilities covering 173 hectares and 2 advanced breeding centers covering 12 hectares. According to the HCMC Department of Agriculture and Environment, the agricultural sector contributed nearly 2 percent to the city's gross domestic product (GRDP) in 2025. In the first half of 2026, the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors experienced a growth rate of 2.99 percent, surpassing the targets set for 2026 by HCMC's People's Committee.\n\nThe city's main agricultural development focus is to integrate agriculture with scientific technology, environmental sustainability, market dynamics, and farmers' livelihoods. At a recent seminar, Vice Chairman of the HCMC People's Committee Bui Minh Thanh emphasized that agriculture serves as a vital ecological shield for the city amidst rapid urbanization and climate change. To achieve this, high-tech agricultural value chains must be carefully calculated to generate income for farmers, contribute to the urban economy, protect the environment, and create production spaces suitable for a bustling megacity.\n\nVice President Tran Minh Hai of the Institute for Public Policy and Rural Development stresses the importance of nurturing a new generation of digital farmers. Technological applications, once reserved for large enterprises, are now being gradually integrated into agricultural production. These include IoT sensors collecting environmental data, automated systems regulating water, and sophisticated farm management software tracking the production pipeline. As more households collaborate with these technologies, the agricultural sector in Ho Chi Minh City is poised for a transformative future.",
  "summary": "Municipal authorities are transforming urban agriculture by extensively integrating advanced technology, automated farming models, and digital data to ensure sustainable economic growth alongside environmental protection.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "VnExpress International",
        "title": "Ho Chi Minh City jumps 81 places in global cities ranking",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/ho-chi-minh-city-jumps-81-places-in-global-cities-ranking",
        "published": "2026-09-21T06:05:29.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}