Blooming season of strategic crops

ĐBP - These days, the coffee-growing hills in Mường Ảng, Tuần Giáo, and Pu Nhi have begun to turn a pristine white.

Each cluster of blossoms signaling a new growth cycle serves as a vital indicator for the farmers of Mường Ảng that the journey to enhance the value of their coffee beans has begun. This shift is guided by Resolution No.11-NQ/TU, issued on December 31, 2025, by the Điện Biên provincial Party Committee. The resolution outlines a bold vision for 2030: maintaining a stable 5,000-hectare coffee area where 80% is produced sustainably and 100% of the products are traceable, aiming for a production value exceeding VND 150 million per hectare annually.

Mường Ảng commune standardizes production according to Geographic Indication requirements to ensure quality and sustainable development for coffee farmers.

Currently, Mường Ảng district manages approximately 4,000 hectares of coffee, with nearly 1,800 hectares concentrated in Mường Ảng commune alone. A major milestone was reached in 2025 when Mường Ảng coffee was officially granted a Geographic Indication (GI) status. According to Hà Thị Kim Phước from the Mường Ảng General Service Center, this status brings stricter requirements for cultivation and processing. Local households are now pivoting toward sustainable methods, such as replacing chemical fertilizers with organic alternatives and refining post-harvest processing to preserve the unique flavor profile that makes this region’s coffee stand out in the global market.

The trend toward “green and smart” farming extends to the province’s fruit orchards as well. Following the directives of Resolution 11, Điện Biên aims to expand its concentrated fruit tree area, primarily oranges and pomelos, to 10,000 hectares by 2030. The goal is to ensure that over 60% of this area meets VietGAP or organic standards. Cara Farm Vietnam Co., Ltd., based in Mường Thanh ward, has already led the way by linking with 35 households in Mường Ảng to manage a 25-hectare pomelo production chain. By investing in HACCP-certified factories and standard cold storage, enterprises like Cara Farm are ensuring that local fruit isn’t just sold fresh but is processed deeply to maximize profit. Nguyễn Thị Lan Hương, Director of Cara Farm, noted that the provincial resolution has helped farmers move away from fragmented production toward a cohesive value chain that prioritizes long-term stability over short-term gains.

Cara Farm Vietnam Co., Ltd. invests in HACCP-standard factories and cold storage to preserve agricultural products after harvest.

Parallel to coffee and fruit, the macadamia trees also begin their quiet bloom in February and March. Once considered an experimental crop, macadamia is now being hailed as the “white gold” of local farmers. The province plans to expand this crop to between 8,000 and 10,000 hectares by 2030, establishing at least three sustainable production-to-consumption chains. Behind these ambitious figures lies a fundamental shift in the farmer’s mindset: planting is no longer a trend-following activity but a calculated decision based on land suitability and enterprise partnerships.

Ultimately, the breakthrough for Điện Biên’s agriculture lies in digital transformation. The province aims for an average growth rate of 4.5% to 5% per year for the 2026–2030 period, with 100% of concentrated production zones applying traceability systems and smart technology for irrigation and disease forecasting. Nature provides the blossoms, but it is the human application of technology and strategic policy that ensures these flowers turn into a sustainable harvest. This spring, as the strategic crops bloom across the province, there is a renewed sense of confidence in a future where Điện Biên’s agriculture is not just green and smart, but globally competitive.

Lý Quỳnh
Comment

You have 500/500 characters left

Please enter 5 or more characters!!!

Recent news