Cà Văn Chanh, one of the pioneering farmers who trialed macadamia cultivation in Tuần Giáo commune, recalled his initial hesitation. “We planted 260 macadamia trees as a trial, but I constantly worried about whether the trees would adapt to the soil and produce fruit. By the sixth year, when the trees began to flower and bear fruit, I finally felt relieved. Especially when we sold the first harvest at VND 100,000 per kilogram of fresh nuts, it sold out quickly and at a good price. The economic value was clearly higher than that of corn or cassava, so we were very encouraged,” he shared.

Lò Văn Khiên from Che Phai 1 hamlet, Chiềng Sinh commune, also decided to restructure his farming model by planting both macadamia and coffee on his hillside land. After participating in training sessions and learning from other farmers’ experiences, he planted 80 macadamia trees in 2023. Encouraged by the trees’ growth and suitability to the local soil and climate, he planted an additional 160 trees in 2024 and plans to plant 100 more this year.

Following the merger of four communes, Chiềng Sinh (old), Nà Sáy, Mường Thín, and Mường Khoong, into the new Chiềng Sinh commune, the locality has seen positive results in agricultural restructuring, particularly in expanding macadamia cultivation. In the former Nà Sáy commune alone, over 90 hectares of macadamia were planted in 2023 and 2024. Local authorities are actively promoting proper care of existing trees while encouraging more households to register for new plantings. For 2025, nearly 70 additional hectares will be planted, with 137 households participating.

Similarly, Mường Thín is also expanding macadamia cultivation. In 2025, 150 households registered to grow macadamia across 46 hectares. Đỗ Văn Sơn, Chairman of the Chiềng Sinh commune People’s Committee, stated” “After merging the communes, we plan to make macadamia a key crop. Its economic value promises a sustainable direction for local farmers and positive outcomes in agricultural restructuring.”

Pu Nhi commune is another area with significant macadamia cultivation. The commune currently has around 530 hectares under cultivation through cooperative and private partnerships. Đinh Quang Bạo, Chairman of the Pu Nhi commune People’s Committee, emphasized: “We consider macadamia a key crop that will ensure long-term livelihoods. The local government will work closely with farmers and businesses to ensure the success of these macadamia projects.”

Since 2016, Điện Biên has identified macadamia as well-suited to its climate and soil conditions. The province has now planted around 12,000 hectares, and since 2015, some areas have begun harvesting. As of now, around 1,000 hectares are producing fruit, yielding over 1,000 tons of fresh macadamia nuts annually. Beyond its contribution to agricultural restructuring, the sector also creates jobs for more than 600 permanent workers and over 1,000 seasonal laborers, with monthly incomes ranging from VND 5 to 12 million.

Under the province’s forestry economic development plan, Điện Biên aims to cultivate 120,000 hectares of macadamia by 2030. To achieve this, policies have been introduced to attract investment in two forms: state-leased land for businesses and contract-based partnerships between investors and farmers. Variety selection is also a top concern for local authorities, technical departments, and farmers.

Currently, all macadamia varieties grown in Điện Biên are high-yield, high-quality strains certified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. Most of these varieties are sourced from reputable seed companies in the Central Highlands. To ensure local supply, Điện Biên has also established two certified seed orchards with 595 recognized mother trees. The Macadamia Development Investment Joint Stock Company produces around 300,000 seedlings annually for both local and external markets.

At a recent voter meeting following the 9th Session of the 15th National Assembly, Lê Xuân Cảnh, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, proposed that the Government invest in four large reservoirs with a total capacity of 40 million cubic meters and a combined budget of around VND 3 trillion. The goal is to accelerate agricultural restructuring, support macadamia development, and adapt to climate change. “Điện Biên is shifting from low-value short-term crops to high-value long-term crops, with macadamia and coffee as key pillars. While we’ve planted 12,000 hectares of macadamia and over 8,000 hectares of coffee, they still rely entirely on rainwater,” stressed Cảnh.

His remarks highlight the strategic importance of building water storage infrastructure, not just for irrigation, but also for securing long-term success in agricultural restructuring, particularly in developing macadamia as a priority crop.

The province’s push to transition from low-value crops to high-value ones like macadamia is becoming a central strategy. To realize this vision, there must be coordinated involvement from all departments, sectors, localities, and enterprises. Together, they can build a modern, efficient, and sustainable agriculture sector that transforms the face of upland villages in Vietnam’s far Northwest.