The "key" to increasing the value of agricultural products

Groundbreaking ceremony of Mavin Mai Son Animal Feed Production and Agricultural Product Processing Complex Project. Photo: PV

More deep processing plants

Deep processing helps raw agricultural products “change their appearance” with modern technology, becoming high-value foods, beverages or raw materials. This is the direction to increase value, expand the market and increase competitiveness. Since the beginning of the year, Son La has continuously put into operation and started construction of many concentrated agricultural processing factories.

A typical example is the BHL Son La Modified Starch Factory of BHL Food Ingredients Processing Joint Stock Company. The project is considered a big step forward in increasing the value of agricultural products and affirming the province's right direction in developing the processing industry associated with high-tech agriculture .

Provincial leaders visited the product display booth of Cascara Son La Coffee Processing Joint Stock Company. Photo: PV

Mr. Vu Hung Binh, General Director of BHL Son La Group, said: From the desire to increase the value of cassava, the enterprise invested in building a factory in Mai Son Industrial Park, inaugurated and put into operation on October 9. The project aims to create stable output for raw material areas, promote sustainable production for farmers and increase product value through deep processing. The factory has a scale of 1.64 hectares, a capacity of 300 tons/day and night, including two modern production lines, producing more than 1,000 product codes of 5 main lines, serving the industrial, medical and food sectors, not only meeting domestic demand but also aiming to export to China and many other countries.

Another breakthrough project is the Son La Cascara Instant Coffee Factory of Son La Cascara Coffee Joint Stock Company, which was recently granted an investment policy decision by the Provincial Industrial Parks Management Board on October 13. The project has a total capital of more than VND103 billion, with a designed capacity of 200 tons of Cascara tea, 500 tons of roasted and ground coffee and 3,000 tons of dried husks per year. Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Binh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, said: The project aims to deeply process coffee and Cascara by-products, using advanced technology, not on the list of restricted or prohibited transfers, expected to be completed and put into operation in the first quarter of 2027.

Previously, in September 2025, the Mavin Mai Son Animal Feed and Agricultural Products Processing Factory Complex Project was started in Mai Son Industrial Park, with a scale of 11.15 hectares, a capacity of 500,000 tons/year, and a total investment of 350 billion VND. The project helps solve agricultural product output and provide quality animal feed, completing the agricultural value chain.

At the same time, the instant cereal and dried fruit factory of VFI Investment Trade Production Joint Stock Company (scale of 0.5 ha, capacity of 4,120 tons/year, capital of 39 billion VND) is also being accelerated, expected to be inaugurated in November 2025. The birth of deep processing projects shows clear progress, affirming the right direction of the province in industrial development associated with high-tech agriculture.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee presented the Decision approving the investment policy and approving the investor for the Cascara Son La Coffee Factory Project. Photo: PV

In a short time, the province's investment attraction policies and the potential of Son La have attracted many investors. Up to now, Son La has 19 factories and nearly 600 agricultural processing facilities in operation. Developing deep processing helps reduce post-harvest losses, prolong storage time, limit waste and improve the efficiency of raw material use. At the same time, products are more diverse, meeting domestic and foreign tastes, creating more jobs, increasing income for workers and contributing to sustainable economic growth.

Building clean raw material areas

To ensure a stable and quality supply for processing factories, Son La is planning growing areas according to the strengths of each locality, linked with production chains and product consumption. The whole province currently has more than 80,000 hectares of fruit trees; coffee alone is more than 24,300 hectares, with an output of about 38,000 tons, with two high-tech coffee areas in Mai Son; tea is nearly 6,000 hectares, with an output of about 60,000 tons.

Vinatea Moc Chau is a typical example in developing the value chain of high-quality tea. Established in April 1958, the enterprise has a raw material area at an altitude of 900 - 1,050 m, with ideal climate and soil for tea plants. After more than 65 years, Vinatea Moc Chau still plays an important role in the Son La tea industry and the whole country, currently managing 551 hectares of tea, 100% of which meets the RainForest Alliance (RA) sustainable agriculture standards.

Delegates visited Vinatea Moc Chau's exhibition booth.

In 2022, the People's Committee of Son La province recognized the company's 329.6 hectares of tea as a High-tech Tea Area. Each year, this area produces more than 10,000 tons of fresh buds, processed into about 2,500 tons of dry tea. The factory is invested with modern technology, meeting ISO 22000:2022 standards, meeting strict requirements on food safety and export. The enterprise is a pioneer in applying digital technology in managing raw material areas, monitoring quality and digitizing purchasing and processing processes. In 2024, Vinatea Moc Chau continues to be granted an investment certificate for a tea processing factory with a capacity of 120 tons/day, with a total capital of 85 billion VND.

Along with Vinatea Moc Chau, in the area there are many enterprises and cooperatives that have built production and product consumption chains such as: Doveco Son La, Nafoods Tay Bac, IC Food, Son La Sugarcane, Phuc Sinh Son La Joint Stock Company; BHL Son La Food Ingredients Processing Joint Stock Company... have played an important role in consuming hundreds of thousands of tons of agricultural products and expanding exports to demanding markets such as China, Japan, Korea and the EU.

To date, Son La has 9 high-tech agricultural zones (expected to reach 10 zones by the end of 2025), 5,596 hectares of production according to VietGAP standards and more than 260 hectares of organic production. In the past 9 months, the value of exported goods is estimated at more than 150.3 million USD, up 8.65% over the same period last year. The total output of agricultural products consumed reached 464,384 tons, equal to 98% of the yearly plan, with a value of more than 4,489 billion VND; of which over 370 tons were consumed domestically, 88,875 tons were processed and more than 4,800 tons were exported.

Priority is given to attracting investment in deep processing.

To continue maintaining the development momentum, Son La province prioritizes attracting investment in the agricultural processing industry, especially projects applying high technology, biotechnology, and renewable energy in the direction of a green, circular, and sustainable economy.

Passion fruit processing factory of Nafoods Tay Bac Joint Stock Company.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Cong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, affirmed: Son La identifies three strategic pillars for long-term growth: high-tech agriculture, deep processing industry and green economy. The province focuses on developing concentrated raw material areas, building a close chain of links between enterprises - cooperatives - farmers to ensure stable output, improve productivity and product quality. Promote digital transformation in agriculture, apply technology to manage growing areas, trace origin, build brands and promote Son La agricultural products on digital platforms. Focus on developing modern processing industrial clusters, perfecting logistics infrastructure, expanding export activities. At the same time, the province continues to support businesses in overcoming difficulties, improving the investment environment, promoting internal resources, attracting external resources, creating conditions for projects to be implemented effectively and sustainably.

With a modern technology platform, clear orientation and the joint efforts of the government, businesses and people, Son La is gradually forming a nucleus for large-scale agricultural processing, creating jobs, increasing income and promoting sustainable growth. By 2030, the province aims to become a center for agricultural processing, green agriculture and eco-tourism in the Northwest region.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/kinh-te/chia-khoa-nang-tam-gia-tri-nong-san-rg1UuGRDg.html