Dong Tam develops sustainable winter crop production

With the motto “careful planning, certain success,” Dong Tam Commune has been promoting winter crop production in a focused and sustainable manner, expanding cultivated areas while improving product quality and strengthening market linkages. This approach has helped raise household incomes and contribute to sustainable poverty reduction for local people.

To shift perceptions of winter crops from being merely supplementary to becoming a stable source of income, Dong Tam has proactively selected crop varieties suited to local climate and soil conditions. Key winter crops include maize, cucumbers, potatoes, sweet potatoes, along with various vegetables and legumes.

People of Thuong Village, Dong Tam Commune, inspect and care for cucumbers grown under a linked production and consumption model.

According to Dang Tien Cuong, Head of the Commune Economic Division, winter crops are identified as a key driver of household economic development. As such, crop selection is closely aligned with the specific soil and terrain conditions of each village, enabling the formation of concentrated production zones. This has gradually reduced fragmented, small-scale farming while improving cultivation efficiency and facilitating product consumption.

Winter crop production is now implemented across all 22 villages in the commune. To ensure effectiveness, Dong Tam established a steering committee for winter crop development, assigning clear responsibilities to members in charge of specific sectors and localities. In parallel, agricultural technicians have been deployed to villages to provide training and guidance on seed selection, cropping calendars, cultivation techniques, irrigation management and plant protection.

Thanks to this systematic and scientific approach, winter crop production in Dong Tam has become increasingly stable. To date, the commune has planted more than 195 hectares of winter crops, exceeding the provincial plan by 7 percent. All crops are growing well and are expected to deliver strong economic returns for farmers.

In addition to production planning, Dong Tam has focused on supporting seed supply and facilitating market connections. The commune has provided maize silage and potato seeds and implemented contract farming for cucumbers. Linking production with guaranteed markets has enabled farmers to invest with confidence, reduced risks associated with small-scale sales, and enhanced the sustainability of winter crop cultivation.

Currently, over two hectares of cucumbers are produced under a value-chain linkage model, concentrated in Thuong Village. Introduced in 2023, this model has delivered clear economic benefits, encouraging many households to expand production. Practical results show that Dong Tam’s winter crop development has become more orderly and effective, contributing to better land use, higher incomes and a solid foundation for sustainable agricultural development in the coming years.

Hong Nhung