New case in Yen Tri

From ineffective rice fields, Yen Tri people have converted to growing medicinal plants and processing them into herbal extracts, which have been well received by the market.

Change from new thinking

After the merger, Yen Tri is the locality with the largest agricultural land area in Yen Thuy district (old). This is also the place that is strongly transforming in restructuring production, when people proactively leave behind old thinking, the government accompanies with practical policies, and the transformation effect is present in the lives of farmers.

In the areas of A Dong, Minh Thanh, Tan Thanh... the land is high and lacks water, making rice production even more difficult. In recent years, people have gradually replaced rice, which is the main crop, with crops with higher economic value: xạ đen, cà gai leo, vegetables, winter chili... Some households have proactively covered with tarpaulins, built net houses, and drip irrigation systems to grow safe vegetables or precious medicinal herbs.

One of the bright spots of this “green transformation” is the Yen Tri Agricultural Cooperative - where more than 40 households have joined together to produce and grow black ginseng in an organic way. From a few hectares of experimental planting, the medicinal herb area has now expanded to over 35 hectares. Medicinal plants do not require elaborate care but provide a stable income, 2-3 times higher than rice cultivation. Moreover, thanks to the support of the government and businesses, the cooperative’s black ginseng extract has been certified as a 3-star OCOP, has its own brand and is expanding its consumer market.

In Ho hamlet 1, instead of unstable rice fields, they have been converted into vegetable growing areas. Meanwhile, in Doan Ket, people have converted rice fields to grow winter chili. In some seasons, chili sells for a good price, many households have to hire more workers to harvest on time. Some other groups of households take advantage of the forest area to raise natural honey bees, building OCOP products - "Dai Loi Honey"...

The change in crop structure does not stop at individual models. The whole Yen Tri commune, with the advantage of being a new administrative unit formed from 4 communes with a long-standing agricultural background, has quickly reoriented its production planning after the merger. The previously low-lying and infertile lands have been re-evaluated and flexibly adjusted to reduce the area of ineffective rice, and increase the area of vegetables, fruit trees and medicinal plants.

In the first 6 months of 2025 alone, the commune has converted nearly 160 hectares of rice fields to commercial crops, of which more than 70 hectares are medicinal plants. Small specialized areas have been formed in A Dong, Minh Thanh, Dai Dong, Tan Thanh... The rate of application of mechanization, water-saving irrigation, and new farming techniques is increasing.

People process Xạ đen plant - raw material for processing medicinal herbs that meet OCOP standards.

Green fields, bright faith

The initial economic efficiency has been clearly confirmed from the productivity and product value when compared to previous rice cultivation, the converted models bring in 1.5 - 3 times higher income. Some medicinal and vegetable models bring in profits of 120 - 150 million VND/ha/year.

Currently, the whole commune has nearly 30 hectares of Dien grapefruit that meet VietGAP standards, organized and managed by Dai Dong Agricultural Cooperative. Dien grapefruit products from Dai Dong not only have packaging and origin traceability stamps but are also officially exported to the UK market, through affiliated enterprises. Income from grapefruit trees is stable at 200 - 300 million VND/ha/year... contributing to raising the average income of rural people in Yen Tri to nearly 52 million VND/year, higher than the average of the district.

Not only crops, livestock and aquaculture also have positive changes. Models of raising hill chickens, natural honey bees, and small-scale cage fish farming are expanding.

According to comrade Bui Huyen - Chairman of Yen Tri Commune People's Committee: "Today's results are proof that the commune has seriously implemented major policies such as Resolution 05/2018 of the People's Council of Yen Thuy District (old) and most recently Decision 2610 of the People's Committee of Hoa Binh Province, now Phu Tho Province, on converting crops on rice fields. The shift from spontaneous production to commodity production has become a practical and long-term choice for the people."

If the Resolution is a “clear track”, then the way local authorities operate is the train going in the right direction. The localities in Yen Tri commune after the merger have proactively reviewed the land fund, classified the conversion areas, coordinated with consulting units, organized technical training for people, and guided the conversion in accordance with actual conditions. At the same time, the authorities act as a bridge to bring cooperatives and enterprises into product consumption. “When people see the output, they are confident in converting” - Comrade Bui Huyen shared.

The achievements in Yen Tri today do not come from luck, they are the result of a systematic operation process - from the right policy, to effective methods and determination to change production thinking. That journey has not stopped yet. But from this starting point, with the resonance between resolutions and actions, between cadres and people, we can believe that Yen Tri will continue to write new crops, not only green fields but also bright with faith.

Nguyen Yen

Source: https://baophutho.vn/vu-moi-o-yen-tri-237621.htm