In Điện Biên, occupational farmers’ branches and groups are progressively promoting their bridging role, creating favorable conditions for farmers to elevate production efficiency, enhance agricultural product value, and improve incomes.

In Na Sang village, Na Sang commune, the “Pineapple Cultivation and Tending” occupational farmers’ group was established in June with 42 members. It serves not only as a gathering place for households cultivating pineapples, but is oriented toward becoming a focal point for exchanging experience, standardizing care protocols, and improving product quality. Trần Kim Cúc, Chairwoman of the Na Sang commune Farmers’ Association, stated that the occupational farmers’ group was established to strengthen cohesion among members, support mutual production development, and step-by-step build a concentrated commercial farming zone locally.

“With pineapples, economic efficiency depends not solely on cultivation acreage or individual household labor, but is intertwined with variety selection, controlling flowering times, harvesting, and post-harvest preservation. When joining the group, members are positioned to exchange experience and jointly resolve problems emerging during production. Through the group, we also promote technical training, instruct on balanced fertilizer use, prevent root and heart rot diseases, and encourage clean farming practices while curbing chemical pesticide usage,” Cúc shared.

Notably, the group’s operational scope does not halt at planting and crop care. According to Quàng Văn Việt, a member of the occupational farmers’ group, since its inception, the group has brought into play its role in connecting and assisting members to access preferential loans to secure capital for production and invest in elevating product quality. In the long run, the group will step up efforts to identify off-take markets, establish consumption linkages, and improve commercial output channels.

Following a similar path, in Đun village, Sáng Nhè commune, the “Commercial Fish Farming” occupational farmers’ branch was established with 77 members. For its members, joining the branch facilitates the exchange of experience in fingerling selection, feed utilization, and handling emerging challenges during the farming cycle - factors that directly determine production costs, survival rates, and the quality of commercial fish.

Lò Thị Hạnh, Chairwoman of the Sáng Nhè commune Farmers’ Association, noted: The occupational farmers’ branch operates under the “five selfs” principle (self-awareness, voluntariness, self-reliance, self-management, self-responsibility) and the “five togethers” (same production sector, same concerns, sharing together, assuming responsibility together, enjoying benefits together). Every member is both a beneficiary and an active contributor to collective activities, thereby building mutual trust and sustaining long-term cohesion.

Stemming from practical needs, the role of the “Commercial Fish Farming” occupational farmers’ branch in Sáng Nhè is demonstrated through concrete initiatives: organizing study visits to farming models, sharing experience, and providing technical guidance. Through these efforts, members access knowledge for practical application, step-by-step overcoming limitations in production methods.

Amid the locality’s orientation to accelerate coffee development, the coffee cultivation occupational farmers’ branch in Nộc Cốc village, Nà Bủng commune was recently established with 24 members. This marks the commune’s first occupational branch in coffee farming, establishing a foundation to unite coffee-growing households toward organized, concentrated production and elevated farming efficiency.

Immediately following its launch, the commune Farmers’ Association organized technical training on seedling selection, planting, crop care, and pest and disease prevention for members and farmers interested in developing coffee. Through this, local residents access technical knowledge, take initiative throughout cultivation, and expand acreage suited to practical conditions.

Across the province, there are currently 45 commune- and ward-level farmers’ associations comprising 90,730 members and 888 branches. Over the first nine months of 2026, Association levels newly established 32 occupational farmers’ branches and groups; nearly 10,900 households registered to strive for good production and business titles across all tiers; and over 11,200 member turns registered and committed to guaranteeing food hygiene and safety. These achievements demonstrate that Association levels are progressively expanding occupational organization models for farmers, helping propel agricultural development toward a green, smart, and sustainable trajectory.