Agriculture - The Province's Economic Pillar

As a mountainous province located in the Northwest region, Son La possesses rich climate and soil conditions favorable for developing fruit trees and various specialty crops. By 2024, the total area dedicated to fruit trees and hawthorn trees across the province had reached approximately 82,796 hectares, accounting for 67.2% of the total perennial crop area, with a harvested output exceeding 389,000 tons. These impressive figures have helped Son La become the "largest fruit hub in the North," actively contributing to economic growth, increasing people's income, and promoting local agricultural product brands to reach further domestically and internationally

However, Son La's agricultural sector also faces significant challenges, including: the increasingly severe impacts of global climate change, environmental pollution, strict requirements for quality and food safety from export markets, and notably, the pressure to adapt to sustainable development standards in the context of international integration. Consequently, the transition to an ecological, green, and smart agricultural model is no longer merely an option but has become an essential requirement.

Green and Digital Transformation – Driving forces behind Ecological Agriculture

Towards the goal of building a low-emission ecological agriculture, Son La is accelerating green transformation by encouraging farmers, cooperatives, and agricultural businesses to adopt organic and circular farming methods, minimizing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, replacing them with biological products and environmentally friendly techniques

The "My farm" model – a smart agricultural model adapting to climate change – is being implemented in Bac Yen and Phu yen

Alongside this, digital transformation in agriculture is being strongly promoted. Numerous models have applied digital technologies in crop management, product traceability, and the digitization of production and distribution processes. These innovations help increase production efficiency, reduce post-harvest losses, and expand market access—especially to demanding export markets such as the EU, the United States, and Japan.

Furthermore, provincial authorities are also progressively building a smart agricultural ecosystem that connects farmers, businesses, and the government through digital platforms. This system aims to facilitate timely and effective production decisions based on market signals, weather forecasts, and seasonal conditions.

Towards the Net-Zero Goal in the Spirit of COP26

Vietnam's commitment at the COP26 Conference to achieve Net-Zero emissions by 2050 has created both a new requirement and a significant opportunity specifically for Son La's agricultural sector. While agriculture is a significant source of emissions, it also possesses the ability to absorb carbon through forests and crops, Son La's agriculture is playing a crucial role in achieving the Net-Zero objective.

Through green and digital transformation, Son La not only contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also enhances climate resilience, protects natural resources, preserves biodiversity, and safeguards indigenous farming cultures—core values of an ecological agriculture model.

Working Together for Sustainable Agriculture

The practical shares, initiatives, and solutions being implemented in Son La not only contribute to realizing the goal of building a low-emission ecological agriculture, but also serve as valuable lessons and experiences for other localities across the country.

To move further forward, it calls for the collaboration of the entire political system, management agencies, scientists, businesses, cooperatives, and especially farmers – the direct producers of agricultural products. Developing specific plans and strategies tailored to each locality and specific product group is essential for ensuring effective and sustainable implementation.

Son La is continuing to write its success story of a green, clean, and smart agriculture—closely linked with circular economy development and environmental protection. This path not only aligns with global trends, but also reflects a deep sense of responsibility toward future generations.

Tuan Quoc

Translated by Huyen Vu