Making Than Uyen the capital of chia tree

LAI CHAU The natural farming practices of people in Than Uyen rarely use chemical products, making it easy to zone the production of chia plants according to organic standards.

The Center for Technology Transfer and Agricultural Extension (Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences), the Global Green House Cooperative and the People's Committee of Than Uyen District (Lai Chau) have just signed a strategic cooperation agreement to develop chia plants in this locality.

Chia planting in Than Uyen aims to form a number of concentrated raw material areas to provide chia products for domestic production, consumption and export. Thereby, contributing to poverty reduction, income improvement, stabilizing the lives of households and developing the local economy.

Through research and testing, chia plants are suitable for soil and climate conditions in Than Uyen (Lai Chau). Photo: University.

Mr. Pham Van Dan, Director of the Center for Technology Transfer and Agricultural Extension, said: "The chia plants we brought to Vietnam have been piloted and evaluated for growth, yield, and quality indicators of chia seeds over many years and many crops to have a basis for selecting chia varieties suitable for Vietnam.

With the three-party cooperation, the Center will organize the construction of seedling production areas, commercial chia seed production that meets technical requirements, and gradually move towards producing products that meet organic standards.

According to Mr. Dan, the Center has sent experts to coordinate with other parties to assess production conditions in the regions, select regions and propose measures to ensure product quality meets market requirements. In addition, the Center will also produce chia varieties to meet production needs; focus on transferring new scientific and technical advances to people; train, instruct, disseminate and share experiences on planting, caring for, harvesting, preliminary processing, preserving and processing chia plants to ensure quality...

In particular, the Center is directly the focal point for signing joint ventures and partnerships to purchase and process chia plant products and agricultural products from building seed production models, commercial production...

Mr. Pham Van Dan (2nd from right), Director of the Center for Technology Transfer and Agricultural Extension, visited the chia experimental farm. Photo: HD.

Realizing the potential of chia, the Global Green House Cooperative has conducted research and conducted the first pilot planting at the 50-hectare Ifram farm in Vinh Quynh commune (Thanh Tri district, Hanoi) with the desire to turn this high-value plant into a new spearhead in agriculture...

Through research and experimental planting in many places, the Global Green House Cooperative has determined that Than Uyen (Lai Chau) is suitable for growing chia. Than Uyen owns a valley surrounded by mountains, so it has suitable soil, cool and stable climate, very suitable for oil crops, including chia. In addition, the natural farming practices of the people here rarely use chemical products, making it easy to zone production according to organic standards.

During the research process, the Global Green House Cooperative has domesticated and put into production 3 chia varieties suitable for the climate and soil conditions in the Northern Delta and the Northern mountainous areas, giving productivity and actual quality that meet nutritional criteria at a high level compared to the world (score 8.5/10 based on test results of oil 31.75/34g, protein 18.15/21g).

"The People's Committee of Than Uyen District has also created conditions for the Cooperative to become a bridge for the project, bringing chia plants to Vietnam for the first time on a large scale, taking full advantage of resources and strengths from terrain, soil, climate to people and organic farming practices. In addition, the People's Committee of Than Uyen District has also created favorable conditions in terms of policies and management of planting area planning, encouraging participation and helping farmers to conveniently cultivate and develop chia plants," Ms. Vu Thi Thanh Huyen, Director of the Global Green House Cooperative emphasized.

Signing ceremony of cooperation to develop chia plants in Than Uyen district (Lai Chau). Photo: HD.

According to Ms. Huyen, in the long term, the Cooperative will develop the "Chico Chia" brand with a variety of products such as tea bags, young leaf nutritional powder, omega 369, raw seeds... with advanced processing technology to serve the domestic and export markets. The economic efficiency of chia trees becomes even more optimal when it can be utilized to promote experiential tourism, associated with the ultimate goal of making Than Uyen the "capital" of chia seeds in Vietnam.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thang, Chairman of Than Uyen District People's Committee, directed specialized agencies and local authorities to effectively carry out propaganda work for people about policies, cooperation and development of chia trees in the district; closely coordinate with relevant units to review and advise on the development of growing areas and scale of chia tree planting.

In 2024, the district will focus on growing chia in Muong Kim and Muong Cang communes, while continuing to develop and expand the scale to about 500 - 800 hectares in many other communes. Than Uyen district requests specialized agencies to coordinate with cooperative units to provide and transfer production techniques, ensuring the quality of planting and harvesting chia seeds to meet standards.

"The district identifies chia development as an opportunity to replace ineffective crops, helping people shift crop structure, increase income, reduce poverty, contribute to building new rural areas and develop agriculture in an organic, ecological and sustainable direction," Mr. Nguyen Van Thang emphasized.

Chia seeds are known as nutritious food and have high economic value. Growing and using chia seeds brings many health benefits and economic value. Currently, the chia seed growing model is only popular in Australia and the US. Through research and testing, chia trees are suitable for growing in Than Uyen (Lai Chau).

Source: https://nongsanviet.nongnghiep.vn/dua-than-uyen-thanh-thu-phu-cay-chia-d386316.html