Leveraging advantages in land and climate, local people have boldly restructured crop patterns, applied science and technology, joined production partnerships, and gradually established high-value commodity zones. Renewing development mindsets not only expands room for agricultural growth, but also generates sustainable livelihoods, elevates incomes, and awakens potentials once considered “dormant” amid the mountains and forests.

From the center of Mường Lạn commune, winding through hilly paths leads to the nearly 4-hectare coffee and livestock farm owned by Vừ A Lồng in Huổi Lướng village. Guiding visitors to observe his farm directly, Vừ A Lồng enthusiastically introduces each production area. Lush, green coffee rows stretching alongside a methodically planned livestock area showcase his innovative thinking and approach in turning land into sustainable livelihoods and generating stable revenue for his family.

Pointing toward rows of lush green coffee trees, Vừ A Lồng shared that previously, this land plot was primarily cultivated with traditional crops that yielded low economic efficiency. Recognizing that coffee trees are well-suited to local soil and climate conditions with the potential to generate higher value, he boldly converted 1.5 hectares of hill land to coffee cultivation. After years of diligent care, the coffee trees grew robustly, delivering stable yields and steadily becoming a substantial source of household income. Witnessing clear results, his family recently expanded the area by planting an additional 1.5 hectares, hoping to raise income and foster long-term production development.

Beyond expanding coffee cultivation, with an innovative mindset, Vừ A Lồng boldly invested in constructing barns and raising indigenous black pigs for commodity markets. His family currently maintains a herd of over 100 pigs, capitalizing on available local advantages while generating additional income. The integrated model of crop cultivation and animal husbandry has enabled his family to diversify livelihoods, securing a stable annual income exceeding VND 300 million.

Across fields previously devoted mainly to wet rice cultivation, the Noong Luống General Agricultural Cooperative in Thanh Yên commune has boldly pivoted production, partnering with local households to establish safe vegetable growing zones. Beds of beans, pumpkins, tomatoes, and cucumbers are steadily replacing traditional farming methods, gradually forming concentrated production zones.

Moving toward green, smart, and sustainable agriculture across an area of 12 hectares, the cooperative has applied science and technology to production, establishing cultivation processes, fertilizer application, and plant protection practices in a safe, economical, and environmentally friendly manner. At the same time, the cooperative focuses on strict quality control to enhance agricultural product value and meet increasingly demanding market standards. Annually, the cooperative supplies between 500 and 700 tons of assorted vegetables, roots, and fruits to the market, helping bring safe produce closer to consumers.

Nguyễn Xuân Huy, Director of Noong Luống Agricultural Cooperative in Thanh Yên commune, stated that the cooperative identifies scientific and technical applications and safe production closely linked with local farmers as its long-term direction. Attention is paid not only to productivity but to upgrading product quality, building brand reputation, and securing stable outlets, which enhances the competitiveness of agricultural produce on the market while creating jobs and boosting incomes so that farmers feel confident in investing and committing to long-term agricultural production.

Preparing for a new vegetable season, the family of Nguyễn Văn Bắc in A1 village, Thanh Yên commune, is urgently tilling soil and preparing raised beds across an area of 5,000 square meters. Every step is executed carefully and systematically, ready for sowing new vegetable crops. Nguyễn Văn Bắc noted that under the cooperative’s technical guidance, his family applied new farming methods, including plastic mulch sheeting, drip irrigation systems, and organic fertilizers, making vegetable care easier, saving water, lowering production costs, and delivering safe, high-quality products that better satisfy consumer demands.

Aiming to build a centralized, green, smart, and sustainable commodity agriculture, the Executive Board of the Điện Biên provincial Party Committee issued Resolution No.11-NQ/TU on restructuring the agricultural sector during the 2026-2030 period with orientations toward 2035. The specific target by 2030 is to achieve an added value growth rate in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries exceeding 5%. Concentrated commodity production zones spanning approximately 70,000 hectares will be formed, including 40,000 hectares of macadamia, 20,000 hectares of coffee, 3,000 hectares of fruit trees such as pineapples and passion fruits, and 6,500 hectares of vegetables and auxiliary crops, with 25% of communes developing concentrated commodity zones reaching 2,000 hectares per commune.

To realize these goals, Điện Biên province continues restructuring crop patterns across low-yield land areas. Among these measures, inefficient swidden land is converted to high-value economic crops such as macadamia, coffee, pineapples, and fruit trees; single-crop and low-efficiency double-crop wet rice areas are transitioned to short-term, high-value crops such as passion fruits, pineapples, flowers, vegetables, auxiliary crops, and medicinal herbs tailored to regional conditions.

Information dissemination and mass mobilization are actively pursued to engage the public in agricultural restructuring. The province conducts research to advise on and issue specific local mechanisms and policies to support agricultural and forestry production, value chain partnerships, and national agricultural branding, alongside assisting innovative startup enterprises with land access, scientific and technological applications, digital transformation, trademark development, and trade promotion, while facilitating smart agricultural partnership projects. Essential agricultural infrastructure receives focused investment, including production zone transport networks, power, water, and telecommunications for high-tech agriculture, seedling and technology transfer facilities, post-harvest processing and preservation infrastructure, as well as data, traceability, and digital transformation platforms.

To awaken the agricultural potential of highland areas, alongside investment resources and support policies from the Party and State, the decisive factor remains the shift in awareness and working methods among local people. By boldly renewing mindsets, applying science and technology, and transitioning from fragmented farming to effectively leveraging land advantages, local farmers have progressively built appropriate economic models, expanded livelihoods, elevated incomes, and provided strong momentum for sustainable highland development.