In recent years, cultivation has shown that sweet potatoes are well suited to the soil and climate conditions of Thanh An. The commune now has more than 80 hectares under cultivation, concentrated in villages such as Đồi Cao, Chiềng An and Chiềng Chung. This year’s crop has delivered higher yields and output than previous seasons. Favorable weather, low pest incidence and improved farming techniques have resulted in large, well-shaped tubers with consistent quality. From the start of the harvest, traders have come directly to the fields to purchase produce at stable prices, providing farmers with a solid income.

Đồi Cao village has the largest cultivation area in the commune, with nearly 30 hectares. In recent years, residents have actively converted less productive upland fields into sweet potato farms. As a result, the crop has become a primary source of income for many households, while also reshaping the local agricultural landscape. From an initial plot of just 500 square meters in 2022, Lường Quý Tuấn has expanded to 1.2 hectares, earning nearly VND 200 million per crop after costs. With average yields of 15-20 tons per hectare and prices ranging from VND 13,000 to VND 15,000 per kilogram, sweet potatoes provide a stable, and often higher income compared to other crops.

Thanks to their quality, Thanh An sweet potatoes enjoy relatively strong market demand. Traders purchase directly from fields, often sourcing several hundred kilograms to several tons daily for distribution to markets in other provinces and cities. To secure supply, buyers frequently place advance orders, as produce is quickly sold out during peak harvest periods.

Compared with rice - the traditional staple crop in the area - the economic advantages of sweet potatoes are evident. Rice cultivation depends heavily on irrigation and requires significant investment in seeds, fertilizers and labor. By contrast, sweet potatoes are more adaptable, drought-tolerant, less prone to pests, cheaper to cultivate and have a shorter growing cycle. On average, a single sweet potato crop generates about two to 2.5 times the economic value of a rice crop on the same area.

However, if production remains limited to raw output, the full value of Thanh An sweet potatoes cannot be realized. The biggest bottleneck lies in the raw material zone. Although more than 50 hectares have been zoned for OCOP-oriented development, this area remains insufficient for large scale commodity production. Suitable land for expansion is also limited, as some agricultural land is prone to flooding and unsuitable for sweet potato cultivation. This constrains the formation of large, concentrated farming areas.

In addition, the stability of supply remains an issue. Some farmers still follow traditional practices and may switch crops depending on market prices. Meanwhile, OCOP standards require stable, traceable raw materials with consistent quality.

Another major constraint lies in post-harvest stages. Processing, preservation and packaging remain underdeveloped. Most products are sold fresh at the farm gate, with minimal sorting or standardized packaging, making prices vulnerable to market fluctuations. Consumption is largely short term, leading to price pressure during peak harvest. Storage systems are still basic, with no cold storage facilities, resulting in post-harvest losses and reduced product quality.

Recognizing these challenges, Thanh An commune authorities are gradually rolling out comprehensive solutions. According to the commune People’s Committee, sweet potatoes are being positioned as a potential OCOP product. In addition to encouraging farmers to shift water-scarce land to sweet potato cultivation, the locality is focusing on zoning suitable areas for concentrated production. From just 30 hectares in 2022, the total area has now expanded to 80 hectares.

At the same time, technical guidance on harvesting, processing and storage is being strengthened to improve product quality. In the long term, to address raw material constraints, the commune is promoting value chain linkages and establishing cooperatives to organize production and distribution. Efforts are also underway to attract businesses to invest in deep processing, branding and packaging, gradually enabling Thanh An sweet potatoes to access larger markets.

Thanh An sweet potatoes have clearly demonstrated strong economic potential, offering a viable pathway for restructuring local agriculture. However, to fully unlock this advantage and achieve OCOP status, addressing existing bottlenecks remains essential. With coordinated efforts from authorities, farmers and businesses, the crop has the potential to evolve from a profitable staple into a branded, competitive product, helping elevate local agricultural products in the market.