Van Yen builds sustainable value chain for mulberry trees and silkworms

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PV: How do you evaluate the effectiveness of the agricultural economic program of growing mulberry and raising silkworms on Van Yen land?

Comrade Pham Trung Kien: It can be affirmed that the mulberry tree has really taken root and proven its outstanding value on Van Yen land. Van Yen district has the advantage of 9 lowland communes including: Xuan Ai, Yen Thai, Yen Phu, Yen Hop, Dai Phac, An Thinh, Tan Hop, Dong Cuong and An Binh - which are localities with suitable climate and soil conditions for developing the mulberry growing and sericulture industry.

From the reality of mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing in 2023 and the Project on developing mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing in Van Yen district, period 2024 - 2025, orientation to 2030; especially, through value chain linkage models in Yen Thai and Xuan Ai, it can be seen that the economic efficiency of mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing is 3.5 to 4 times higher than that of rice cultivation. More importantly, these mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing models are not only suitable for natural conditions but also suitable for the experience and farming practices of local farmers.

Up to now, Van Yen district has formed concentrated mulberry growing areas, closely linked with silkworm raising activities, creating high-value silkworm cocoon products. The mulberry growing and silkworm raising model in localities in the district has been bringing a stable source of income, contributing significantly to the cause of hunger eradication and poverty reduction, and legitimately enriching farmers.

Telling figures such as nearly 200 hectares of mulberry, 268 tons of cocoons and an estimated income value of over 27 billion VND in 2024 are the most vivid proof of the success and influence of this new direction with plants and animals in the restructuring of the district's agricultural economy. The people's cocoons also have a stable output through the association with Yen Bai Mulberry and Silk Company in Tran Yen district.

Comrade Pham Trung Kien.

Reporter: How is the linkage of mulberry cultivation and silkworm farming according to the value chain in Van Yen district being implemented, sir?

Comrade Pham Trung Kien: The district has specific support policies to promote these linkage chains. In 2023, the first linkage chain was formed in Xuan Ai and Yen Thai communes with 48 participating households, with a budget of 570 million VND focusing on building and upgrading silkworm houses and supporting wood nests.

In 2024, the scale will be expanded with 3 new chains in Xuan Ai, Yen Thai communes and Dai Phac - An Thinh inter-commune, attracting 137 households with a total support fund of more than 2 billion VND, adding essential support items such as air conditioning, sliding trays to improve productivity and quality. Following that success, in 2025, according to Plan No. 57, the district aims to plant 180 hectares of new strawberries and establish 6 new value chains, which the communes are currently actively implementing.

However, we do not deny certain difficulties. Lessons from the 2019-2020 period, when the Covid-19 pandemic caused the price of cocoons to plummet (to only about 50,000 VND/kg), many households suffered losses and were forced to destroy their mulberry areas, still affecting people's psychology. Mobilizing people to return to the profession, especially in some communes such as An Binh, Tan Hop, Yen Hop, Yen Phu, Dong Cuong, still faces obstacles due to concerns about the stability of market prices. This is a challenge that the district is focusing on resolving by strengthening trust, building sustainable linkage chains and having a reasonable risk-sharing mechanism.

Reporter: In the project to develop mulberry cultivation and silkworm breeding in Van Yen district, period 2024 - 2025, orientation to 2030, what are the goals and expectations of Van Yen district and what are the solutions to achieve these goals, comrade?

Comrade Pham Trung Kien: Goal by 2025: Identifying the mulberry planting and silkworm raising program as an important agricultural economic development program of the district, we aim to plan and develop a concentrated mulberry growing area associated with the value chain with a scale of 338 hectares, of which 300 hectares will be newly planted (180 hectares in 2025 alone); at the same time, introduce new mulberry varieties with high productivity and quality, expanding to other potential communes such as Mau Dong and Dong An.

At the same time, the district directed to focus on improving the quality of the existing 38.5 hectares of mulberry through intensive farming, applying new techniques, producing in an organic and safe direction and promoting mechanization, striving for a mulberry leaf yield of 38 - 40 tons/ha/year. In silkworm farming, the application of advanced science and technology, building standard breeding houses are the top priorities to improve productivity and cocoon quality, with the goal of achieving an output of over 548 tons of cocoons, with an income value of over 82 billion VND.

In particular, we will consolidate and build 6 new sustainable production chains, striving for over 90% of silkworm farming households to participate in cooperatives and cooperatives linked with enterprises, ensuring stable output. With a longer-term vision, Van Yen aims for a scale of 600 hectares of mulberry, cocoon output reaching over 970 tons, with an income value of nearly 146 billion VND. Not only stopping at raw cocoon production, the district aims to develop deeply processed products from mulberry, silkworms, cocoons and especially build a model of agricultural tourism, experiential tourism associated with the profession of growing mulberry and raising silkworms, creating even higher added value.

To achieve these goals and expectations, the district focuses on effectively implementing synchronous solutions. Accordingly, the district will plan and manage closely to develop concentrated and stable mulberry growing areas; continue to invest and support farmers through mechanisms and policies to encourage production development, infrastructure construction, and technology application.

At the same time, focus on promoting the transfer and application of technical advances in both mulberry cultivation and silkworm breeding to improve productivity, quality, and reduce labor; prioritize good varieties, advanced farming and breeding processes; continue to develop value chain linkages, strengthen the role of cooperatives and cooperative groups as a bridge between farmers and businesses, build closely linked contracts, ensure harmonious interests and stable output.

The district will also pay special attention to market development and trade promotion by diversifying products, finding new markets, and building brands for Van Yen mulberry products. Along with that, it will focus on propaganda and mobilization to change awareness, strengthen training, improve skills and knowledge for farmers, create consensus and trust among the people to join hands to develop the mulberry growing and silkworm raising profession in a sustainable way.

We believe that, with the determination of the entire political system, the consensus of farmers and synchronous solutions, the mulberry growing and sericulture industry will continue to be a bright spot in the agricultural economic picture of Van Yen district, promoting the construction of increasingly prosperous new rural areas.

PV: Thank you very much, comrade!

Minh Thuy (performed)

Source: https://baoyenbai.com.vn/12/349091/Van-Yen-xay-dung-chuoi-gia-tri-ben-vung-cho-cay-dau-c111n-tam.aspx