In Na Sang commune, local authorities have capitalized on the unique advantages of highland villages by launching a pear cultivation project covering more than 30.5 hectares. The project focuses on villages including Thèn Pả, Sa Lông 1 and Chiêu Ly.

The family of Hồ A Vinh, from Chiêu Ly village, is among the pioneers participating in the project. Replacing 700 square meters of previously unproductive upland fields, more than 150 pear trees on his farm are now growing well.

“Our land had become infertile, and maize yields were very low. When the commune encouraged us to grow pears, I immediately signed up. We received full support, including seedlings, fertilizers and cultivation techniques. My family is now taking good care of the orchard and hopes pears will provide a more stable source of income," Vinh said.

Alongside funding from the National Target Program, Na Sang commune has actively mobilized additional social resources. Recently, the commune partnered with the Northern Mountainous Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute to pilot five hectares of early-ripening lychee in  Huổi Mí village.

Participating households received comprehensive support, including 2,000 seedlings, four tonnes of fertilizer, two tonnes of lime, as well as technical training covering every stage from planting to pest management. The pilot project aims to evaluate how well the new crop adapts to local soil and climate conditions before deciding whether to expand cultivation.

According to Trần Hồng Quân, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Na Sang commune, the commune continues to prioritize long-established commercial crops such as pineapple, coffee and macadamia alongside new pilot projects.

“In addition to testing new crops, we are focusing resources on developing our key agricultural products, including pineapple, coffee and macadamia. We are committed to expanding technical support while actively seeking partnerships to secure stable markets for local agricultural products," Quân said.

A similar shift in agricultural thinking is taking place in the border commune of Mường Pồn.

For many years, farmers in Huổi Un village cultivated cassava, maize and upland rice on sloping land. Continuous farming gradually depleted soil fertility, resulting in declining productivity. In response to the commune’s development strategy, villagers have begun replacing traditional crops with perennial industrial crops.

The village has now developed around seven hectares of coffee plantations, all of which are growing well, with plans to expand by another 16 hectares.

Trần Mạnh Minh, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Mường Pồn commune, said: “To implement the commune Party Congress Resolution, we have developed annual and long-term crop restructuring plans for the 2026-2030 period. Our priority is to convert all degraded upland fields into perennial industrial crop plantations."

According to local statistics, in addition to 995 hectares of mature rubber plantations developed through land-use partnerships between local residents and Điện Biên Rubber Joint Stock Company, Mường Pồn is expanding high-value crops such as macadamia, coffee and pineapple through partnerships with private enterprises.

The commune has worked with Liên Việt Company to establish 120 hectares of macadamia plantations. Funding from the National Target Program has also supported the development of 40 hectares of coffee intercropped with macadamia to maximize land-use efficiency.

Meanwhile, financial assistance for poor and near-poor ethnic minority households has enabled the commune to expand coffee cultivation by another 27 hectares and develop 70 hectares of commercial pineapple production, helping diversify crops and improve local incomes.

Speaking about the province’s broader strategy, Phạm Đình Lai, Director of the Agriculture Division under the Department of Agriculture and Environment, emphasized that crop diversification is a cornerstone of Điện Biên’s agricultural restructuring.

“The sector is reviewing and reorganizing production zones to prioritize crops with competitive advantages that are well suited to local conditions. In addition to providing high-quality seedlings, we are strengthening technical guidance and encouraging farmers to participate in value-chain production. These efforts aim to improve land-use efficiency, increase incomes and create sustainable livelihoods, particularly in areas with large ethnic minority populations," Lai said.