Son La province’s council for selecting outstanding rural industrial products met on November 18 to review implementation and scoring outcomes, and agree on the list of products proposed for provincial-level recognition in 2025.

Processing is considered the decisive stage in the agricultural value chain, helping diversify products and optimise profits. Son La province has been actively attracting investment into the agricultural processing sector, creating a solid foundation for transforming agricultural structures, building agri-product brands, and increasing farmers’ incomes.

As the central ward of the Moc Chau National Tourism Area, Thao Nguyen ward is prioritising the expansion of trade and services, gradually becoming a key driver of local socio-economic growth.

The Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) on November 10 organised a training conference to guide the completion and standardisation of product processes and criteria for participation in the OCOP programme 2025. The conference was connected online to local HCYU chapters nationwide.

Not only showcasing signature agricultural products and high-quality OCOP (One Commune One Product) items, Son La province’s booths at various fairs and exhibitions vividly recreate the cultural space of the Northwest, drawing strong interest from visitors. The combination of product promotion with cultural and tourism elements has become a highlight, spreading the image of a dynamic, friendly, and culturally rich Son La.

The Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA), in collaboration with the Son La Union of Science and Technology Associations, on October 31 organised a workshop titled “Solutions for Developing Coffee Cultivation in Son La province”.

This year’s autumn-winter crop saw Quynh Nhai commune cultivate over 340 hectares of rice, primarily the 87, 86, and 89 varieties, along with several local glutinous rice strains.

In the first nine months of this year, Son La’s fresh tea bud output topped 43,400 tonnes, up 4.64% from a year earlier, ensuring sufficient supply for domestic processors, cooperatives, and exporters.

In recent years, Son La province’s commercial infrastructure has seen strong growth, with a rapidly expanding network of supermarkets, shopping centres, convenience stores, and retail chains, both in number and scale, thus creating favourable conditions for the trade of goods, promoting production and consumption among local residents.

The Farmers’ Union of Quynh Nhai commune has 3,460 members across 41 branches. Implementing preferential credit policies, the union currently guarantees loans for 735 households through the transaction office of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, with a total outstanding balance of over 39 billion VND (1.48 million USD).

The judging panel for the 2025 outstanding rural industrial products of Son La province on October 27 convened at the provincial centre for investment, trade and tourism promotion to evaluate the shortlisted products.

The Son La Department of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with the communes of Bac Yen, Ta Khoa, Pac Nga, and Chieng Sai, on October 24 released fingerlings into Da River reservoir to replenish aquatic resources.

Son La has entered the 2025-2026 coffee harvest season as buying prices hit a record high of 25,000-30,000 VND (0.95-1.14 USD) per kilogramme of fresh cherries, bringing cheer to local farmers. Alongside the price boost, the province is directing efforts to ensure harvesting follows technical standards to safeguard the quality and reputation of the “Son La Coffee” brand.

Son La province currently has 262 safe agricultural and aquatic product supply chains, contributing to improving product quality and value.

Yen Son commune currently cultivates more than 700 hectares of fruit trees, mainly longan, mango, orange, custard apple, and strawberry, with annual output topping 5,000 tonnes.

Situated in the Hoa Binh hydropower reservoir area, many households in Doan Ket commune have invested in fish farming.

Binh Thuan currently has more than 800 hectares of tea, primarily consisting of Kim Tuyen and Shan Tuyet tea varieties. Of this, 738 hectares are currently being harvested, while the remaining area houses newly planted tea.

As of the end of September, total capital mobilised by credit institutions across the province reached nearly 43.24 trillion VND, an increase of 21.01%. Total outstanding loans reached approximately 52 trillion VND (1.97 billion USD), up 15.12% compared to the same period last year.

Yen Chau commune has 16 OCOP (one commune one product) products, including three 4-star products: Diep Bach black garlic, On Oc Shan Tuyet tea, and Hoshi black garlic. The remaining products are rated 3-star.

Syngenta Vietnam Co., Ltd. coordinated with the Soils and Fertilisers Institute under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Son La province to organise a mid-term review workshop on the “Sustainable Maize Cultivation on Sloping Land” model on October 16 in Chieng Sai commune.