Developing rural industry in the Son La highlands to retain workers

The value of typical products

According to the Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion of Son La province, the whole province currently has 142 typical rural industrial products, many of which have been highly appreciated for their quality and design. These include: cat apple tea of the Mountain Medicine Cooperative, whole-wheat coffee powder of Bich Thao Coffee Cooperative, Moc Chau herbal freezing of Moc Chau herbal freezing cooperative, Bien Cuong kitchen buffalo meat of Toan Quyen Agricultural Cooperative...

Ms. Le Thi Hong Anh - Director of the Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion of Son La province, said that the voting activity for typical rural industrial products is held every two years, assessing the quality to the ability of mass production and regional identity factors. After being recognized, products will be supported for promotion at fairs and on e-commerce platforms, thereby expanding the market, increasing production scale and labor demand.

In Chieng Sinh ward (Son La province), Bich Thao Coffee Cooperative is currently cultivating 500 hectares of coffee according to VietGAP standards, with 22 members and connecting with nearly 100 households. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thao - Director of Bich Thao Coffee Cooperative - said that investing in technology and expanding the market has helped the cooperative achieve a revenue of over 40 billion VND in 2024. "Currently, we are creating stable jobs for 50 - 60 workers, mainly Muong and Thai people with an income of over 10 million VND/person/month" - Mr. Thao said.

Ms. Lo Thi Khoi, a worker at Bich Thao Coffee Cooperative, shared: Participating in Bich Thao Coffee Cooperative has helped my family's economy become more stable. Currently, my average monthly income is about 12 million VND and I also receive technical training to improve production efficiency.

In Binh Thuan commune, Binh Thuan Production, Business and General Service Cooperative has Trong Nguyen tea recognized as a typical rural industrial product at the provincial, regional and national levels. According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh - Deputy Director of Binh Thuan General Production, Business and Service Cooperative, the cooperative's revenue has increased by nearly 30%, dry tea products exported to Taiwan (China) are about 500 tons/year. Thanks to that, hundreds of households linked to tea cultivation have more income, many local workers have stable jobs, earning about 5 million VND/person/month.

Ms. Pham Thi Pia (working at Binh Thuan General Production, Business and Service Cooperative) shared: "Since Trong Nguyen tea was recognized as a typical product, our work has been more handy, our income has also been more stable, ensuring spending in life".

Towards sustainable development

According to the plan, in 2025, Son La province will continue to organize the voting for typical rural industrial products at the provincial level in the third and fourth quarters, receiving documents until July 31, 2025. The four product groups selected include: handicrafts; agricultural - forestry - fishery processing; equipment - mechanical machinery and other product groups.

Son La province will support businesses in completing documents, consulting on designs, technical standards and promotional communication. With the expectation of finding more creative products, imbued with regional identity and capable of export.

Currently, Son La province has more than 1,032 cooperatives operating in the agricultural - forestry - fishery sector. These cooperatives are currently creating stable jobs for thousands of workers in rural areas with an average income of over 70 million VND/year.

Developing typical rural industrial products not only increases the value of Son La agricultural products but also contributes to retaining workers, especially young workers in the highlands. When there is a stable job and a sustainable income right on their homeland, people will feel secure in sticking with it, developing production and contributing to building a sustainable new rural area" - Ms. Le Thi Hong Anh - Director of the Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion of Son La province affirmed.

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