Háng Lìa A and Háng Lìa B villages, Tìa Dình commune, are home to more than 120 Hmông ethnic households. People’s lives remain difficult, and their livelihoods mainly rely on spontaneous, small-scale cultivation and livestock farming.

Among them, the concentrated rice production area of the two villages is about 39ha. Every year, rice sowing and cultivation only take place for one crop from April to August; during the remaining months, people leave the land fallow without any cultivation.

Explaining this, Vàng A Mua, head of Háng Lìa A village, shared: “People also want to grow two rice crops per year to gain more income for economic development and poverty reduction. However, the concentrated cultivation area of the two villages faces water difficulties. Previously, people tried planting a second rice crop but had no harvest and poor yields... meanwhile, the costs of seeds, fertilizers, and labor were high, so people tried once and then gave up.”

Immediately after merging the two-level local government, economic development became the top goal set by Tìa Dình commune. To promote production in the one-crop rice area of Háng Lìa A and Háng Lìa B villages, making use of available land resources and soil conditions, the local Party committee and authorities have built and implemented a community production development support project for planting potatoes in the two villages, with the Tìa Dình commune Economic Office as the investor.

Nguyễn Đức Đô, Vice Chairman of the Tìa Dình commune People’s Committee, said that since the end of October 2025, the commune has coordinated with relevant units and people to organize training on land preparation, planting, and potato care techniques. Through surveys, the commune supported 10 households (8 poor and near-poor households), while assigning 4 officers to directly provide technical guidance and appointing additional local officers to accompany and help people plant winter-spring potatoes in their one-crop rice production area.

Up to now, the total experimental potato planting area of the two villages has reached 2.2ha. Care, pest inspection, and top-dressing schedules are jointly carried out by commune officers and the people.

Ly Thị Bấu, from Háng Lìa A village, shared: “Previously, my family also tried to grow a second rice crop, but there was no harvest. Seeing our land left idle felt like a waste, but we didn’t know what to plant. At the end of last year, the commune and the village head encouraged experimental potato planting, so my family participated by planting 5,000m2. Initially, I was confused about how to provide proper care, but during the process, there are always officers working alongside and providing technical guidance, so my family feels very secure. Looking at each row of lush green, well-growing potatoes, everyone and I are very happy.”

According to the 2025 review results, Tìa Dình commune has nearly 35% poor households and 15.53% near-poor households. As a highland commune with non-synchronized infrastructure, the application of science and technology in production and experience in building economic development models based on available strengths remains limited. Therefore, promoting the restructuring of crop varieties and experimentally planting new crops in the locality brings a new direction, creating momentum for diverse and sustainable agricultural development.

Vàng A Lầu, an agricultural extension officer in Tìa Dình commune, said: According to preliminary evaluations, after more than a month of experimental potato planting in Háng Lìa A and Háng Lìa B villages, the crop is suitable for the local soil and climate, growing well. Currently, there are small tubers; if conditions are favorable, they will be harvested in about 2 months. This is the first crop; if effective, it will serve as a foundation for people in Háng Lìa A and Háng Lìa B as well as other villages in the commune to utilize one-crop rice land for intercropping two more vegetable crops to develop the economy.

Joining hands to support people in experimenting and restructuring crop varieties has initially brought positive signals to Tìa Dình. It can be seen that the companionship of the local Party committee and authorities creates a solid foundation for people to shift crop structures, develop diverse agricultural products, and promote stable and sustainable local economic development.