Cassava is a traditional crop in many areas of the province, and people have actively expanded the area in recent years. In 2023, the province's cassava output reached nearly 124,000 tons, ranking second in the province's food crop output (after rice). In 2024, the total cassava area in the province reached nearly 17,000 hectares. The reason for expanding the cassava planting area is determined to be because cassava requires low investment costs, a large market, and higher economic value than other traditional crops such as corn and upland rice.
Up to now, fresh and dried cassava products in the province have been sold to traders who collect and then resell them to processing factories in Son La province and a small part to the cassava starch factory in He Muong commune (Dien Bien district). Therefore, the economic value of cassava is not high, and traders can easily lower the price.
On March 15, the BHL Dien Bien Cassava Starch Processing Factory Project was granted an investment policy approval decision by the Provincial People's Committee and the investor approval. The project investor is BHL Dien Bien Agricultural Products Processing Joint Stock Company, the project is built in Tan Ngam village (Nua Ngam commune, Dien Bien district). The factory has a production capacity of 200 tons of starch/day; 50 tons of cassava pulp/day and night. This is a stepping stone to promote cassava production towards commodities in the province.
According to the investor's research, the soil and the large temperature range between day and night, between winter and summer have helped cassava in Dien Bien have a higher starch content than other provinces. In addition, recently, Dien Bien province has developed cassava in an intensive manner, applying science and technology, selecting new varieties with high productivity and quality such as: KM94, KM95, KM98... People plant and care for cassava in the right season, and the technique has brought high productivity and quality.
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Phuc, Director of BHL Dien Bien Agricultural Products Processing Joint Stock Company, based on the potential advantages of development and the results of market research on cassava processing in Dien Bien province, the Company has decided to register and request the Provincial People's Committee's approval to invest in a cassava starch processing factory project in the province. Currently, the Company is completing the preparation steps to implement the project. The completed project will ensure stable output for cassava raw material areas, reduce intermediaries in consumption, increase product value, and help increase the profit of cassava. In addition, the factory also creates stable jobs for local workers.
In Nua Ngam commune (Dien Bien district), there are currently nearly 10 units purchasing cassava to sell to the cassava starch processing factory in Son La. During the cassava harvest season, on National Highway 12 through Nua Ngam commune, every day there are 3-4 tractor-trailers lining up to load cassava and transport it to Son La province.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong, a resident of Nua Ngam commune, said: The purchase price of cassava varies from year to year, however, cassava in Nua Ngam commune in particular, and in communes of Dien Bien and Dien Bien Dong districts in general, is much lower than the market price. Because cassava from the fields must go through 2-3 intermediate stages before reaching the processing factory. If the BHL Dien Bien Cassava Starch Processing Factory in Nua Ngam commune comes into operation, and people sell cassava directly to the factory, the selling price will be higher.
In 2023, Muong Nhe district will have a total cassava growing area of about 4,000 hectares. In the district, there are 2 cassava purchasing and processing facilities with a total capacity of 300 tons of fresh cassava per day, but they can only consume about 50% of the district's cassava output. For the remaining quantity, people will find their own outlets for the products.
Mr. Ta Van Son, Chairman of Muong Nhe District People's Committee, assessed: Having a cassava starch processing factory in the province will promote localities, including Muong Nhe District, to focus on sustainable cassava production and increase value. Intermediary costs will be reduced, cassava prices will be higher, helping cassava growers increase their income.
Similarly, the rubber latex processing factory is being implemented by Dien Bien Rubber Joint Stock Company. The factory has a designed capacity of 5,000 tons/year (drying kiln 2 tons/hour); ensuring the processing of all latex output from large and small rubber plantations in the province.
Mr. Tran Van Nam, Deputy Director of Muong Nhe Rubber Joint Stock Company, said: The total land area managed by the Company is 1,420.55 hectares. Basically, 100% of the area has been harvested, with good yield and quality of latex. Currently, all of the Company's rubber latex must be sold raw and transported to processing factories in other provinces for consumption. When the rubber latex processing factory in Hua Thanh commune (Dien Bien district) is completed and put into operation, all previous product transportation costs will be almost cut, thereby increasing product profits, increasing the Company's revenue and income from land contributors and workers. According to calculations, if processed locally, the product value will increase by 1.5 - 2 times compared to selling raw products.
In addition to cassava and rubber, according to statistics from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the province currently has 3 enterprises and cooperatives processing high-quality rice products, with a capacity of 135 tons/day; 4 tea processing enterprises, with an estimated capacity of 3 tons of fresh tea/month; 5 coffee processing enterprises, with a capacity of 5 tons of ground coffee/month; 5 macadamia processing enterprises and facilities, with a capacity of 400kg of beans/day; 5 vermicelli processing facilities; 3 pineapple processing facilities. This is the basis for promoting agricultural production towards commodities, increasing added value.
For example, with the development of the processing industry in the area, the area, productivity and output of coffee trees have continuously increased in recent years. Specifically, in 2023, the total coffee area in the province is estimated to reach 2,758.56 hectares (of which: Newly planted area reaches 119.26 hectares in Muong Ang district 31.5 hectares, Tuan Giao 74.5 hectares, Dien Bien Dong 13.26 hectares); the output of coffee beans is estimated at 4,393 tons. In the first 6 months of 2024, the newly planted coffee area in Tuan Giao district alone increased by 780 hectares, 6.5 times higher than in 2023.
Mr. Pham Huu Chien, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tuan Giao district, said: With stable output and increasing value of coffee products, local people have proactively switched from low-value crops to coffee cultivation. This year, 100% of the newly planted coffee area in Tuan Giao district was invested, planted and cared for by local people, especially Toa Tinh commune with 274.5 hectares newly planted; Pu Nhung commune with 211.25 hectares; and Quai To commune with 102.38 hectares.
Currently, implementing the Agricultural Restructuring Project, Dien Bien province is promoting investment attraction from corporations and enterprises in the field of agricultural product processing, especially rice, macadamia and forestry products such as wood processing, medicinal herbs under the forest canopy. Although there are still many challenges, this is the direction for sustainable agricultural development.
Source: https://baodienbienphu.com.vn/tin-tuc/kinh-te/217630/phat-trien-nong-nghiep-gan-voi-cong-nghiep-che-bien
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