Purple taro has long been a characteristic agricultural product of the old Tủa Chùa highland district. After implementing the two-level local government model, the purple taro plant continues to be maintained and developed, step-by-step improving output and quality, affirming its position as a key crop of some highland communes.

Currently, purple taro is grown mainly in Sính Phình and Tủa Thàng communes, associated with the Project “Applying science and technology to build a model of taro production and consumption” chaired by H’mông Cooperative (Sính Phình commune). From 2023 to now, the total model area reached 60.89ha, average yield 15.9 tons/ha, total harvested output reached 942.7 tons. Notably, product quality has clearly improved, meeting requirements for fresh consumption and processing, contributing to increasing economic value per unit area.

With increasing planting area, the market problem was identified by H’mông Cooperative as a key factor to take purple taro “out of the mountains”, accessing consumers in many localities. According to Nguyễn Trọng Huỳnh, Director of the Cooperative, the unit proactively organized consumption in a multi-channel, flexible direction, gradually reducing dependence on small traders. Specifically, the Cooperative developed direct consumption channels through the Cooperative’s fanpage, thereby accessing consumers and traders in many provinces and cities.

At the same time, the Cooperative strengthened direct links with traders at wholesale markets inside and outside the province such as the areas of Điện Biên Phủ, Sơn La, Lai Châu, Hanoi, based on unified agreements on quality standards, classification specifications, and selling prices according to the market. In addition, participating in product display through the provincial Cooperative Alliance at trade promotion events also contributed to promoting purple taro to potential markets.

As a result, during the project implementation time from 2023 to now, H’mông Cooperative has purchased and underwritten about 416 tons of taro, equivalent to about 65% of the commercial output of the model area. The remaining output is flexibly consumed by households through local traders, traditional markets, and on-site retail. The selling price of purple taro is stable in the range of VND 9,000 - 12,000/kg, 20 - 30% higher than before participating in the model; total revenue from selling taro reached VND 141.2 million/ha. Especially, the post-harvest loss rate decreased to 5 - 7% thanks to applying synchronous preliminary processing and preservation measures; no product backlog occurred, taro was consumed timely through built channels.

If purple taro affirms the direction from reorganizing production and consumption markets, purple sticky corn shows clear efficiency of deep processing and product diversification to increase agricultural product value. Tiến Đạt Cooperative (Mường Thanh ward) has just been recognized for 5 OCOP products from purple sticky corn, including: Original crispy dried purple sticky corn, honey flavor, cheese flavor, fish sauce shaken, and spicy fish sauce shaken. These are products welcomed and highly appreciated by the market thanks to characteristic flavors and designs suitable for modern consumption needs.

Purple sticky corn is a familiar agricultural product of the province, but previously it was mainly consumed in raw form, with low added value. Realizing market potential, Tiến Đạt Cooperative researched and invested in developing multi-flavored crispy dried corn product lines, contributing to expanding output and increasing value for corn kernels. Corn raw materials are purchased by the Cooperative mainly from the planting area of Thanh Yên commune, ensuring stable supply and quality. In the 2025 corn crop alone, the Cooperative purchased nearly 50 tons of dried corn, and simultaneously invested in a modern heat pump drying system helping corn dry gradually, keeping original flavor and color along with a sophisticated, careful production process. On average each month, the Cooperative produces and consumes about 5 tons of finished corn products.

Hoàng Văn Tài, Director of Tiến Đạt Cooperative, said that along with focusing on product quality, the unit promotes building a diverse distribution system. Currently, the Cooperative has signed contracts with many distribution channels inside and outside the province, putting products into systems of shops and supermarkets in many localities; products from purple sticky corn have been present in 9 northern provinces. Participating in the OCOP program not only creates a “passport” for products but also contributes to improving reputation and expanding consumption markets.

From purple taro to purple sticky corn, it can be seen that the common point in the journey of bringing local agricultural products far is reorganizing production according to the value chain, tightly attached to the market. When people no longer produce in a fragmented, spontaneous way but participate in linkage models, agricultural products are quality controlled, consumption forms are diversified, and economic value is clearly raised. This is also a direction suitable with the province’s goal of developing agriculture in a sustainable direction - not only increasing output but focusing on quality, building brands, expanding markets, thereby creating jobs, raising income, and improving lives for rural people. When each local agricultural product finds a “way out,” agriculture is not only a livelihood but also becomes an important driving force for the socio-economic development of the province in the new period.