More than just an agricultural product, pineapple cultivation in Son La is playing a pivotal role in developing sustainable livelihoods, especially for ethnic minorities in remote areas of Son La province.

In the context of the whole country implementing the Party's guidelines on restructuring agriculture, developing rural areas, and building the rural economy associated with building new rural areas towards ecological agriculture; changing perceptions and approaches to commodity agricultural production, shifting from an agricultural production mindset to an agricultural economic mindset to exploit and promote the advantages of tropical agriculture, and developing large-scale concentrated commodity agriculture, Son La province has proactively organized the implementation of the above policy through intellectual property development programs in the province in stages from 2021 to 2030 to exploit agricultural advantages associated with building local specialty brands.

Pineapple cultivation in Son La province is playing a pivotal role in sustainable livelihood development, especially for ethnic minorities in remote areas. Source: Son La Provincial Information Center.

Among the many agricultural products included in this program, fresh pineapple from Son La stands out as a prime example, bringing clear economic benefits and clearly demonstrating the modern approach to agricultural production and consumption adopted by the leaders and people of Son La. The "Son La Pineapple" brand, protected and developed as a certification mark, is also a concrete testament to the positive changes in economic, social, and environmental aspects resulting from this transformation.

Located in the midland and mountainous region of Northern Vietnam, Son La possesses ideal ecological conditions for pineapple cultivation, with fertile soil, a mild climate, and a large diurnal temperature range suitable for sun-loving crops like pineapples. Taking advantage of this, Son La province has planned and expanded specialized pineapple growing areas in districts such as Quynh Nhai, Muong La, and Song Ma…

Besides the native MD2 honey pineapple variety, Son La province has also introduced several high-yielding pineapple varieties with high nutritional value, suitable for processing and export, such as the Queen pineapple and the Cayenne pineapple – a type of pineapple favored by the international market for its high sweetness, mild aroma, and attractive appearance.

As a result, concentrated production areas have formed, creating a closed value chain from cultivation and harvesting to preservation and consumption, gradually increasing the value of the products.

According to the General Statistics Office of Son La province, as of 2024, Son La province had established pineapple growing areas with a total area of ​​442 hectares, and an estimated harvest of approximately 3,397 tons.

This is an impressive figure, reflecting the strong involvement of local authorities and a shift in production mindset from spontaneous to large-scale, commodity-oriented production, forming concentrated, specialized production zones.

Economic value is linked to sustainable livelihoods.

More than just an agricultural product, pineapple cultivation in Son La is playing a pivotal role in sustainable livelihood development, especially for ethnic minorities in remote areas of the province. With its high adaptability, low investment costs, and stable economic returns, pineapple has become an ideal alternative to less efficient crops like cassava and corn. Thousands of households in Son La province have gradually converted and replaced less efficient corn and cassava crops with pineapple cultivation through integrated supply chains.

It is estimated that each hectare of pineapple can yield 25-30 tons, with an average selling price of 5,000-10,000 VND/kg; after deducting costs, the profit is 30-50 million VND/ha. Farmers who invest well, care for their crops properly, and follow the correct technical procedures achieve significantly higher yields and economic efficiency.

The "three-party" linkage model (farmers – businesses – the state) has been implemented synchronously, helping to ensure stable output through procurement contracts, while simultaneously improving production capacity according to safety standards. Many households have escaped poverty and are gradually becoming wealthy from pineapple cultivation.

The development of pineapple cultivation is not merely about agricultural development; it also contributes to poverty alleviation, job creation, and livelihood stabilization for thousands of households in remote areas of Son La province. This is clear evidence of the perspective of economic development linked to social welfare and sustainable development.

Thousands of households in Son La province have gradually converted and replaced less efficient corn and cassava crops with pineapple cultivation through a linked supply chain. Source: Son La Provincial Information Center

From 2021 to the present, the area planted with pineapples in Son La has increased rapidly thanks to the provincial People's Committee's policy of restructuring crop patterns, encouraging people to replace less efficient crops with high-value fruit trees. Son La province has issued many practical support policies such as Resolution No. 50/2022/NQ-HĐND of Son La province on subsidizing seeds and input materials, supporting mulching, providing technical guidance, and especially promoting supply chain linkages.

As a result, in addition to direct consumption by consumers inside and outside the province, Son La pineapples are also sold through contracts with manufacturing and processing businesses, diversifying pineapple products to serve both domestic and export markets.

On November 27, 2024, the "Son La Pineapple" product was officially granted Certificate of Registration of Certification Mark No. 521227 under Decision No. 155613/QD-SHTT of the Intellectual Property Office. This is not only an important legal milestone but also a testament to the persistent efforts of the government and people in building a reputable agricultural product brand.

With the protection of the Certification Mark, products are not only strictly controlled in terms of origin and quality in compliance with safe production processes, but also have the opportunity to increase value, expand markets, and promote sustainable ecological agricultural development.

Simultaneously, trade promotion activities – from agricultural fairs and supply-demand connections to e-commerce platforms – have been strongly implemented, helping Son La pineapples gradually establish their brand in the domestic market and raising expectations for future export markets.