Ban Lau Commune: Expanding space for agricultural product cultivation

With the advantage of being a pineapple producing locality before, after the merger, the development space for Ban Lau commune, Lao Cai province has been expanded, promising to become a specialized area for high-quality pineapple and tea, contributing to the sustainable development of the local economy.

After merging the administrative boundaries of 3 communes of Ban Lau, Ban Sen and Lung Vai into Ban Lau Moi commune, the natural area of Ban Lau commune increased to 125.29 km2, with a population of nearly 18,560 people, becoming a large administrative unit of the new Lao Cai province, which will open up a stronger development space for this locality.

One of the economic development directions after the merger in Ban Lau is determined to continue to promote the strength in pineapple cultivation, which is one of the key products of the old Ban Lau commune, with more than 1,790 hectares of pineapple cultivation, reaching an output of up to 41,160 tons in 2024, bringing in hundreds of billions of VND in revenue each year.

Women in Ban Lau commune, Lao Cai province, harvest pineapples.

Ms. Hoang Thi Huong, Na Ma 1 village, Ban Lau commune, said: "From 2024, pineapple consumption has been stable, prices are high, so people have profited and feel secure in production. My family planted 100,000 pineapple trees, equivalent to more than 2 hectares. Up to now, about 80% has been harvested, earning 400 million VND, minus investment costs, about 200 million VND left. This year's pineapple crop is good, the price is good, so we are very excited."

The family of Ms. Sung Thi Phuc, in Na Loc village, Ban Lau commune, shared: "In recent years, the price of pineapple has increased, so people are very excited, every household earns hundreds of millions of dong per crop, making life less difficult. After the merger of communes, the pineapple growing area may be expanded to villages surrounding the old Ban Lau commune, but we believe that the price of pineapple will remain stable, because currently right in the commune there is a pineapple processing factory for export."

In addition to pineapple, Ban Lau is also one of the major "tea granaries" in Lao Cai province in recent years, when many households have invested in expanding the production area and processing tea according to clean and safe standards, gradually building a brand for Ban Lau tea in the export market.

Ms. Vang Thi Du in Dong Tam village shared: "My family has been growing tea for decades. Every year, we harvest 5-6 tons of fresh tea buds, selling for about 40 million VND. Compared to before when we only farmed corn and cassava, thanks to tea, my family's life is much more stable."

To achieve success in tea cultivation in Ban Lau commune, we must also mention collective economic models, typically Thinh Phong Cooperative in Na Ma 1 village, one of the typical units of Lao Cai province. With the role of a solid "bridge", linking to support people in developing production and directly purchasing thousands of tons of tea and pineapple each year, helping farmers feel secure in their investment. At the same time, we are ready to provide support with seeds, capital, and fertilizers for people to produce and care for their crops.

Production of canned pineapple for export at the Agricultural Products Processing Factory in Ban Lau Commune

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha, Director of Thinh Phong Cooperative, shared: When the new commune-level local government comes into operation, it will open up more opportunities for people to do agriculture . Especially the application of science and technology in production, strengthening linkages and finding markets to consume products on a larger scale.

Mr. Le Thanh Hoa, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ban Lau Commune, Lao Cai Province, said: After the new commune-level government officially came into operation, along with maintaining the stability of the apparatus, the commune also determined that developing the agricultural economy associated with building new rural areas, increasing income, and reducing the poverty rate for the people is always a key task.

In the coming time, Ban Lau commune will focus on reviewing and re-counting the entire area of tea, pineapple and other key crops. Continue to improve the efficiency of the collective economy, strengthen the connection between households with cooperatives and enterprises to sign contracts to consume pineapple and tea products.

At the same time, focus on effectively implementing projects applying high technology in production and developing the value chain of tea and pineapple. Implement intensive farming, increase productivity on existing areas and plant new, expand high-quality tea areas.

With the right direction, the consensus of the people and the support of the local Party Committee and government, Ban Lau commune will affirm its position as a bright spot in agricultural economic development, contributing to changing the new rural appearance of the people in the highland border area of Lao Cai.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/xa-ban-lau-mo-rong-khong-gian-chuyen-canh-nong-san-20250806123749685.htm