High-tech agricultural project in Phuc Loc commune: After 5 years, it's still just a barren plot of land!

A "green" project?

In the final months of 2020, Hoang Thai Construction Joint Stock Company, headquartered in Thai Son commune, Do Luong district (now Van Hien commune), submitted the necessary documents and procedures to request permission to implement the project.Investment projectA high-tech, organic agricultural farm located in Nghi Cong Bac commune, Nghi Loc district (now Phuc Loc commune).

After considering the relevant factors, including the opinion of the then Department of Planning and Investment (now the Department of Finance); the opinion of the former Nghi Loc District Party Committee on the investment project in the area; and through surveying the current status of the land, comparing it with land use planning, construction planning, and the local economic and social development orientation... the former Nghi Loc District People's Committee sent a document to the Provincial People's Committee and relevant departments and agencies approving the investment policy for the aforementioned project.

On December 18, 2020, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision 4666/QD-UBND approving the investment plan for a high-tech organic agricultural production farm in Nghi Cong Bac commune, former Nghi Loc district, and assigned Hoang Thai Construction Joint Stock Company as the investor with an area of ​​approximately 10 hectares.

The objective of this project is to invest in the construction of a multi-cropping agricultural production area following organic farming principles to create clean, certified organic products that are highly competitive in the market, thereby increasing the added value of agricultural products, creating economic benefits, jobs, and income; exploiting the potential of barren sand dune land and creating a sustainable organic agricultural production model.

The project includes the following components: a greenhouse for growing seasonal vegetables and melons; a mushroom and sprout cultivation facility; a rabbit and chicken farm operating according to organic standards; an administrative office combined with a rest area; an experimental building, warehouse, and seedling nursery; and other supporting systems.

The total capital for this project is VND 27.5 billion, of which equity accounts for 36.36% and bank loans. The project timeline is set at 24 months from the date the investment approval decision takes effect.

When the investment plan for the project was approved, both the government and the local people were full of expectations. Everyone believed that the vast, rocky land spanning tens of hectares, previously abandoned, would be "awakened," transformed into a modern, high-tech agricultural production area, contributing to the sustainable socio-economic development of the western part of Nghi Loc district at that time.

It's still a wasteland.

Despite setting ambitious goals, contrary to expectations, after five years, the project site remains an empty plot of land, with the investor yet to carry out any construction work. This has caused great frustration among local residents, who have petitioned the authorities to revoke the project.

Leading us on a site survey of the project, a specialist from the Economic Department of the People's Committee of Phuc Loc commune explained that the area is called Bai Trang, formerly agricultural land bordering Nghi Cong Nam and Nghi Cong Bac communes, now merged into one commune, Phuc Loc. The entire area covers 40 hectares, of which the project land occupies just over 10 hectares.

It has been learned that the 10-hectare area, for which investment approval has been granted for a high-tech organic agricultural production farm project by Hoang Thai Construction Joint Stock Company, is land under the management of the People's Committee of Phuc Loc Commune (not part of the 5% public land fund). Specifically, it includes: 6.66 hectares of flat land for annual crops; 0.26 hectares of land for perennial crops; 3.3 hectares of other agricultural land; 0.43 hectares of transportation land; 0.15 hectares of irrigation land; and 0.07 hectares of unused flat land.

In reality, the land plot is located less than 1km from the inter-communal road, with a small stream providing abundant water in the middle of the field, and is close to residential areas – all favorable factors for developing high-tech agriculture. However, all of this remains "on paper," while the abandoned land is gradually being utilized by locals to grow cassava and graze livestock.

Local residents believe that leaving land idle for so many years not only wastes resources but also hinders people's production rights and negatively impacts the commune's agricultural development plan.

Mr. Nguyen Phu Dong, Head of the Economic Department of Phuc Loc Commune People's Committee, stated: Recently, on August 13, 2025, in accordance with the opinion of the Department of Finance regarding the review of slow-progressing projects not implemented outside the Southeast Economic Zone and industrial parks, the commune also submitted report No. 41/BC-UBND reviewing this project. The commune also confirmed that the high-tech organic agricultural production farm project in the former Nghi Cong Bac commune has not yet implemented any of its components.

Based on on-site investigations and some opinions from local residents, this area has a rather beautiful location, close to National Highway 7C (also known as N5) and near the North-South Expressway interchange. It is also located north of the Dai Hue mountain range and between Nghi Cong Lake and Khe Thi Lake (two large reservoirs). This is a very favorable location for developing large-scale agriculture combined with high technology and ecotourism. However, entrusting it to a small, fragmented enterprise would be difficult to achieve effective results.

Regarding the aforementioned high-tech organic agricultural production farm project, the assigned implementation deadline was 24 months (2 years), but after 5 years, it remains unimplemented. This clearly indicates problems with the appraisal and selection process for investors. Only by allocating land to capable entities with long-term development strategies can the abandoned land in Phuc Loc commune be transformed into a modern production area, contributing to the transformation of the rural landscape.

Re-evaluating, screening, and boldly revoking ineffective projects is also essential to restore the true value of the land and to build trust among the people and investors who are genuinely committed to high-tech agriculture. This will prevent the practice of "land hoarding" and distorting investment attraction policies.