Son La province is gradually and effectively exploiting its natural potential and advantages to develop agriculture in a high-tech direction, increasing production value and income for its people. The province focuses on transforming the crop structure, expanding the area of ​​production according to VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards, and promoting mechanization and automation in all stages of production.

Many smart agricultural models, applying digital technology in management and product traceability, have been implemented, contributing to improving the quality of agricultural products and meeting market demands. In addition, the locality is strengthening efforts to attract businesses to invest in deep processing and develop integrated supply chains from production to consumption. These synchronized solutions not only improve economic efficiency but also promote the shift in agricultural structure towards a modern and sustainable direction. To date, the province has over 85,000 hectares of fruit trees; 24,300 hectares of coffee; 5,850 hectares of tea; 43,500 hectares of cassava; and nearly 10,000 hectares of sugarcane.

Over the past five years, Son La's agriculture sector has maintained an average growth rate of 3.44% per year, accounting for approximately 23% of the province's economic structure; the average income per hectare of cultivated land has increased by more than 10% per year, reaching approximately 85 million VND/ha. Notably, the proportion of high-tech agriculture accounts for about 10% of the total value of the entire sector, demonstrating the correct direction in reorganizing agricultural production.

Many of the province's key agricultural products are increasingly asserting their position in domestic and international markets. According to a representative of Phuong Nam Cooperative in Long Phieng commune, starting with 80 hectares of longan orchards, the cooperative has expanded its longan cultivation area to 303 hectares through partnerships with 23 households in the region, becoming a large-scale specialized longan growing area. To improve product quality, the cooperative has transferred techniques to its members and partner households for practical application in late-ripening longan production, such as girdling the trunk and pruning branches to inhibit tree growth and delay flowering and fruiting; regularly monitoring the tree's shoots and leaves; and adjusting the nutrient regime appropriately. The entire longan orchard within the cooperative's production area has been certified for food safety, meeting export standards.

According to the Head of the Department of Agriculture and Environment: Based on leveraging regional advantages and concentrated commodity production, Son La province has identified the application of science and technology as a breakthrough to improve agricultural productivity, quality, and competitiveness in the market.

The province has focused on building a legal framework and effectively mobilizing and integrating resources to promote the development of high-tech agriculture. One of the key solutions is reviewing land use planning, creating conditions for land consolidation, and planning to convert approximately 190,000 hectares of forest land without trees to agroforestry production, aiming to optimize land resources and improve livelihoods for the people.

In addition, the province has issued many policies to support the development of livestock farming, medicinal plants, and value chain linkages, thereby attracting businesses to invest in the agricultural sector, reorganizing production, and improving the quality of agricultural products in a safe and sustainable manner. To date, mechanization has reached 100% in land preparation for sugarcane, tea, and rubber, and over 50% for other crops.

In addition, the province supports the application of modern technologies such as drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, greenhouses, and glasshouses; and introduces many new high-yield, high-quality fruit varieties into production. Furthermore, the province promotes digital transformation in agriculture, considering it a crucial solution for transparency and standardization of production processes. It supports the development of a traceability system for 62 agricultural products and 69 other products and goods; manages the OCOP program through digital platforms; and focuses on registering and protecting domestic and international certification marks.

The high-tech grape cultivation model of the people of Son La.

To date, the province has implemented sprinkler and drip irrigation systems for fruit trees and industrial crops on 3,209 hectares; built over 115.5 hectares of greenhouses and polytunnels; achieved organic certification for crops on 264.8 hectares, and VietGAP certification for 5,596 hectares; and certified sustainable production for 23,448 hectares of coffee. The province has recognized 9 high-tech agricultural zones with key products such as tea, dairy cows, coffee, custard apple, mango, longan, and plum; established 262 safe agricultural product supply chains; protected 31 intellectual property rights; registered 218 planting area codes covering over 2,800 hectares; and achieved provincial and national OCOP (One Commune One Product) ranking for 214 products.

The province's agricultural products are present in 21 countries and territories, including many demanding markets with high requirements for quality, food safety, and traceability. To complete the value chain and increase the added value of agricultural products, the province has identified the development of deep processing industries linked to raw material areas as a fundamental and long-term direction.

In recent years, the province has actively attracted businesses to invest in building factories and processing facilities for coffee, fruits, vegetables, milk, and food products right in the raw material areas. To date, the province has over 560 agricultural processing facilities, including 17 large-scale processing plants, which help reduce transportation and post-harvest preservation costs, create stable outlets for farmers and cooperatives, and promote large-scale, standardized production. Many processed agricultural products have been diversified in terms of types and designs, extended their shelf life, and expanded their consumer markets.

Along with product procurement, processing enterprises are also deeply involved in reorganizing production, contributing to changing farmers' farming mindset towards a commodity-based approach, closely linked to market demand.

In addition, the province focuses on developing cold storage systems, post-harvest preservation, and agricultural product logistics, contributing to reducing losses and regulating supply and demand according to seasonal cycles. The development of deep processing is creating a positive ripple effect, promoting the formation of stable raw material areas, production along closed value chains, linked with the application of high technology and environmental protection.

Developing high-tech agriculture is opening up an effective path, creating new impetus for economic growth and improving the lives of people in Son La. Innovating production methods, applying science and technology, and strengthening value chain linkages not only helps improve the quality of agricultural products but also contributes to building a green, safe, and sustainable agriculture.

 

Manh Quan