Farmers in Mai Tien village, Muong Bon commune, Mai Son district tend to their vegetable garden.

Coming to Muong Bon commune, I was impressed by the green, sprawling vegetable fields and the urgent working atmosphere in the early days of the new year. Mr. Pham Van Manh, Mai Tien village, waved his hand to introduce the vegetable area: Here, there is an abundant water source from Tien Phong lake irrigation, so households focus on growing green vegetables to supply Son La city. My family grows more than 5,000 m2 of cabbage, green mustard, tomatoes, cucumbers and spices, using an automatic irrigation system with sprinklers; after each crop, we plant another crop, not letting the land rest. Each year, we supply the market with nearly 500 tons of vegetables of all kinds, which are purchased by cooperatives and agents at the garden, earning over 600 million VND.

Mr. Lo Van Buu, Vice Chairman of Muong Bon Commune People's Committee, informed: The whole commune has over 164 hectares of vegetables, mainly green mustard, tomatoes, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, cauliflower and spices. The commune encourages people to take advantage of vacant land, convert ineffective crop land to vegetable growing; link up to establish 6 agricultural cooperatives, produce according to VietGAP standards. In addition, the commune proactively coordinates with specialized units, departments and offices of the district to organize training and transfer techniques to farmers; accept bank loans, helping farmers have capital to develop production. The commune's vegetable output reaches over 16,500 tons of vegetables, tubers and fruits, mainly sold and consumed at safe vegetable stores in the province and supermarket systems in Hanoi.

People of Hoang Van Thu village, Chieng Mung commune, Mai Son district take care of their vegetable garden.

Meanwhile, in Chieng Mung commune, with 67 hectares of vegetables, the market receives an average of 7,000 tons of products each year. Mr. Pham Duy Hung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Chieng Mung commune, shared: The commune encourages people to actively improve the soil, increase the cultivation of economically effective vegetables; invest in machinery, technological equipment, apply cultivation processes according to VietGAP standards, and apply techniques in production. In 2025, the commune strives to grow 70 hectares of various vegetables.

Currently, the district has formed specialized vegetable growing areas concentrated in the communes of Chieng Mung, Co Noi, Muong Bon, Hat Lot, Na Bo, Hat Lot town... with a total area of ​​over 1,700 hectares of vegetables, tubers, and fruits of all kinds, with an output of nearly 22,000 tons/year. By 2025, the whole district strives to cultivate 1,750 hectares of vegetables; expand the production area applying high technology for tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, onions, garlic... to meet market demand and increase income.

Cabbage growing area according to VietGAP standards in Hoang Van Thu village, Chieng Mung commune, Mai Son district.

Mr. Nguyen Khac Hao, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Mai Son district, said: The district directed specialized departments and offices to open training courses on vegetable cultivation techniques, quality management and product marketing; invest in traffic infrastructure, irrigation systems and other auxiliary works to support the cultivation and transportation of products; promote and link cooperatives and enterprises to ensure stable product consumption and increase economic value; build specialized areas, improve product quality, meet market demand...

Mai Son district encourages people to expand their cultivation area, deploy production chains towards high technology, and produce safe vegetables. At the same time, create favorable conditions for businesses and agents to participate in consuming products for farmers, effectively promote the role of cooperatives in organizing production, creating jobs, increasing income for people, contributing to promoting local economic development.

Minh Tuan