Sugarcane is transported to the factory within 48 hours of harvesting – a crucial timeframe for determining quality and sugar extraction efficiency.

Right from the start of the season, Son La Sugar Corporation sent a team of technicians to the sugarcane growing area in Hua Phan to guide the people on proper harvesting techniques, loading, and storage to ensure that the quality of the sugarcane is not affected during long-distance transportation.

Simultaneously, the company also provides specialized machinery and training to local people on how to operate it effectively, contributing to increased harvest productivity.

Notably, to ensure that sugarcane is delivered to processing plants within 48 hours of harvesting – a key factor affecting the quality of extracted sugar – Son La province has directed functional forces at the Chieng Khuong border gate (Song Ma district) to implement a fast customs clearance mechanism and streamline administrative procedures.

Specifically, officials from the Son La Provincial Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection were on duty 24/7 to collect sugarcane samples as soon as the trucks arrived at the border gate. The samples were then urgently sent to the Post-Import Plant Quarantine Center 1 for analysis of food safety indicators and pest detection. Thanks to the coordinated and proactive efforts of all parties, the time for inspection and issuance of plant quarantine certificates was shortened to only 8 to 10 hours – significantly faster than the usual process.

To date, Son La Sugar Corporation has purchased over 3,000 tons of sugarcane from Hua Phan province, with a total transaction value exceeding 4 billion VND. The sugarcane is assessed to be of high quality, with good sugar content, meeting the factory's input standards.

According to the company representative, this is the second consecutive year of implementing the sugarcane purchasing program from Hua Phan, and they will continue to maintain and expand the scale in subsequent seasons. For Son La province, this activity also holds great significance in strengthening the close and trustworthy cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Laos – especially in the field of agriculture and sustainable rural development.

Beyond economic benefits, this program also contributes to laying the foundation for the development of inter-regional agricultural value chains, promotes border trade, and serves as a vivid testament to the effectiveness of local diplomacy in the era of deep integration.