Leverage for agricultural development in Bac Kan

Potatoes were a popular crop in Na Ri district many years ago. However, most of them were grown spontaneously by local people, mainly changing the crop structure during droughts. The output was unstable, the products were only consumed in the commune and district markets, so the income was not high and unstable.

Since 2020, with the support and guidance of local authorities, the model of joint potato cultivation has changed this small-scale farming practice. In Tran Phu commune, people organize potato cultivation in association with cooperatives. The cooperative provides seeds, fertilizers, and guides on planting and care techniques for households. When it comes to harvest, the cooperative takes care of the products. In this way, the products are uniform, of good quality, and have stable prices, while people do not have to worry about output.

According to Director of Binh Minh Cooperative Ban Huu Than, in the last crop, the unit deployed joint potato cultivation in seven communes of Na Ri district with an area of ​​nearly 50 hectares, double that of 2024. Because this model has been implemented for several years, people have mastered the techniques, are confident in production, and the yield and quality of potatoes are guaranteed. The soil in Na Ri is suitable for potatoes, so the cooperative will continue to maintain joint cultivation in the following years.

Not only potatoes, the organization of production according to the chain has "elevated" many familiar crops, becoming the main source of income for people in remote areas. In Ban Mun field, Duong Phong commune (Bach Thong district), recent crops have always been covered with green cucumbers. Previously, the rice fields here could only grow two crops per year if there was enough water. Now, switching to growing cucumbers in association with cooperatives, people can grow up to four crops per year. 1,000 m² of cucumbers can bring in an income of about 20 million VND/crop, much higher than growing rice.

Ms. Ma Thi Hat, Ban Mun village, shared: Previously, her family only knew how to grow rice. Seeing other households growing cucumbers in association for stable income, she registered to participate. With the support of the cooperative in terms of seeds and techniques, her family's 1,000 m2 of rice field was quickly replaced with cucumbers. After more than a month, the plants were harvested, the income was higher than growing rice, so in the future she will continue to participate in joint planting.

Thanks to the methodical direction and active integration of support resources, in recent years, districts and cities in Bac Kan have simultaneously implemented many projects to link production development associated with crops and livestock with strengths and potential. According to the Head of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Na Ri district, Nguyen Thi Thu Nguyet, from the capital source of the national target program for socio -economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, in 2024 alone, the district invested more than 16 billion VND to implement 32 projects to support production development linkage. The national target program for sustainable poverty reduction invested more than 11 billion VND to implement 22 projects. The projects all focus on plants and animals with strengths associated with each commune such as: linking production and consumption of cassava products; linking production and consumption of pumpkin; linking production and consumption of potatoes, etc.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Bac Kan, implementing Resolution No. 08/2019/NQ-HDND, Resolution No. 01/2022/NQ-HDND dated April 27, 2022 of the Provincial People's Council stipulating a number of policies to support the development of commodity agricultural production; support capacity building for the collective economic sector in the area, the province has had 34 projects linking production and consumption of agricultural products implemented, including 16 livestock projects, 15 crop projects, three medicinal projects with a total cost of more than 32 billion VND.

Implementing three national target programs, Bac Kan has deployed more than 110 projects and models to support the development of production linkages along the value chain. Of these, there are 64 linkage model projects under the national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas; 30 projects under the national target program for sustainable poverty reduction and 16 models and projects under the national target program for new rural construction. The total approved budget for implementation is nearly 120 billion VND, with 4,400 households benefiting.

Many projects are maintained sustainably even after the end of support, such as: linkage in production and consumption of pork products of Ha Anh Cooperative, Bach Thong district; linkage in production and consumption of herbal products of Thien An Cooperative, Bach Thong district; development of value chain-linked production associated with consumption of commercial pork products of Huy Ngoc Cooperative, Ngan Son district; linkage in production associated with consumption of Shan Tuyet tea, Cho Don district of Ngoc Thang Agricultural Development and Medicinal Processing Company Limited; linkage in production associated with consumption of Bac Kan turmeric products of Tan Thanh Agricultural Cooperative, etc.

According to the Provincial Farmers' Association, farmers' thinking and farming practices have changed positively. Farmers' Associations at all levels have advised, guided, and supported the establishment of 78 cooperatives with 725 members; established 744 cooperative groups with 7,217 members...

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nong Quang Nhat said: The basic projects have been implemented well. Through that, people's lives have been gradually improved, contributing to increasing income, creating jobs for rural workers, eliminating hunger and reducing poverty in the locality.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/don-bay-phat-trien-nong-nghiep-o-bac-kan-post880298.html