Bac Kan is blessed with many valuable endemic agricultural products. In recent years, the province has gradually identified and selected key products to focus on investment, forming commodity production areas, creating momentum for sustainable agricultural economic development.
Dia Linh Commune, Yen Duong (Ba Be) has long been associated with the fragrant green squash, a fruit with a distinctive flavor. That mild, rich aroma has created a brand for agricultural products of Ba Be district in particular, and Bac Kan province in general. Thanks to being well received by the market, the price of fragrant green squash always has a stable output, from 10,000 VND to 20,000 VND/kg. With an average annual output of 8,000 tons, a cultivated area of about 180 hectares, many households have escaped poverty and become well-off thanks to growing squash.
Ms. Nong Thi Phan, Head of the Elderly Cooperative of Yen Duong Cooperative, shared: “Seeing that people growing squash brings a very good income, in 2018 my family also started growing squash. Squash is easy to grow, has high productivity, 1,000m2 can yield 4-5 tons of fruit, and the price is stable, so people are very secure. However, in recent years, there have been many pests and diseases, and the erratic weather has reduced productivity.”
According to Ms. Phan, it is the soil and climate conditions here that create the characteristic aroma of the squash. Even though some people have brought the seeds to plant elsewhere, the aroma still does not "follow". People often preserve the seeds by choosing large, beautiful, disease-free squash to plant the next crop.
Mr. Lieu Nong Kinh, Party Secretary of Dia Linh Commune, said: “Since ancient times, people have grown squash on hills and fields. Later, when the 3PAD Project was launched, green squash was brought back for trial planting. Seeing the high yield and good selling price, people started to switch from corn and rice to growing green squash. Now green squash has become the key crop of the commune.”
Not only stopping at fresh fruit products, the cooperatives here also process pumpkin tea, pumpkin juice, and value-added products from fragrant green pumpkin, helping to extend the consumption chain and increase farmers' income.
If green squash is the symbol of Ba Be, Khau Nua Lech sticky rice is the pride of the people of Thuong Quan commune, Ngan Son district. This type of sticky rice has a light aroma, soft grains, and is often used to make sticky rice and cakes. In particular, this rice variety has been preserved and cultivated by the people for many generations, creating a brand that bears the cultural imprint of the people here.
Mr. Nong Cong Thuy in Na Ngan village, Thuong Quan commune shared: “Since ancient times, our grandparents have had Khau Nua Lech variety. At that time, it was not grown as widely as it is now. It was only grown for family consumption, and the surplus was sold to buy meat, fish sauce and salt. Now, sticky rice has become a commodity. My family grows the entire area every crop, earning more than 20 million VND each crop.”
Sticky rice is a native crop, and people often choose the flowers with full grains for seeds. When growing, the stalks are usually taller than other rice varieties, and because the plants are prone to falling, people often harvest them early to avoid storms.
Currently, Khau Nua Lech sticky rice is mainly grown in the summer-autumn crop with an area of about 45 hectares. The product has achieved 3-star OCOP certification and has been researched and restored by specialized agencies to improve productivity. Thuong Quan Cooperative has also cooperated to purchase products for people, with an annual consumption of several dozen tons of sticky rice.
Mr. Chu Van Huong, Chairman of the People's Committee of Thuong Quan commune, said: "Currently, sticky rice production is not enough to supply the market, so people are very confident in developing this local specialty food crop."
Not only green squash and sticky rice, Bac Kan also has many other endemic specialties such as: vermicelli in Na Ri, Shan Tuyet tea in Cho Don, Cho Moi; oranges and tangerines in Bach Thong; seedless persimmons in Ba Be, Cho Don, Na Ri; chestnuts in Ngan Son... Besides, there are also ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, star anise, precious medicinal plants chosen by people to expand.
However, the reality shows that some products, despite their great potential, are still facing difficulties in developing scale and consumption markets. The fragmented production, lack of linkages and the lack of stable raw material areas have made it difficult for agricultural products to make a breakthrough.
In the picture of agricultural commodity development, key products are the bright spots, the foundation for Bac Kan to gradually build a modern, efficient and sustainable agriculture. What is necessary now is to continue investing in the right direction, creating favorable conditions for infrastructure, capital and consumption links so that these products can reach further, to larger markets./.
(To be continued)
Source: https://baobackan.vn/xay-dung-cac-san-pham-chu-luc-tao-da-cho-nong-nghiep-hang-hoa-ky-1-post71237.html
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