Stepping out of the comfort zone

In 2020, while working as a commune-level cadastral and agricultural officer, Tran Thu Trang (Vinh Giang commune, Vinh Linh district, Quang Tri province, now Cua Tung commune, Quang Tri province) surprised many people when she resigned and invested in building a high-tech agricultural farm.

Dfarm was built on a 3 ha campus. Photo: Vo Dung

"In my idea, it would be an organic, nature-friendly, circular agricultural model. Agricultural byproducts and animal manure would be combined with probiotics to become fertilizer for producing organic Korean melons, cantaloupes, and vegetables. My goal was to develop a model that is environmentally friendly and good for both producers and consumers", Trang shared.

After visiting many models in various provinces, Trang mobilized capital from several young people passionate about organic agriculture. With an initial investment of VND 4 billion, she built 11 greenhouses covering a total area of 5,500 square meters in Dong Soi village, Kim Thach commune (now Cua Tung commune). Most of the materials for greenhouse construction were imported from the United States, Japan, and Israel. In mid-2020, Dfarm officially began operating with a drip irrigation and automatic fertigation system using Israeli technology.

To date, Dfarm has produced 2.5 crop cycles per year, on a staggered schedule. The annual output of grade 1 Korean melons and cantaloupes averages 15 tons, while grade 2 fruit reaches 6 tons per year; winter vegetables reach 1.5 tons per crop.

Trang shared that melons are "picky" crops, highly sensitive to environmental conditions and difficult to grow organically. However, at Dfarm, the melons still achieve beautiful shape, uniformity, and high sweetness.

Melon and Korean melon products at Dfarm farm meet organic standards. Photo: Vo Dung

In 2021, Dfarm’s melon products met Viet Nam’s organic standards and gained popularity in Quang Tri and Hanoi. In addition to melons, the farm produces organic vegetables that sell well both inside and outside the province. Dfarm’s total annual revenue reaches VND 1.4 billion, providing stable jobs for 8 local workers.

"If you want others to trust you, you must be truly trustworthy. Dfarm produce is organic from seed to cultivation methods. Many stages in the care process have been automated. What I care about most is that advanced cultivation methods help protect the environment and change the mindset of both farmers and consumers", Trang said.

Opportunities for those who practice kind agriculture
Trang left a simple, approachable impression on us. As the farm's owner, she is also the primary worker, initiating every idea and directly guiding each process. She always treats employees as partners and encourages them to pursue kind agriculture. Attached to the farm, every noon and afternoon after work, she walks through each greenhouse, watching the melons and vegetable beds growing under the gentle light of the farm.

Dfarm creates jobs for 8 workers, most of whom are agricultural engineers passionate about responsible farming. Photo: Vo Dung

"Doing high-tech agriculture is not as relaxing as some people think. If you want quick success and high income immediately, this is not the right choice", Trang stated.

Her spirit has inspired agricultural engineers and young workers at Dfarm. Her teammates are full of enthusiasm, fueled by a farm owner passionate about clean agriculture. Many students, after graduating from agricultural universities, choose Dfarm over more attractive jobs with promotion opportunities. They meet here because they share the same passion.

"Doing agriculture at Dfarm feels like doing eco-tourism. Every day, seeing clean products made by my own hands reach consumers, I tell myself to create even more valuable things for society", agricultural engineer Le Thi Hiep shared.

After five years of starting the business, what makes Trang happiest is the change in her team’s mindset, especially the shift in consumer behavior. In 2020, retail customers could be counted on one hand, but now this segment accounts for 50–60% of Dfarm’s sales.

According to Ms. Trang, the shift in consumer mindset is an opportunity for those pursuing responsible agriculture. Photo: Vo Dung

"Dfarm products are usually more expensive than those grown using traditional methods on the market. However, the number of retail customers has increased rapidly and remains stable. More and more informed consumers are emerging, and that is the opportunity for those who practice kind agriculture", Trang said joyfully.

After five years of building Dfarm, Tran Thu Trang was honored with a Certificate of Merit from the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee for outstanding achievements in agricultural production. In 2025, she received a Certificate of Merit from the Minister of Agriculture and Environment for excellent achievements in patriotic emulation movements during 2021–2025.

Source: https://van.nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/