The Provincial Agricultural Extension Center is supporting a model of intensive and safe pineapple cultivation in Lom Lau village, Chieng On commune, Quynh Nhai district.

With funding from the central and provincial budgets, the Agricultural Extension Center has implemented 47 types of agricultural extension models in the cultivation of food crops, industrial crops, fruit trees, and forestry, with over 26,000 households participating. Notable examples include the improved SRI rice intensive farming model; safe and off-season vegetable production; grafting and improving fruit orchards; intensive cultivation of late-ripening longan; grafting and improving early-ripening longan to stagger the harvest; intensive cultivation of mangoes according to VietGAP standards; the Yen Chau banana value chain; planting and intensive cultivation of Chieng Co mandarins; integrated agroforestry models on sloping land; intensive cultivation of macadamia, green teak, and acacia trees...

"Building and developing the 'Golden Longan 205' model according to VietGAP standards" is one of the typical models implemented by the National Agricultural Extension Center and Son La province in cooperation during the 2023-2025 period. To date, the model has provided seedlings, supported the planting of 3 hectares of new trees, and provided grafting material for improving 4 hectares using the Golden Longan variety, establishing mother orchards in Mai Son and Song Ma districts and Son La city.

Mr. Pham Anh Hong, from sub-district 17, Hat Lot town, Mai Son district, shared: In 2023, with the support of the project, his family grafted and renovated 1.3 hectares of longan orchard with the golden longan variety 205. With the guidance of agricultural extension officers in technical aspects, his family's longan orchard has developed well, with a graft survival rate of over 90%.

Within the framework of the central government project for the period 2022-2024, "Building a model for fruit production according to VietGAP standards, serving the development of raw material areas linked to consumption in some Northwestern provinces," the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center has implemented 5 models supporting intensive cultivation of fruit trees according to VietGAP standards, including 20 hectares of mangoes, 5 hectares of passion fruit, and 20 hectares of pineapples, contributing to improving the quality and value of the province's agricultural products.

With the support of the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, the Song Ma Mango Agricultural Service Cooperative has successfully implemented a model of intensive, safe mango cultivation according to VietGAP standards. Mr. Nguyen Van Vuong, Director of the Cooperative, shared: This year, despite unfavorable weather and drought during the mango flowering and fruiting period, thanks to the correct application of technical procedures and the use of fruit bagging, the cooperative's 10 hectares of mangoes still achieved a yield of 20 tons/ha and received VietGAP certification. Not only did it meet domestic consumption standards, but it was also exported to the Chinese market, bringing in revenue of approximately 1.4 billion VND.

Ms. Cam Thi Tham, Deputy Director of the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, assessed: Agricultural extension models focus on transferring advanced farming techniques suitable to local conditions. In addition, the effective combination of demonstration models and training helps raise awareness and positively change the mindset and farming practices of farmers, thereby promoting the application of science and technology in agricultural production. These agricultural extension models also spread and develop into concentrated production areas, meeting market demands, bringing economic efficiency, and increasing farmers' income.

In addition, the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center focuses on building sustainable agricultural production models that are environmentally friendly and ensure public health safety, applying VietGAP, GlobalGAP, and organic production standards, making a significant contribution to improving the quality and reputation of local agricultural products. To date, the province has planted over 84,000 hectares of fruit trees and hawthorn trees; has 5 high-tech agricultural zones; more than 2,700 hectares of crops meet good agricultural production standards; more than 8,200 hectares are produced organically; 280 safe food supply chains; 28 products have been granted trademark protection and 151 OCOP products...

Based on practical local needs, leveraging the advantages of each region and crop, and aligning with the province's agricultural development and restructuring orientation, Son La's agricultural extension service has been and continues to build effective agricultural extension models, helping farmers increase their income, improve their living standards, and contribute to the province's socio-economic development.

Phan Trang