Focusing on high-value crops

With the ambition to become Điện Biên province’s key fruit-growing hub, Mường Ảng district (former administrative unit) implemented three linkage projects between 2021 and 2023 to support fruit farming and product consumption. A total of 218 households joined, cultivating nearly 70 hectares of mango, pomelo and other specialty fruits. Today, the Mường Ảng area has developed 510 hectares of fruit trees, with 357 hectares already yielding produce and delivering clear economic benefits.

Local authorities and technical agencies have actively encouraged farmers to join collective economic models and cooperatives linked to product consumption. They also provide support in applying VietGAP standards and conducting technical training to help farmers increase their income and develop sustainably.

Starting from household-based production, Mường Ảng has gradually formed multiple fruit cooperatives that now act as the core in organizing production and guaranteeing stable purchasing. A standout example is the Mường Ảng Clean Fruit Cooperative, established in 2020 with more than 20 member households managing nearly 100 hectares of fruit trees, mainly green-skinned pomelo and mango. The cooperative harvests 300-500 tons annually, all products are consumed through secure purchasing contracts.

These concentrated farming zones bring dual benefits: higher economic value and improved access to modern farming techniques, safe cultivation and a shift toward organic production. The model has strengthened product quality and expanded access to domestic markets and future exports.

“We used to grow corn and rice, and income was unstable. Since switching to mango farming under VietGAP standards and having guaranteed buyers through the cooperative, we feel secure in production. Each harvest earns us tens of millions of đồng, making life much better”, said Lò Văn Phương, a mango farmer in Quài Tở commune.

In Mường Thanh ward, Cara Farm Vietnam Co., Ltd. has pioneered organic agriculture. On nearly 5 hectares, the company cultivates red-fleshed Cara oranges - a variety introduced to Điện Biên for the first time. After more than eight years of organic farming, its products received organic certification in October 2022. Although yields are not significantly higher than traditional farming, product quality and selling prices remain stable: Cara oranges sell for VND 90,000 - 120,000/kg, and green-skinned pomelo for VND 70,000/kg. The fruits are sold out at the farm and supplied to major markets such as Hanoi, Hai Phong, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Advancing sustainable agriculture

Under the province’s master plan for developing high-value and specialty fruit crops from 2021 to 2025, with a vision to 2030, Điện Biên has converted 578 hectares of paddy fields and annual crop land to fruit cultivation. The total fruit-growing area now exceeds 4,160 hectares, up 1,124 hectares from 2020 and reaching 83.2% of the target, with an estimated harvest of nearly 26,720 tons.

Alongside expanding production areas, the province prioritizes training, technical transfer and capacity building in farming and management. Agricultural products are being steered toward processing, OCOP certification and strong linkages between production and consumption to secure stable output.

Communes like Búng Lao, Pú Nhung, Mường Nhà, Na Sang, Thanh Yên have developed nearly 3,000 hectares of concentrated cultivation areas, mainly pineapple, banana and jackfruit, supplying raw materials to major agro-processors such as Nafoods Tây Bắc, Đồng Giao, and TH True Milk.

Specialized farming zones are not only improving immediate economic gains but also driving the province toward green and sustainable agriculture. The introduction of high-quality varieties has raised productivity, land-use efficiency and farmers’ incomes.

The provincial agricultural sector is also working to preserve and develop native varieties while proactively producing high-quality seedlings. The province has proposed that the Department of Crop Production recognize 54 mother pomelo trees and four certified mother orchards for early-ripening TL1 jackfruit, red-fleshed ID1 jackfruit, HK2 star apple and SR-1 custard apple. This proactive approach ensures better productivity and product quality, forming a solid base for developing key fruit-growing areas.

Điện Biên currently has six safe fruit supply chains (for oranges, pomelo, pineapple and jackfruit) and seven region codes granted for domestic planting areas producing pineapple, oranges, pomelo, jackfruit and mango, covering a total of 25.5 hectares. This is an important step toward meeting traceability and food safety requirements, advancing official export, and building Điện Biên’s agricultural brand.

With a clear development vision and strong cooperation among local authorities, businesses and farmers, Điện Biên is gradually shaping concentrated commodity production zones, creating closed value chains from farming to processing and marketing. This marks an important step in bringing local agricultural products to wider markets, strengthening brand recognition and increasing farmers’ incomes.