One of the vital steps in this transition is building and developing production zones that meet rigorous standards and qualify for growing zone codes. To date, the entire province has been granted 16 domestic growing zone codes covering a total area of 75.6 ha. This encompasses seven fruit-growing zone codes spanning 25.5 ha in Mường Thanh ward and Mường Nhà, Thanh Yên, Thanh An, and Pú Nhung communes; one tea-growing zone code spanning 16 ha in Mường Lạn commune; six coffee-growing zone codes covering 9.1 ha in Mường Ảng and Quài Tở communes; one macadamia-growing zone code covering 15 ha in Tuần Giáo commune; and one rice-growing zone code covering 10 ha in Mường Lay ward.

While these initial figures are modest, they indicate a clear direction for the agricultural sector in standardizing production. Within these coded zones, residents are step-by-step changing their cultivation habits. Keeping field diaries, using plant protection chemicals properly, and strictly complying with technical workflows have become mandatory requirements. This is a prerequisite for products to satisfy market demands while contributing to the formation of safe and sustainable agricultural production methods.

While growing zone codes establish a foundation for elevating product quality, processing is the key stage that helps multiply the value of agricultural products. The story of purple sticky corn serves as a prime example. Previously, purple sticky corn was primarily consumed in its raw form and depended heavily on traders, resulting in low economic value.

To address this, Tiến Đạt Cooperative in Mường Thanh ward researched and invested in developing multiple lines of multi-flavored crispy dried corn products utilizing local raw materials. The cooperative primarily purchases its raw materials from the growing zone in Thanh Yên commune, ensuring excellent quality and a stable supply source. In the 2025 corn crop alone, the cooperative purchased nearly 50 tons of dry corn. To upgrade product quality, the unit invested in a modern heat pump drying system, which allows the corn to dry gradually at appropriate temperatures, beautifully preserving its natural color and distinctive flavor. On average, the cooperative produces and consumes around 5 tons of finished corn products each month.

Hoàng Văn Tài, Director of Tiến Đạt Cooperative, shared: Along with prioritizing product quality, the unit pushes forward the construction of a diverse distribution network. Currently, the cooperative has signed contracts with multiple distribution channels inside and outside the province, bringing products into shop and supermarket networks across many localities. Products made from purple sticky corn have now appeared in nine northern provinces. Participating in the OCOP program helps the products affirm their quality, elevate prestige in the market, and facilitate favorable conditions to expand the distribution system and connect consumption across multiple localities.

From a corn kernel that was once mainly sold as low-value raw material, it has now become a branded commodity product with a structured distribution network, step-by-step asserting its standing in the market. The added value generated does not stem from expanding areas or increasing output, but from the process of investing to upgrade quality and process products.

Alongside processing, production and consumption linkages are becoming crucial factors helping agricultural products elevate their value. Reality demonstrates that even if a product has good quality, if it lacks a stable market, the producer still faces multiple risks. Conversely, when a concentrated raw material zone is formed with synchronous production organization and the active participation of enterprises and cooperatives in linkages, the product’s consumption outlet will be far better guaranteed.

In Na Sang commune, pineapples are gradually asserting their role as one of the key local crops. Lê Thanh Tâm, Director of the Na Sang Pineapple Cooperative, stated that the cooperative currently hosts 75 members cultivating a pineapple area of around 400 ha, which accounts for over 80% of the total pineapple cultivation area of the entire commune. The large scale of the raw material zone facilitates the cooperative to easily apply synchronous production workflows, connect with markets, and upgrade product competitiveness.

Đằng sau những mô hình cụ thể này là sự chuyển dịch từ tư duy sản xuất nông nghiệp sang tư duy kinh tế nông nghiệp. Instead of merely concentrating on harvested output, production subjects are increasingly caring more about product quality, market demands, processing capacities, and the value brought about per unit of area.

Trần Sỹ Quân, Deputy Head of the Agriculture Sub-department under the Department of Agriculture and Environment, stated that the province is step-by-step building agricultural production zones that apply VietGAP and organic standards linked with consumption and processing networks. Expanding the area of growing zones qualified for growing zone codes serves as an important premise to upgrade the value of agricultural products and satisfy market demands.

Currently, the entire province records over 4,000 ha of fruit trees, more than 12,000 ha of macadamia, and over 8,000 ha of coffee. These are vital spaces to continue developing concentrated commodity production zones, expanding certified areas, and forming more value chains from production to consumption. Output remains the foundation of agricultural production. However, against the backdrop of expanding integration and competition, the value of agricultural products is no longer measured by pure harvest volumes alone.

When products are manufactured according to standard workflows, possess clear raw material zones, and achieve effective processing and market connectivity, each kernel of corn, pineapple fruit, or coffee bean will generate higher value, contributing to upgrading incomes for the people and boosting agricultural development along a sustainable path.