Creating livelihoods through specialty crops

Dao people in Phieng Phang village, Cao Minh commune harvest Nep Tai rice. (Photo: MA NINH)

CREATING SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS

Phieng Phang and Na Pai villages in Thuong Minh commune are famous for the fragrant and delicious Nep Tai rice variety. However, for many years, the cultivation of this rice variety has been fragmented, small-scale, and self-sufficient, so there is a risk of the variety degenerating. In this situation, the locality has coordinated with the Northern Mountainous Agricultural and Forestry Science Institute to implement the project "Restoring and developing some specialty, high-value sticky rice varieties".

With the core role in supporting cultivation and consumption of Yen Duong Cooperative, Nep Tai rice variety has been successfully restored, giving outstanding productivity and quality. On average, one hectare of organic, environmentally friendly cultivation yields 40-45 quintals. From the implementation process, the cooperative restored 160 kg of super-original seeds; produced more than one ton of original seeds. From these initial precious seeds, the cultivation area was expanded and the Nep Tai Ba Be brand was certified as a collective trademark. The specialty Nep Tai variety has since become a sustainable livelihood crop for the Dao ethnic people in Phieng Phang and Na Pai. People in the two villages have expanded the planting area to more than 30 hectares. The products are labeled with traceable origin, fragrant and delicious quality, so they are sold out as soon as they are produced.

In many areas of Thai Nguyen that lack productive land and are barren, thanks to growing specialty trees, ethnic minorities have a sustainable livelihood to escape poverty and become rich. In Vo Nhai commune, where the limestone mountainsides have been green for many years with fruit-laden custard apple orchards. From a small-scale planting area, the local government has stepped in to guide and accompany the people, and the custard apple growing area in the area has reached about 700 hectares; with an average annual output of about 5,000 tons. Thanks to that, people have a stable income, and households that grow a lot can earn 300-400 million VND/year.

Thai Nguyen (old) used to be the leading province in the country in terms of area, output and productivity of tea trees. Resources and production experience have opened up new opportunities for tea production in the whole province after the merger. In Dong Phuc commune, on the high mountain slopes covered with clouds, there are still more than 600 ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees being harvested, most of which are hundreds of years old. This is a valuable resource not only in terms of economic value but also in terms of biodiversity and genetic resources of ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees.

According to the Chairman of the People's Committee of Trieu Quang Hung commune, in the past, protecting and exploiting the value of the Shan Tuyet tea population here faced many difficulties. However, the newly opened road to Ba Be Lake passing through the commune has been put into operation, so in addition to processing tea products, the commune will have the opportunity to implement the conservation and expansion of the Shan tea population associated with tourism. The commune has proposed and registered with the Department of Science and Technology to carry out procedures for registering geographical indications for the tree.

SUPPORT FOR EXPANDING

To maintain and consolidate existing specialty crop growing areas, at the end of July 2025, Thai Nguyen province continued to issue a policy to support agricultural production to restore areas damaged by natural disasters and plant pests, which was approved by the people. With support levels ranging from 3 to 15 million VND/ha, specialty crop growing areas will be provided with additional resources to quickly restore production after damage.

Along with that, the province also issued policies to expand the area of specialty plants. According to the Provincial People's Committee, after the merger, the whole province has nearly 24,000 hectares of tea, of which the harvested area is 23,000 hectares; the average tea yield is nearly 18 tons/ha. The whole province has 207 processed tea products certified with OCOP from 3 to 5 stars. Tea is identified by Thai Nguyen province as a tree that creates sustainable livelihoods, enriches farmers and continues to maintain and consolidate the province's position as the leading province in the country in tea production.

In order to turn tea trees, a local specialty tree, into a tree species that creates sustainable livelihoods for farmers, in August 2025, Thai Nguyen province decided to invest more than 500 billion VND to support development, increase production value and promote tourism development from tea trees and tea products. Accordingly, tea growers will receive 100% support for seed purchase costs; one-time support of 70% of fertilizer purchase costs; when planting according to VietGAP process and organic standards with a minimum area of 5 hectares, 100% support for the first standard certification cost... In addition to the new planting support policy, the province also supports funding to issue planting area codes; apply smart, water-saving irrigation systems; purchase machinery and equipment...

Recently, the Provincial People's Council has approved a policy to support tea trees. When implemented, it will promote safe, organic production associated with deep processing, diversify products; attract investment, promote chain production, apply science and technology; enhance the value and brand of Thai Nguyen tea. All aim to create sustainable livelihoods for people and strive for the total value of products obtained from tea trees to reach 25,000 billion VND by 2030.

Thai Nguyen province has determined that in the coming time, it will continue to restructure agriculture towards biosafety, organic, circular, high-tech application and digital transformation associated with agricultural tourism and increasing product value; in which, strengthening production-processing-consumption linkage, building brands and value chains for key specialty crops.

TUAN SON

Source: https://nhandan.vn/tao-sinh-ke-nho-cay-trong-dac-san-post902940.html