The people of Phuc Khanh have prospered by exploiting the potential of agriculture.

LAO CAI: Models of strawberry and orange cultivation and freshwater fish farming in Phuc Khanh commune, Lao Cai province, are creating new avenues to help many poor households increase their income and gradually escape poverty.

They became wealthy by growing strawberries and oranges.

Along the hillsides bordering Ham Rong and Coc Khieng villages in Phuc Khang commune, Lao Cai province, lush green mulberry plantations stretch as far as the eye can see. This entire area along the Chay River is gradually transforming as mulberry cultivation becomes a new livelihood model, providing stable income for the local people.

Mr. Le Duy Hung, head of Ham Rong village, proudly shared: "Previously, the villagers mainly grew upland rice and cassava, resulting in unstable incomes, and many households remained poor. Now, nearly 60 households have switched to growing mulberry trees, each with 0.5 - 1 hectare, and their income has increased significantly."

Switching from less efficient corn and cassava crops to mulberry cultivation and silkworm farming has helped people in Phuc Khanh commune earn 2-3 times more income than before. Photo: Bich Hop.

According to Mr. Hung, mulberry trees are not only suitable for cool climates but also produce leaves year-round, which are sold directly to silkworm farms. The commune provides seedlings and technical training for mulberry cultivation. Thanks to this support, many households have boldly expanded their planting areas and applied advanced cultivation techniques, resulting in rapid growth, uniform leaf production, and high yields. Mulberry growers can earn 30-50 million VND per year, 2-3 times higher than growing corn.

According to Mr. Doan Truong Son, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuc Khanh commune, the mulberry cultivation model is being developed in the commune in a chain-linked manner. Phuc Khanh commune identifies this as a long-term livelihood, has planned a concentrated mulberry growing area, and included it in the criteria for sustainable poverty reduction in the 2025-2030 period.

The family of Ms. Ngo Thi Dien, from Coc Khieng village, is a mulberry farming and silkworm breeding household in Phuc Khanh commune, Lao Cai province. Photo: Bich Hop.

Not only are there mulberry trees, but more than 3km from Lang Nu village, the land along the stream in Tri Ngoai hamlet, Phuc Khanh commune, is ablaze with golden oranges every harvest season. These oranges, with their thin skins, juicy flesh, and characteristic sweet aftertaste of the mountainous region, have become a highlight in Phuc Khanh commune's livelihood diversification program.

Mr. Chieu Tien Len, a farmer who cultivates 3 hectares of oranges, shared that growing oranges is not easy. The trees must be carefully cared for, protected from yellow leaf disease, and soil moisture must be carefully monitored. But in return, the yield is stable, and the selling price is much higher than many other fruit trees. A household with 300-400 orange trees can earn from 120-150 million VND per year.

“Thanks to the technical guidance from agricultural extension officers, my family boldly started planting oranges in 2017. At first, we were very worried about the risks. But now, oranges have become the main source of income that has helped my family escape poverty,” Mr. Len shared.

The orange farming model of Mr. Chieu Tien Len's family in Tri Ngoai village, Phuc Khanh commune, generates hundreds of millions of VND in income per year. Photo: Bich Hop.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Tu, an official from the Economic Department of Phuc Khanh commune, orange trees not only help people increase their income but also open up opportunities to build a brand for the commune's agricultural products. Phuc Khanh commune has brought its orange products to participate in trade fairs and connected with businesses inside and outside the province for consumption.

Exploiting the potential of cold-water fish farming.

While mulberry and orange trees have helped people in the mountainous areas prosper, the lowlands along streams and irrigation lakes have seen the development of fish farming, creating new livelihoods for many poor households. Thanks to the advantage of natural cold water from the streams flowing through the area, the sturgeon farming model in Phuc Khanh commune is opening up a new production direction for people in the highlands.

The spring water is cool, clean, and has a stable mineral content year-round, creating ideal conditions for sturgeon to thrive. Some households have built cement or lined tanks, drawing water directly from the stream to create a continuous flow, helping the fish grow healthily without requiring significant environmental treatment costs.

Golden oranges hang heavily on the branches in the orchard of Mr. Chieu Tien Len's family. Photo: Bich Hop.

Mr. Hoang Van Bang, from Lang Nu village, Phuc Khanh commune – a sturgeon farmer – shared that sturgeon farming yields high economic returns. The farming period is about 10-12 months before the fish can be sold, bringing in tens to hundreds of millions of dong annually depending on the scale. Many households have received guidance from the local agricultural sector on farming techniques, nutrition, stocking density, temperature control, and water quality. As a result, the model is gradually expanding and is considered a promising livelihood. Sturgeon farming not only makes good use of local resources but also aims to produce specialty products of the highlands, contributing to job creation and increased income for the people of Phuc Khanh.

Officials from the Economic Department of Phuc Khanh commune visit a model orange orchard in Tri Ngoai village. Photo: Bich Hop.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tu, an official from the Economic Department of Phuc Khanh commune, assessed that freshwater fish farming in Phuc Khanh is developing in the right direction: “This model is suitable for the natural conditions and takes advantage of abundant water resources. If the consumption linkage is well implemented and food safety is ensured, it will become a stable livelihood, helping people escape poverty sustainably.” Mr. Tu said that Phuc Khanh commune is building a cooperative model for fish farming to provide common technical support, helping households standardize farming processes and disease prevention, while participating in the clean agricultural product consumption chain, avoiding retail sales and dependence on traders.

Freshwater fish farming is becoming a new livelihood helping people in Phuc Khanh commune escape poverty. Photo: Bich Hop.

From strawberry and orange cultivation to freshwater fish farming, each household in Phuc Khanh is changing its production mindset, shifting from traditional farming to commodity production, creating sustainable livelihoods. These models not only generate immediate income but also lay a solid foundation for people to escape poverty in the long term. Phuc Khanh commune will continue to provide technical support, connect with markets, and build brands for distinctive products. The path to poverty reduction in the highlands of Phuc Khanh has opened and is being illuminated by the people's willpower, innovation, and green, sustainable livelihood models.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/nguoi-dan-phuc-khanh-phat-len-nho-khai-thac-tiem-nang-nong-nghiep-d788807.html