With a clear orientation toward modern and sustainable production methods, the agriculture sector has prioritized the application of science and technology in cultivation, expanded organic farming models, strengthened value-chain linkages, and paid greater attention to processing and market access. Many new models have demonstrated tangible results, helping boost productivity, improve product quality, increase household incomes, and gradually establish the Điện Biên agricultural brand in the market.

In the 2024-2025 winter-spring rice crop, Điện Biên province for the first time piloted a smart rice production model aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions on an area of 85.86 hectares. This marked an important step forward in applying science and technology to agricultural production, enhancing product value while adapting to climate change and protecting the environment. The smart rice farming model uses measurement and monitoring technologies to quantify emission reductions through MRV software, while the “Net Zero Carbon” application is used to verify accuracy and accountability among rice growers. Results show lower production costs and higher yields; notably, farmers also receive income from selling carbon credits, estimated at around VND 880,000 per hectare.

In Mường Nhé commune, in recent years, the Hà Ân Agricultural Services and Production Cooperative has successfully implemented a model of winter melon cultivation based on clean, safe, and high-quality agricultural practices. The entire cultivation process follows standardized technical procedures to limit weeds and pests; traditional bamboo and wooden trellises have been replaced with net systems, while Israeli drip irrigation technology has been applied to maintain soil moisture, ensure adequate nutrition for crops, save water, and reduce labor costs.

According to Nguyễn Hồng Quân from the Hà Ân Agricultural Services and Production Cooperative, the application of technology in production has delivered clear benefits. Production costs have fallen, yields have increased, and products meet quality and safety standards. The effectiveness of winter melon cultivation has also helped farmers recognize that restructuring crop patterns toward commodity-oriented, sustainable agriculture is an inevitable path.

Digital transformation has gradually been rolled out across the agriculture sector. By 2025, the province had 28.5 hectares certified under VietGAP standards that remain valid; 1.3 hectares of vegetables certified under GlobalGAP; and three organic-certified production facilities with a combined area of 13.75 hectares covering tea, fruit trees, and vegetables.

The provincial agriculture sector has also steadily applied digital technologies in crop management, particularly in establishing and managing planting area codes and product traceability systems. In 2025 alone, the province issued seven domestic planting area codes for rice, coffee, pomelo, and jackfruit, bringing the total number of planting area codes to 16, with a combined area of 75.6 hectares. This provides an important foundation for more effective management, greater transparency, and higher value for agricultural products.

At the same time, a range of specialized software and databases have been put into use, including the agriculture sector database, the VAHIS software for veterinary management, and systems for managing breeds, feed, and environmental treatment products in aquaculture, contributing to the modernization of governance and operations.

Lê Xuân Cảnh, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, said that promoting the application of science and technology and digital transformation in agriculture is a long-term, cross-cutting task closely linked to sector restructuring and value enhancement. Implementing the Điện Biên provincial digital transformation program for 2021-2025, with a vision to 2030, the agriculture sector has focused on key solutions, foremost among them applying technology in production, managing planting areas, and facilitating the consumption of agricultural products.

Digital transformation not only serves State management but also directly supports producers through tools such as product traceability, disease surveillance, and market connectivity. These form the basis for improving productivity and quality, reducing production costs, and gradually building a modern, sustainable agricultural sector suited to local conditions.

Currently, the Department of Agriculture and Environment is strengthening cooperation with technology companies and telecommunications providers to develop digital infrastructure and expand the practical application of technology in production, including planting area management, product traceability, and forecasting of crop and livestock diseases. These solutions help reduce risks, improve product quality, and create favorable conditions for product consumption and the development of e-commerce in agriculture.

From changes in production methods to increasingly modern management practices, science, technology, and digital transformation are gradually laying a new foundation for agriculture in Điện Biên, steering the sector toward sustainable development aligned with real-world conditions.