Having just finished harvesting the seasonal rice, farmers are busy preparing the soil and sowing vegetable seeds. Once considered a minor season, the winter vegetable crop has now become a main production season of the year, ensuring a supply of green vegetables for the market at the end of the year while also bringing a stable source of income to the people.

In the fields of communes like Thanh An, Thanh Nưa, Thanh Yên, Sam Mứn, and Mường Thanh ward, farmers are hastily preparing the soil and planting vegetables such as cabbage, kohlrabi, tomatoes, and cucumbers. The sound of soil preparation machinery mixes with the cheerful chatter of the people, echoing across the fields and creating a vibrant picture of labor in the heart of the Mường Thanh basin, carrying with it the hope for a winter season with a good harvest and good prices.

Mr. Lường Văn Hòa from Mường Thanh ward shared excitedly: “For the past few years, growing winter vegetables has provided a stable income, and the lives of the people have improved noticeably. This year, because floods have damaged vegetable crops in many northern provinces, it is forecasted that winter vegetables will fetch a better price. My family is planting nearly 3,000m² of various vegetables like cabbage and tomatoes on land that has had two rice crops. We are currently focusing on cultivation and hope for a good harvest and good prices this season.”

In recent years, winter vegetable production has proven to be the right direction, bringing clear economic efficiency to farmers. From being considered only a minor season, the winter season has now become the third main production season of the year, helping people to maximize their land use, increase the land use coefficient, and improve their income. Many localities have encouraged and issued support mechanisms to expand winter crop production, which both helps to restructure crops and promotes the development of sustainable commodity agriculture.

Recognizing the importance of winter production, Thanh Nưa commune has focused on developing the third crop season (mainly vegetables) on two-season rice land. With this orientation, each village (especially in the area of the former Thanh Luông commune) has built a specialized vegetable cultivation area of at least 3-5 hectares. The Farmers’ Union coordinates with professional agencies to guide farmers on planting techniques, care, frost prevention, proper fertilizer use, and the implementation of safe vegetable production processes.

Thanks to a proactive, flexible approach that is suitable for the local conditions, the area of winter crops in the commune has been continuously expanded, and production efficiency is increasingly high. While in 2020 there were only about 65 hectares of winter vegetables, the area has now expanded to over 200 hectares. Many farming households, by boldly making changes, applying technology, and linking with markets, now have stable incomes and increasingly prosperous lives. These results affirm the correct direction in developing winter crop production, increasing income, and promoting the restructuring of the agricultural economy towards sustainability.

Recognizing the great potential of winter production, the provincial agriculture sector has proactively developed plans, provided technical guidance, supported with seeds and materials, and promoted market linkages for farmers. For sustainable development, the sector coordinates with local authorities to focus on several solutions: expanding the area in regions with proactive water sources; flexibly restructuring crops to suit the soil and climate of each area; and promoting mechanization and the application of high technology. The goal is to increase the cultivation value per hectare of land and reduce the area of fallow land after the seasonal rice harvest.

For the 2025 winter crop season, the entire province is striving to plant about 1,438 hectares of vegetables, with an expected yield of over 18.4 tons/ha and an output of about 26,500 tons. Currently, people are actively planting and cultivating, concentrating in areas with favorable conditions for water and transport. The crop structure is diverse, prioritizing short-day vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, beans, tomatoes, kohlrabi, and herbs. Localities are advised to arrange a reasonable planting schedule and to strengthen production linkages through cooperative models, linked with traceability and quality standards.

According to Ms. Chu Thị Thanh Xuân, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the sector has directed its professional agencies to develop a 2025 winter production plan that is closely aligned with the conditions of each locality. In this, arranging the planting schedule and crop structure appropriately is considered a key factor in ensuring productivity and quality. For warm-weather crops, localities have basically finished planting before September 30, prioritizing short-day varieties that are easy to care for and can be harvested early, such as corn, beans, leafy greens, winter melon, and pumpkin, crops that can be preserved and processed after harvest, helping to reduce market pressure. As for cold-weather crops, planted after September 30, the use of varieties suitable for the highland climate such as potatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce is encouraged, this is a group of crops with high yield and good quality that meets market demand at the end of the year.

In addition, the agriculture sector advises farmers to practice staggered planting, avoiding mass planting at the same time to limit the “good harvest, low price” situation and to ensure a stable market. Concentrated production by region facilitates cultivation, irrigation, and the application of techniques. Farmers are encouraged to apply production processes following GAP and organic standards, limit the use of chemical pesticides, and prioritize biological fertilizers and products.

With the proactivity of the people, along with the companionship of the government and professional sectors, this year’s winter vegetable crop promises to achieve high yields, bringing a stable source of income for thousands of farming households. The fields, lush with green cabbage and kohlrabi, are gradually covering the landscape after the harvest, signaling a bountiful season. The winter crop is a vivid testament to the innovation in production mindset, affirming the central role of farmers in the development of commodity agriculture.