Concentrating on expanding cultivation areas for coffee and macadamia, the locality anticipates that these key crops will create sustainable livelihoods, boost incomes, and contribute to sustainable poverty reduction.

Mường Mùn is a highland commune facing numerous difficulties, characterized by an expansive territory, fragmented and steep terrain, and dispersed farming plots. Production remains primarily household-scale, relying heavily on traditional experience and natural conditions. The application of science and technology remains limited; linkages across production, processing, and consumption are loose, with few sustainable value chains established. Investment resources for production and new-style rural development have not met practical needs, and infrastructure in several highland villages remains unimproved. These factors represent substantial hurdles on the locality’s path toward sustainable poverty reduction.

Consequently, to restructure crop patterns and achieve sustainable poverty alleviation, many households in Mường Mùn commune have boldly transformed their mindsets and production practices, selecting advantageous crops for long-term investment.

The household of Quàng Văn Vượng in Ta Pao village is cultivating over 2.5 hectares of coffee intercropped with macadamia. Among these, 8,100 coffee trees were planted in 2025 using state-supported seeds, nursery-grown and planted in concentrated plots by the family; 600 macadamia trees were planted in 2023, with acreage expanded annually. Thanks to attentive care, the newly planted area is growing well. Several macadamia trees have begun bearing their first fruit, raising expectations of a new income stream for the family.

Quàng Văn Vượng shared that transitioning from fragmented farming to investing in key crops represents not only a change in seed varieties, but a shift in production mindset. Recognizing this, when planting macadamia and coffee, his family identified them as crops requiring a basic construction period; with proper technical care, the establishment of raw material zones, and stable off-take, they will generate long-term revenues.

Identifying macadamia and coffee as two key crops capable of generating high economic value, Mường Mùn commune is focusing on planning and expanding production zones suited to local soil, climate, and altitude conditions. Alongside increasing acreage, the commune emphasizes applying science and technology, mechanization, and advanced techniques to production, processing, preservation, and marketing.

The commune’s orientation is to develop clean, safe, and organic agriculture; eliminate the use of herbicides; and progressively create products meeting VietGAP and OCOP standards, with clear traceability, recognizable branding, and export eligibility. The locality encourages the formation of cooperatives and cooperative groups, establishing linkages among enterprises, cooperatives, and farmers to standardize technical procedures, elevate quality, and secure off-take.

According to Trần Trung Kiên, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Mường Mùn commune, in 2026 the commune was assigned to plant 400 hectares of coffee and 400 hectares of macadamia. However, with determination to tap land potential effectively, the commune proactively set a target right from early in the year to plant 1,142 hectares of coffee - nearly three times the assigned provincial target - and strive for 424.41 hectares of macadamia, surpassing the assigned plan. To date, the entire commune has planted over 1,027 hectares of coffee and more than 297 hectares of macadamia. These figures demonstrate Mường Mùn’s resolve in establishing concentrated commercial production zones.

Beyond expanding acreage, Mường Mùn commune aims to build raw material zones linked with deep processing, step by step developing the “Mường Mùn Macadamia” and “Mường Mùn Coffee” brands into specialty products that elevate local agricultural value. This path addresses the shortcomings of past agricultural production, which was small-scale, lacked linkages, and depended heavily on natural conditions. When local residents participate in raw material zones, adhere to unified production standards, and connect with enterprises, product value will not reside solely in planted acreage, but will be enhanced through processing, brand building, and market distribution.

Currently, the commune still has 36% poor households and 9.7% near-poor households. By 2030, Mường Mùn commune strives to achieve an average per capita income of VND 50 million per year, an increase of 51% compared to 2025, while reducing the poverty rate below 20% and fundamentally meeting new-style rural standards.

To realize these targets, today’s coffee and macadamia acreage is expected to become the foundation for a more efficient commodity agriculture. When key crops take firm root, backed by science and technology, production linkages, and processing, the value of the land will be unlocked, generating additional livelihoods, raising incomes, and opening up a sustainable poverty reduction path for highland communities.