7. Agricultural land management in Phu Tho province under the Land Law 2024: Solution orientation for sustainable development

Abstract

This article assesses the current status of agricultural land management and use in Phu Tho province following its administrative merger, which combined the former provinces of Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, and Hoa Binh. Within the context of the 2024 Land Law implementation, the newly formed province covers a total natural area of 936.2 thousand hectares, of which 263.7 thousand hectares (28.2 %) are designated for agricultural production. This region plays a vital role in agricultural development in Northern Vietnam. However, several challenges persist, including more than 5 % of land being misused or left fallow; Inconsistent planning after the reduction in the number of communes (from 512 to 148); Land degradation due to unsustainable farming and weak coordination among administrative levels. Although the 2024 Land Law introduces key reforms - such as cadastral map digitization and increased transparency in land use conversion - local implementation remains limited. The study proposes several solutions as enhancing management capacity, strengthening inter-agency coordination, and promoting high-tech agriculture to ensure effective and sustainable agricultural land management and use.