Before 2018, Bac Kan had almost no outstanding and competitive agricultural products in the domestic market. This is pointed out by provincial specialized agencies because it is still mainly an individual, fragmented and small-scale production… The products are manufactured with high prices, low production and difficult to trade goods.

For example, the fragrant zucchini, a native plant that has long been cultivated in Ba Be district, is suitable for the climate and soil of Dia Linh, Yen Duong and My Phuong communes. There are two types of zucchini in Ba Be, a dark green shell called fragrant zucchini and a white powder-coated shell called fragrant squash.

Although it is called a specialty, the product is mainly sold to passers-by or as gifts from local people to relatives. Some are transported by motorbikes or buses to restaurants in Bac Kan town and are almost unknown in the national market.

After 2018, a number of cooperatives were established with a supporting role in production and consumption. This marked a turning point in making Ba Be’s fragrant zucchini famous across the country, appearing on the shelves of many major supermarket systems and typical specialty stores in cities.

Mr. Hoang Thanh Binh, deputy head of Bac Kan Plantation and Crop Protection Sub-department, said that the introduction of science and technology into production has helped to improve the quality of Ba Be’s fragrant zucchini. From the cultivar selection phase, care for the right techniques has increased productivity, no longer dependent on the weather or natural soil conditions as it used to be. In order to keep the quality stable, Bac Kan Province has planned to select the best first generation plants, thereby selecting the best varieties to avoid spontaneous degeneration as before.

In addition to Ba Be’s fragrant zucchini, Bac Kan currently has many outstanding products on the market, including vermicelli, orange, tangerine, seedless persimmon, and is gradually establishing a chestnut and pear cultivation area in Ngan Son District. This results from the change in thinking from individual production to collective production.

According to Ms. Do Thi Minh Hoa, Vice Chairwoman of Bac Kan Provincial People’s Committee, only collective production, construction of production areas, combination of “3 houses” (state, farmers and entrepreneurs) can improve the quality of life in Bac Kan.

In April 2022, the Bac Kan Provincial People’s Council issued Resolution No. 01/2022/NQ-HDND, which established a series of measures to support the development of agricultural commodity production; Supporting capacity building for the collective economic sector in the province (Resolution 01).

Accordingly, individuals are encouraged to boldly embrace new strategies, receive partial financial support from the state to develop some of the province’s strong crops and livestock and create safe products. Mobilizing people to participate in activities of companies, cooperatives, cooperative groups…

In this resolution there is a policy of “supporting the development of high-tech agricultural production”. Beneficiaries are associations of cooperatives, cooperatives, cooperative groups, households and individuals engaged in high-tech agricultural production. In terms of the amount of support, cooperatives and individuals will be supported with no more than 50% of the cost of purchasing materials for building greenhouses, net houses and equipment for automating the production process, but no more than VND 1 billion/team organizations and individuals .