Applying technology to processing.

To date, Son La province has over 83,757 hectares of fruit trees, of which 63,207 hectares are in production, yielding over 379,000 tons. To preserve agricultural products for longer periods, increase product value, and facilitate exports, the province has intensified investment, support, and development of 17 factories and 543 agricultural processing facilities.

BHL Cassava Starch Processing Plant, Mai Son Industrial Zone.

Quyet Thanh Agricultural Cooperative is a leading unit in fruit cultivation and processing to enhance the value of agricultural products, contributing to the diversification of OCOP products in the Moc Chau plateau region. Established in 2018, the cooperative initially had 7 members with 8 hectares mainly growing persimmons and plums. To date, the cooperative has grown to 26 members with 28 hectares of plums and 6 hectares of persimmons produced according to VietGAP standards. On average, the cooperative sells over 300 tons of various fruits to the market annually, generating revenue of over 4 billion VND. Cooperative Director Pham Van Quyet shared: Currently, the cooperative maintains 6 processing and drying lines for various fruits, with a capacity of 1.2 tons of fresh fruit per day. The cooperative's investment in dried fruit processing lines has contributed to creating a stable market and increasing the value of local agricultural products.

The province's processed industrial products are increasingly diverse, abundant, high-quality, and well-designed. The province has 154 OCOP (One Commune One Product) products, including 1 product achieving 5 stars, 56 products achieving 4 stars, and 97 products achieving 3 stars... The value of processed products has significantly increased and is well-received by domestic and international consumers. Notable products include tea, coffee, milk, cassava starch, sugar, and dried fruits... Among these, coffee has been exported to Germany and Malaysia; tea to Japan, Taiwan, and Afghanistan; cassava starch to China and Canada; and dried longan to China and South Korea...

Packaging of dried mangoes at Quyet Thanh Agricultural Cooperative, Moc Chau Farm Town.

In October 2023, Phuc Sinh Son La Joint Stock Company inaugurated a Cascara tea processing line in Mat village, Chieng Mung commune, Mai Son district. Mr. Vu Viet Thang, the company's director, stated: After nearly a year since launching the new Cascara tea product, for the 2024 coffee crop season, the Cascara tea processing line has reached a capacity of 10 tons of ripe coffee cherries per day, equivalent to 1 ton of finished tea per day. The line features a multi-functional system for washing, peeling, UV drying, and cold drying, ensuring cleanliness and preserving the original flavor and color. In addition, the automated packaging process produces square and triangular filter bags. The company's Cascara tea product contributes to environmental protection and sustainable agricultural development, as the raw material for tea production is ripe coffee husks.

Focusing on developing the agricultural processing industry contributes to the consumption of a large portion of the province's agricultural output and that of some neighboring provinces, such as: processing 100% of fresh tea, fresh coffee, milk, and sugarcane; processing over 40% of cassava; and over 20% of various fruits... This significantly contributes to sustainable consumption, enhances the value of agricultural products, improves farmers' income and living standards, and increases local government revenue.

Strengthening research efforts

Over the past three years, Son La province has implemented 32 science and technology projects, with agriculture accounting for nearly 70%. Notably, in the coffee sector, research has focused on selecting new, high-yielding, high-quality coffee varieties to replace older ones, suitable for Son La's soil and climate conditions; research on pest and disease control and waste treatment from coffee husks... contributing to expanding the planted area to nearly 20,000 hectares, with a production of approximately 400,000 tons of fresh fruit per year, an increase of about 15-20% compared to older varieties. These new varieties also exhibit high resistance to rust disease, better tolerance to various pests and diseases, and improved quality for export.

Sorting pineapples for processing at the Doveco Son La Fruit and Vegetable Processing Center.

For fruit trees, research on selecting, breeding, and experimentally planting varieties of avocado, mango, plum, and persimmon has been successful. In particular, the urgent national-level local research project "Research on scientific and technological solutions to improve productivity, quality, and sustainable longan production in Son La and some northern provinces" was implemented in Son La province. The results led to the selection of four longan varieties/lines with strong growth potential, good quality, and a naturally extended harvest season of over 60 days, such as the early-ripening longan NS203; the main-season ripening longan T6; and the golden-yellow longan 205.

As a major longan-growing area in the province, Song Ma district has researched and introduced new varieties for cultivation and grafting. Currently, it has over 10 hectares of the "Golden Longan 205" variety, of which 4 hectares are yielding harvests, with a productivity of 15 tons/ha. Mr. Hoang Manh Doan, from Doi 3 village, Chieng Khoong commune, Song Ma district, shared: "In 2019, my family grafted over 200 local longan trees with the Golden Longan 205 variety. We noticed that the Golden Longan grows healthily, with large, uniform fruit clusters, dry flesh, and a rich, sweet taste. After one year, we started harvesting, and the harvesting period is longer, making it easier to transport the product over long distances, especially with a selling price of 40-50 thousand VND/kg, twice as high as the price of local longan varieties."

Harvesting longan at Ngoan Hau Agricultural Service Cooperative, Chieng Khuong commune, Song Ma district.

Alongside this, the branding of the province's key agricultural products has been implemented. Mr. Luu Binh Khiem, Director of the Department of Science and Technology, stated: To date, the province has 28 agricultural products bearing the province's geographical names that have been granted protection certificates by the Intellectual Property Office, Ministry of Science and Technology, including 3 geographical indications, 22 certification marks; 3 collective marks; and 2 products protected abroad, namely: Moc Chau Shan Tuyet tea, protected in the Thai market in 2017; and Yen Chau Shan Tuyet tea and round mangoes, protected in the European market according to the commitments in the EVFTA agreement between Vietnam and the European Union, which came into effect in July 2020, contributing to enhancing the reputation and quality of agricultural products and processed products from agricultural products.

Solutions for applying science and technology

Promoting the application of science and technology in agricultural processing plants and facilities in Son La province plays a crucial role in improving the quality and value of agricultural products. Simultaneously, it enhances productivity and income for farmers and processing facilities. However, implementation remains limited due to both objective and subjective reasons.

Among these, objective causes Due to unfavorable transportation infrastructure, costs remain high and delivery times to economic centers and major consumer markets are long, hindering the attraction of strong businesses and investors to the locality. Import markets for Son La's agricultural products are increasingly tightening standards regarding traceability, packaging design, quarantine procedures, and customs clearance.

The subjective reasons include the fragmented nature of agricultural production in the province and the low resources available for implementing programs to support businesses in applying science and technology. Businesses have not prioritized investment in research and development, technological innovation, and product improvement. Investing in modern technological equipment requires significant costs, exceeding the financial capabilities of many small-scale establishments. Some processing facilities lack the capacity to absorb advancements in science and technology, leading to a failure to fully utilize the potential of modern technologies...

A production shift at the Son La Coffee Processing Plant.

Speaking about solutions to promote the application of science and technology in agricultural processing, the Director of the Department of Science and Technology added: Our province urgently needs comprehensive solutions, such as building mechanisms and policies to support agricultural processing facilities, enhancing the capacity to absorb technology and the potential to improve production technology.

Implement policies such as tax reductions, preferential loan support, or provision of technology development funds to help businesses invest in new technologies; promote the application and transfer of technology and technical advancements, especially in the development of the province's distinctive, strong, and key products.

Simultaneously, the application of science and technology to agricultural production, ensuring strict adherence to published production and processing procedures for each product, is linked to the regional development perspective of "Identity - Ecology - Linkage - Happiness," forming a six-party linkage including "State - Farmers - Businesses - Scientists - Banking System - Distributors."

Processing dried longan at Son La Fruit Import-Export Joint Stock Company.

Promoting the application of science and technology in crop cultivation and care, and developing the agricultural processing industry, is an inevitable trend. This not only ensures productivity and product quality, enhances market competitiveness, but also reduces labor and production costs. The effective implementation of policies supporting the application of technology in agricultural production and processing will undoubtedly transform the province's agriculture, contributing to exceeding many targets set in Resolution No. 06-NQ/TU dated January 21, 2021, of the Provincial Party Committee on the development of the agricultural processing industry in Son La province for the period 2021-2025 and orientation to 2030.

Quynh Ngoc