Ethnic minorities in Son La highlands convert crops on their fields

Along National Highway 6, National Highway 279D, or National Highway 4G ofSon La province, everywhere we can see green fruit gardens on hillsides and valleys. Thanks to the green color of fruit trees, ethnic minorities in the mountainous areas of Son La have risen up to escape poverty, stabilize their lives and build sustainable agriculture.

For the family of Mr. Luong Van Muoi, a Thai ethnic, born and raised in Chieng Khoong, Son La province. Previously, his family, like many other households in the village, depended mainly on corn and cassava on the fields. "In good harvest years, prices dropped, in good harvest years, prices dropped", and thus hunger and poverty continued to surround them.

Mango orchards are grown on sloping land in Son La. Photo: Van Ngoc

However, since the policy of growing fruit trees on sloping land was promulgated, with the support and propaganda from all levels and sectors, along with participating in training courses and conferences on fruit tree development, Mr. Muoi's family has boldly gradually converted the ineffective corn and cassava fields to longan fields. Thanks to that, his family has a more stable income and has risen out of poverty.

Mr. Luong Van Muoi's longan garden is about 5 hectares wide, located on a high hillside. This used to be the swidden land his father left behind, specializing in sowing corn and growing cassava to make a living. At first, Mr. Muoi only dared to try planting 1.3 hectares of late-ripening Hung Yen longan, working and learning, accumulating experience. When he saw high efficiency, he expanded production to the entire 5-hectare area.

"Before, my family was also in difficulty, lacking food and clothing every day. Since switching to growing longan trees, with technical support from the State, every year the longan crop has a lot of fruit. Every season, traders come to buy directly from the garden, giving my family a stable income," Mr. Muoi shared.

The fruit garden of Mr. Luong Van Muoi's family, Thai ethnic group, Chieng Khoong, Son La province. Photo: Van Ngoc

In Muong Bu commune, one of the localities with large fruit growing areas in Son La province, thanks to promoting fruit tree development, local people have had stable incomes and become rich. To develop fruit trees sustainably, this locality has had specific solutions.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Hiep, Vice Chairman of Muong Bu Commune People's Committee, said: In recent years, the commune has promoted and mobilized people to choose crops suitable for local conditions such as mango, jackfruit, apple, lychee, banana... We have coordinated with specialized agencies to organize training and technical guidance on fruit tree care, organic production, VietGAP standards, changing the thinking and production methods of farmers, gradually building brands, expanding domestic consumption and export markets.

Up to now, the whole Muong Bu commune has more than 3,400 hectares of fruit trees of all kinds, with an output of more than 20,000 tons of fruit per year. People's lives have gradually improved, the poverty rate has decreased to 4.25%.

From growing fruit trees, people in Muong Bu commune have a stable income. Photo: Van Ngoc

Fruit trees help ethnic people in Son La to have a prosperous life

In the period of 2016 - 2025, the whole Son La province has converted and newly planted nearly 62,000 hectares of fruit trees, increasing the total area of fruit trees and hawthorn to 85,000 hectares. The fruit output in 2025 is estimated at 510,000 tons, making Son La the province with the largest fruit tree area in the North and the second in the country. The production value per hectare of fruit trees is 150-300 million VND/year; some typical models reach 400-500 million VND/ha/year, compared to 2016, the value has increased by 4-10 times (from 110-430 million VND/ha).

Son La province has formed 201 fruit value chains with a total area of over 4,500 hectares; 335 enterprises and cooperatives grow fruit trees with an area of nearly 9,400 hectares. Notably, 2,200 hectares of fruit trees apply water-saving irrigation systems; over 4,750 hectares are certified to VietGAP standards and equivalent; 218 growing area codes, 31 branded agricultural and food products, of which 14 fruit products have been granted protection certificates by the Department of Intellectual Property. Son La is also recognized as having 8 high-tech application areas for cultivation and 59 fruit products are certified as OCOP products.

The province's fruit products have gradually built their brands in the domestic and international markets and have joined the export value chain. From 2017 to 2025, Son La fruit has been exported to 15 countries with an output of over 158,000 tons. In addition, the province has promoted attracting businesses to invest in vegetable and fruit processing factories.

The province currently has 560 factories and agricultural processing facilities, including 17 large factories, 543 facilities; over 2,994 longan and agricultural product drying facilities and 40 cold storages. There are 59 OCOP products produced and processed from the fruit. The consumption price of fruit products continues to be kept stable at a high level, contributing to improving farmers' income, creating more jobs, and developing the local socio-economy.

Fruit trees help ethnic minorities in Son La province have a stable income. Photo: Van Ngoc

At the conference summarizing 10 years of implementing the policy of planting fruit trees on sloping land, Mr. Hoang Quoc Khanh, Secretary of Son La Provincial Party Committee, affirmed: Fruit trees have brought stable income to local people, contributing to promoting local economic development.

The Secretary of the Son La Provincial Party Committee requested the Provincial Party Committee, Party Committees, authorities, the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations to pay attention to leading, directing and encouraging the development of fruit trees in the direction of green, organic and circular agriculture. Shifting strongly from building fruit supply chains to developing industry value chains. Connecting actors in the chain according to the principles of transparency, responsibility and sharing benefits according to the level of value contribution. Strengthening the linkage of 6 parties (farmers - state - enterprises - banks - scientists - distributors) with the core being the linkage of farmers - enterprises.

Son La province will continue to effectively build and develop concentrated fruit material areas; apply science and technology, promote digital transformation, transform production structure, synchronize mechanization, improve fruit processing and preservation capacity according to production linkage models in value chains associated with raw material area quality standards. Build safe fruit value chains, implement programs and projects to issue codes for growing areas, and trace the origin of the province's fruit products. In particular, link the development of concentrated fruit growing areas with the development of eco-tourism.

Son La will also continue to research and issue mechanisms and policies to encourage and attract businesses, cooperatives and people to invest in developing fruit trees in the province. Develop the fruit processing industry, prioritizing support for fruit products that have advantages of the province and are eligible for export. Form a number of industrial zones and clusters and services to serve fruit production, linking fruit production areas with fruit processing and trade.

Fruit growing area in Chieng Khoong commune, Son La province. Photo: Van Ngoc

Invest in improving processing, preservation and logistics services for major fruit growing areas, focusing on the province's key fruit products. Improve the operational efficiency of connection systems, promote fruit product consumption; diversify distribution and consumption channels to ensure sustainability and stability, prioritizing the development of e-commerce, digital transformation, and application of artificial intelligence. Focus on developing the domestic fruit product market, maintaining stability in traditional markets, expanding and diversifying export markets.

With strategic orientations and constant efforts, Son La is affirming its position as the "capital" of fruit trees in the North, bringing a prosperous and sustainable life to ethnic minorities.