Lai Chau shifts toward green agriculture for 2026-2030

Lai Chau is a mountainous province with diverse ecosystems and distinctive climatic conditions suitable for developing specialty crops such as tea, rice, and temperate fruit trees. However, in reality, most of the province’s agricultural products are still sold in raw form, with a low rate of deep processing, limited added value, and a lack of well-established brands in the market. The formation of concentrated production areas and key agricultural products has also progressed slowly, falling short of the province’s potential.

Commodity-oriented agricultural production has only developed in areas with relatively favorable infrastructure and transport conditions. Meanwhile, in remote and border communes, such activities still face numerous challenges. Small-scale and fragmented production makes it difficult to apply science and technology, build value-chain linkages, and expand product consumption.

Recognizing agriculture as a key sector and a pillar of the local economy, Lai Chau has oriented its strategy toward developing key agricultural products and forming concentrated commodity production zones linked with market demand. Many communes and wards have gradually implemented pilot models applying high technology, such as establishing raw material areas with identification codes, developing membrane house systems for safe vegetable production, and installing drip irrigation systems for tea hills.

Binh Lu commune is a prime example. The locality is implementing a 7,000 m² membrane house and an automated irrigation system for vegetables such as cabbage and other crops. As a result, local households earned more than VND 100 million in profit after the 2025 production season.

This orientation aims not only to increase output but also to improve product quality while ensuring standards and traceability - key factors for participating in higher value-added supply chains.

According to an assessment by Lai Chau Provincial Party Secretary Le Minh Ngan at a meeting of the provincial Party Executive Committee, although commodity agriculture and medicinal plant production have shown positive changes, they are not yet truly sustainable and have not fully tapped into the province’s existing potential and advantages.

Lai Chau indeed has many favorable conditions for developing green agriculture, including abundant land resources, a climate less affected by industrial emissions, rich ecosystems, and extensive natural forest areas. Agricultural commodity production zones and medicinal plant cultivation areas have also begun to take shape in a more concentrated manner, laying the foundation for large-scale development.

Amid increasingly complex climate change impacts, the shift toward green transition and sustainable development has become inevitable. At the same time, market demand for clean, organic agricultural and medicinal products continues to grow, requiring the agricultural sector to make significant changes in both mindset and production methods. Therefore, the issuance of a resolution on developing commodity agriculture and medicinal plants toward a green economy for the 2026 - 2030 period is considered a necessary step, aligned with the orientation of the 15th Provincial Party Congress for the 2025 - 2030 term.

Under the set targets, by 2030, the province will improve the quality of more than 10,000 hectares of tea raw material areas, including nearly 2,500 hectares produced under green, clean, or organic standards. As for macadamia, the province plans to plant an additional 1,000 hectares, bringing the total area to around 8,400 hectares, with approximately 1,000 hectares produced using safe or organic methods. Cinnamon cultivation will also expand with 2,500 hectares newly planted, bringing the total area to more than 15,000 hectares, including roughly 4,500 hectares produced under safe standards.

Lai Chau also plans to develop 3,000 hectares of Lai Chau ginseng, ensuring all areas are managed, coded, and granted geographical indications. Other medicinal plants, such as dong quai and artichoke, are planned for over 600 hectares of concentrated development, with the goal that around 10% of the area will meet standards such as VietGAP, GlobalGAP, and GACP-WHO.

To realize these goals, Lai Chau will focus on developing green production organization models that reduce chemical use and link production with processing and consumption. The province will also strengthen the application of science and technology, promote digital transformation in agriculture, build product labels and brands, and enhance trade promotion to expand markets.

*1 USD = 26,312 VND (Vietcombank, March 23, 2026)