Son La awakens the "gold mine" on sloping land, becoming the province with the second largest fruit growing area in the North

By promoting the development of fruit trees and applying scientific advances in cultivation, businesses, cooperatives and farming households in Son La province have had stable incomes and become rich.

Clip: Son La promotes fruit tree development.

Border land grows fruit trees out of season

Leaving Son La city, we traveled along National Highway 4G from Muong Sai commune to Chieng Khuong, Chieng Khoong, Na Nghiu, Chieng So of Song Ma district. Wherever we went, we saw the endless green of fruit trees such as longan, mango, orange, grapefruit, ... which farmers applied drip irrigation technology, automatic mist irrigation, both reducing labor costs and increasing productivity.

In particular, the fruit orchards of Song Ma border district have produced off-season agricultural products with economic efficiency many times higher than traditional farming methods. Especially the off-season longan model, currently, the whole district has 1,000 hectares of longan in both seasonal and off-season, concentrated in the communes of Chieng Khoong, Chieng Khuong, Na Nghiu, Muong Lam, Chieng Cang...

Song Ma District (Son La) is one of the localities with the largest fruit growing area in Son La province. Photo: Van Ngoc

As scheduled, we visited Bao Minh Agricultural Service Cooperative in Chieng Khoong Commune (Song Ma, Son La). The cooperative has 13 members with a production scale of 50 hectares of fruit trees, including 36 hectares of longan. It can be seen that this is one of the typical cooperatives in developing fruit trees in Song Ma district.

Taking us to visit the garden, Mr. Le Danh Phuc, Deputy Director of Bao Minh Agricultural Service Cooperative shared: The Cooperative has 10 hectares of early-ripening longan, spread out over the season. In recent years, to improve the quality and productivity of crops, the Cooperative has promoted the application of high technology to make early-ripening longan, spread out over the season, bringing higher efficiency.

Along with selling fresh fruit, during the longan season, the cooperative also purchases nearly 50 tons of fruit per day to process longan. Longan is dried using steam drying technology, the product ensures quality and beautiful appearance, distributed at BigC Thang Long supermarket, VinMart Hanoi and exported to Korea and China.

Fruit garden of Bao Minh Agricultural Service Cooperative in Chieng Khoong commune (Song Ma, Son La). Photo: Van Ngoc

Applying scientific advances to fruit tree development

Saying goodbye to the border land of Song Ma, we visited the plum growing area in Phieng Khoai commune (Yen Chau, Son La). Plum trees were planted in Phieng Khoai since 1990. Thanks to the suitable climate and soil, along with the application of scientific and technical advances in planting, grafting, and layering, plum trees have bloomed many times, giving high yield and quality fruit.

From a few dozen hectares at first, the commune now has 2,110 hectares, and is currently the locality with the largest plum acreage in Yen Chau district. Recently, this plum growing area has been recognized as the first high-tech plum growing area in Son La province.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Nguyen Van Toan, Chairman of Phieng Khoai Commune People's Committee said: In recent years, in order for plum trees to truly bring stable income to farmers, Phieng Khoai Commune has coordinated with specialized agencies of the district to plan and build large-scale, concentrated specialized plum growing areas; promote the transfer of plum planting and care techniques to farmers in the area according to the value chain, apply science and technology and mobilize households to link production.

Farmers in Phieng Khoai commune, Yen Chau district (Son La) harvest plums. Photo: Van Ngoc

Currently, the whole commune has 7 cooperatives specializing in growing and consuming plums, including: Tay Bac Organic Agriculture Cooperative, Toan Phat Agricultural Service Cooperative, Noong Pieu Indigenous Agricultural Products Cooperative, White Ban Flower Cooperative, Tan Tien Cooperative, Kien Cuong Cooperative, Kien Thanh Cooperative.

The cooperatives have signed production contracts with 104 households in 8 villages including: Con Kham, Con Huot 1, Hang Mon 1, Hang Mon 2, Kim Chung 1, Kim Chung 2, Tam Thanh, Thanh Yen 2 with a total area of 522.1 hectares. Currently, the total plum output in the region has reached nearly 20,000 tons, with a yield of 12-15 tons/ha. From growing plums, many families have earned 250-300 million VND, some households earn up to 2 billion VND/crop.

In Mai Son district (Son La), there are currently over 49,000 hectares of agricultural land. With the advantage of fertile land and cool climate, based on the actual conditions of each locality, the district has implemented restructuring of the agricultural sector towards increasing production value associated with new rural construction. In particular, priority is given to developing fruit trees, vegetables, and industrial crops.

Plum growing area in Phieng Khoai commune, Yen Chau district (Son La). Photo: Van Ngoc

Ms. Cam Thi Khay, Vice Chairwoman of Mai Son District People's Committee (Son La), said: The district has directed communes and towns to adjust production plans, crop structure, convert crop and livestock structure, arrange seed structure suitable to weather developments and market signals, ensuring to minimize damage caused by natural disasters, epidemics and the impact of high agricultural material prices.

At the same time, develop production on a regional scale, associated with product preservation, processing and consumption, focus on trade promotion, market expansion, create favorable conditions for enterprises to invest, link production and product consumption; continue to apply high technology in production, contributing to improving productivity and efficiency of agricultural production activities.

With the strong direction of the Party Committee, the government, and the efforts of the people, in 2024, Mai Son district maintained 49,880 hectares of various crops, an increase of 3.1% compared to the plan, with 11,500 hectares of various fruit trees; fruit output reached over 80,000 tons/year. During the year, the district had an additional mango growing area in Hat Lot commune recognized as a high-tech agricultural area, bringing the total number of high-tech agricultural areas in the district to 4, which are coffee, custard apple and mango growing areas with a total area of 1,773 hectares, with the participation of 2,333 households; over 5,400 hectares of crops cared for in the direction of high technology application; 2,700 hectares of organic fruit trees... Average income value per unit of cultivated land area reaches 92.3 million VND/ha/year, an increase of 5% compared to 2023.

Strawberry growing area in Co Noi commune, Mai Son district, Son La province. Photo: Van Ngoc

Son La develops sustainable fruit trees

Ms. Cam Thi Phong, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Son La province, said: Son La has more than 8,200 hectares of crops recognized for organic production and organic production. Of which, 187 hectares of crops are certified for products meeting organic standards; nearly 400 hectares of oranges, grapefruits, and rice are certified for organic conversion; 216 growing area codes are issued; 288 safe agricultural and aquatic product chains are built and maintained; 7 high-tech agricultural zones are built in Moc Chau, Mai Son, and Yen Chau districts.

In recent years, Son La province has promoted the application of scientific advances in the development of fruit trees. Photo: Van Ngoc

From 2020 to present, Son La province has supported 89 enterprises and cooperatives to deploy 24 production models of mango, longan, passion fruit, custard apple, dragon fruit, orange, grapefruit... with a total budget of over 15 billion VND. At the same time, training courses were organized to guide the proper use of pesticides; propaganda and mobilization of the use of biological pesticides; guidance on utilizing available agricultural by-products for composting, saving costs and protecting the environment.

To promote organic agricultural production, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Son La province has advised the province to direct the planning and development of large specialized organic production areas with high economic value. In particular, supporting organizations and individuals to link production according to the value chain, associated with the consumption of organic mango, orange, and pear products with an area of over 400 hectares. At the same time, deploying 2 new value chains, producing in the organic direction for durian custard apple, Thai jackfruit, linking according to the value chain associated with the consumption of products on an inter-district scale.

Up to now, fruit products of Son La province have been welcomed by many markets. Photo: Van Ngoc

With high determination and the right direction, the picture of fruit production in Son La province is increasingly evident. Along with building policies to encourage the development of organic production, Son La province is promoting solutions for product consumption and market connection.

At the same time, continue to develop fruit tree production plans to ensure suitability with local production conditions and socio-economic development orientations, thereby improving farmers' living standards.

Source: https://danviet.vn/son-la-danh-thuc-kho-vang-tren-dat-doc-tro-thanh-tinh-co-dien-tich-cay-an-trai-lon-nhat-nhi-mien-bac-20250130103915937.htm