In late 2022, Nguyen The Cong from Hat Lot town, Mai Son district, came to Ngoc Chien commune, Muong La district to study the soil, climate, and suitable crops. In January 2023, he partnered with seven households to establish the Ngoc Chien High-Tech Vegetable and Flower Cooperative, with a charter capital of over 3 billion VND (117,844 USD), focusing on high-tech vegetable, legume, and flower production. Currently, the cooperative has 6 hectares of land, including 3 hectares of steel-framed greenhouses covered with plastic, and the entire farming area is equipped with an automatic drip irrigation system.

The cooperative strictly follows safety processes, using well-composted manure, organic fertilizers, and plant protection products listed as permissible, applying them in the correct quantities and types for each specific pest. The cooperative currently grows off-season tomatoes on 3 hectares, achieving a yield of 150 tonnes per hectare with a selling price of 13,000-14,000 VND per kilogram; and cucumbers on 3 hectares, yielding 60 tonnes per hectare, with an average selling price of 7,000-8,000 VND per kilogram. After harvesting tomatoes and cucumbers, the cooperative grows soybeans for organic fertilizers.

On average, the cooperative harvests nearly 600 tonnes of various vegetables and fruits annually, generating close to 1 billion VND after expenses, and providing stable employment for 40 local workers with monthly incomes ranging from 5.5 million VND to 10 million VND. The cooperative is expanding to grow an additional 2 hectares of high-tech flowers in greenhouses and 1 hectare of cucumbers in the open field. It is also working to supply tomatoes and cucumbers to the Hanoi market.

In Mai Son district, from just five organic farming models supported by the state in 2019, the number of businesses, cooperatives, and households applying organic farming practices has grown to 51, covering a total area of 2,245 hectares. Nguyen Dinh Tuan, a member of the Doan Ket Cooperative in Chieng Mung commune, shared, “I am growing black grapes organically, using agricultural covers to maintain soil moisture and reduce weeds. We use coffee grounds, corn cobs, and bio-fermentation to produce organic compost for the vineyard, helping to reduce environmental pollution in coffee production and processing.” With over 1 hectare of grapevines, his family earns about 700 million VND per year.

Cam Thi Phong, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, stated that since 2020, the province has supported 89 businesses and cooperatives to implement 24 organic farming models for fruits like mango, longan, passion fruit, custard apple, dragon fruit, orange, and pomelo, with total funding exceeding 15 billion VND. The province has also organised training courses on the correct use of plant protection products, promoted the use of biopesticides, and encouraged the utilisation of agricultural by-products to produce bio-fertilizers, saving costs and protecting the environment.

Son La has over 8,200 hectares of crops certified for organic and organic-oriented farming. Among them, 187 hectares of crops have been certified for meeting organic standards, and nearly 400 hectares of oranges, pomelos, and rice for organic conversion. The province has issued 216 growing area codes, established 288 safe agricultural and aquatic product chains, and created seven high-tech agricultural zones in Moc Chau, Mai Son, and Yen Chau districts.

The province is focusing on the development of large-scale, high-value organic farming areas and is helping individuals and organisations link production under value chains, with over 400 hectares of organic mango, orange, and pear farming. It is also implementing two new value chains for organic durian and jackfruit.

With strong determination and a clear direction, the organic farming landscape in Son La is becoming increasingly evident. Along with building policies to encourage organic farming, the province is enhancing solutions for product consumption and market connections. Furthermore, it is continuing to design plans for organic farming that are tailored to the conditions of each locality and align with the province's socio-economic development goals.