However, due to continuous cultivation, lack of selection and seed management, many indigenous varieties have deteriorated, degenerated, and seen reduced yield and quality. Faced with this situation, the province is focusing on conserving, restoring, and developing indigenous plant varieties, preserving precious genetic resources, and maintaining the unique highland agriculture.

Clearly recognizing the importance of conserving agricultural genetic resources, Điện Biên has implemented many scientific topics and projects to preserve and promote the value of endemic plant varieties. A typical example is the project “Restoring the variety, building planting area codes, and linking production with processing and consumption of Mường Phăng - Điện Biên nếp tan rice,” led by the Department of Science and Technology and implemented in late 2023 in Mường Phăng commune. The Mường Phăng nếp tan rice variety is a rare indigenous genetic resource.

To conserve and develop this specialty rice, in December 2024, the provincial People’s Committee issued a decision approving adjustments to the project. Accordingly, the focus is on building a linked production model associated with the processing and consumption of Mường Phăng nếp tan rice, on a scale of 100 - 150ha over 2 years. At the same time, it aims to form a consumption linkage chain for 300 - 400 tons of commercial nếp tan paddy meeting VietGAP standards. This is an important step in restoring the precious genetic resource, aiming to make Mường Phăng nếp tan a key product with a planting area code, traceability, and a sustainable brand in the market.

Implementing the project in 2025, the Department of Science and Technology coordinated with the Mường Phăng commune People’s Committee to deploy it on a 2,500m² pilot area. According to Trịnh Doãn Hoàng, Head of the Mường Phăng commune’s Economic Office: “The project’s objective is to survey, collect, and evaluate the Mường Phăng nếp tan genetic resource; restore and produce various levels of rice seeds; and complete the technical seed production process for this variety. It also aims to build a linked production model tied to processing and consumption; achieve special recognition and implement the special recognition process for the Mường Phăng nếp tan rice variety; and establish, manage, and monitor planting area codes.” This is a crucial step to restore the original production area of Điện Biên nếp tan rice, preserving the “soul of the rice” in this historical land, while also creating a new agricultural development direction linked to specialty values, enhancing income for the people.

Điện Biên tẻ đỏ rice is a specialty seasonal rice variety commonly grown on terraced fields, upland fields, and along streams in highland communes such as Tuần Giáo, Mường Chà, Tủa Chùa, and Mường Nhé. This is a long-duration rice variety, which tillers well, has a strong stalk, large panicles, and reddish-brown grains with little chalkiness, rich in vitamins and minerals like B1, B2, B6, Fe, Mg, Ca... Not only does tẻ đỏ rice have high commercial value, but it is also an indigenous variety that shows persistent adaptation to Điện Biên’s natural conditions. Tẻ đỏ rice can grow well in many different soil types and microclimates, is fairly drought-tolerant, and resistant to many major pests and diseases like rice blast, bacterial leaf blight, and brown planthopper. However, due to long-term cultivation without selection, restoration, or investment in technical research, the yield and quality of the tẻ đỏ rice variety have declined. Many areas growing tẻ đỏ rice have not maintained its purity, causing the specialty value of this rice to gradually fade.

Faced with this situation, since 2020, within the framework of the task “Researching, exploiting, and developing the genetic resource of Điện Biên tẻ đỏ rice,” scientists have successfully restored this variety. The restoration results have helped improve seed quality, meeting the local demand for high-quality rice production. In particular, with its drought-tolerant and pest-resistant characteristics, tẻ đỏ rice helps develop technical solutions for climate change adaptation in the northern mountainous region. After restoration, the Điện Biên tẻ đỏ rice variety has clearly affirmed its effectiveness in production. Yields have increased by 10 - 15%, the rate of grains meeting commercial standards is higher, and its fragrant, rich flavor is favored by consumers. The successful restoration of the tẻ đỏ rice variety contributes to preserving a precious genetic resource, opening a sustainable development path for Điện Biên’s specialty agriculture.

From the success of conserving and restoring indigenous plant varieties like nếp tan and tẻ đỏ, the province continues to expand research, selection, and protection for other specialty plant varieties, gradually affirming the position of local agricultural products. To date, Điện Biên province has had 11 local plant varieties specially recognized by the Department of Crop Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, including: Pu Lau Queen pineapple, Pu Lau Cayenne pineapple, purple cardamom, Tủa Chùa Shan tuyết tea, Tủa Chùa taro, Phì Nhừ taro, Na Son red peanut, Tìa Dình winter melon, Mường Nhé red peanut, LT16 cassava, and Điện Biên Hmong cucumber (also known as Điện Biên cat cucumber). This is a noteworthy result, reflecting the locality’s efforts in conserving and restoring indigenous plant varieties, affirming their value and brand, and opening opportunities for economic development in specialty commodity agriculture.

Among the recognized plant varieties, many have affirmed their position in the market and become key agricultural products for each region. A typical example is Tủa Chùa Shan tuyết tea, with its strong flavor, sweet aftertaste, and characteristic white “snow” covering the buds, which has been recognized as an OCOP product and exported to many demanding markets. Pu Lau Queen and Cayenne pineapple products also offer high yields and a distinctively sweet, fragrant taste, and are purchased by many enterprises for deep processing.

The effectiveness of developing specialty plant varieties has brought clear changes to Điện Biên’s agricultural economy. Many commodity production zones have been formed, creating jobs and increasing income for the people. The products contribute to diversifying the crop structure, promoting tourism development, and building local brands. Some businesses and cooperatives have linked with farmers in production, processing, and consumption, helping to stabilize outlets and enhance product value, creating a foundation for sustainable specialty agriculture development.

From this practical efficiency, Điện Biên continues to aim for the long-term goal of combining exploitation, development, and conservation using modern scientific methods. This is also an important shift helping the locality to proactively preserve biodiversity and promote indigenous values in economic and cultural development.

The conservation and development of indigenous plant varieties carry scientific significance and profound cultural and social value. Each plant variety is linked to the life, farming practices, festivals, and folk knowledge of the ethnic peoples. Preserving indigenous varieties is preserving the cultural identity of the highlands, creating a foundation for eco-tourism and agricultural tourism to develop. Many localities have linked variety conservation with the development of unique regional products, such as the Shan tuyết tea planting experience in Tủa Chùa, or pineapple farm tours in Điện Biên.