Ta Phin - Sa Pa strawberry garden model: success thanks to linking agriculture and tourism.

Linking agriculture and tourism

Starting from a poor commune in the Ta Phin mountainous area, the "FarmStay" project not only faced difficulties in capital but also had to solve the problem of limited tourism infrastructure. The young founders of the project had to build the infrastructure themselves, renovate barren lands to grow clean vegetables and organic fruit trees.

With only 1 billion VND in starting capital from preferential loans and contributions from members, "FarmStay" has overcome the initial difficult days. After 2 years, the project has not only become a tourist attraction but also helped improve the lives of more than 100 households in the area through providing agricultural products and participating in tourism activities. With a revenue of more than 10 billion VND/year, "FarmStay" is a testament to the ability to overcome difficulties with perseverance and creativity.

Bat Xat 4.0 Farm

In Bat Xat district, the high-tech agricultural farm project started with great challenges due to difficult terrain conditions and lack of investment capital. Initially, the young people in the project had to learn and apply foreign technology models to develop agricultural products. The combination of 4.0 technology and traditional farming techniques has helped the project optimize production costs, despite the fact that harsh weather often damages crops.

After applying the automatic irrigation system and sensor monitoring, the farm's productivity has increased by 30 % , while production costs have decreased by 20 % compared to before. The project not only helps more than 50 workers have stable jobs but also contributes to exporting high-quality agricultural products of Lao Cai to demanding markets such as Japan and Korea with an export turnover of 20 billion VND/year.

Union member An Van Tuan (wearing glasses in the middle of the photo) has had success with products made from the Dai Bi tree. (Photo: NVCC)

Turning herbs into potential export products

Starting a business in the field of medicinal herbs from indigenous herbs is not an easy path. The group of young people in Sa Pa had to face the lack of processing technology and consumer market. Initially, products such as essential oils and herbal teas were only sold in the local area and there was no breakthrough in revenue.

However, with support from start-up funds and the provincial government, the group has invested in modern processing systems, improved product quality and expanded the market abroad. In 2023, the export turnover from medicinal herbs reached more than 5 billion VND, with the cooperation of many partners from Japan and Germany. The success of the project not only helps solve the economic problem but also encourages the spirit of rising from the poor land of local youth.

The common points of typical start-up projects in Lao Cai are the spirit of perseverance in overcoming difficulties, creativity and the desire to reach far. Each project started with difficulties in capital, management experience and infrastructure. However, thanks to the support from the government and the spirit of daring to think and dare to do, the young people have gradually overcome and turned the challenges into development opportunities.

According to data, in 2023, there will be more than 220 successful startup projects in Lao Cai, with an estimated total revenue of VND120 billion. The projects not only create more than 1,500 jobs but also make an important contribution to the economic integration process of the province. The export turnover from these projects reached 30 million USD, showing the ability of local youth to reach the international market.

The efforts of Lao Cai youth to overcome difficulties in start-up projects are not only a lesson in perseverance and creativity but also an important driving force to promote the strong development of the start-up movement. The spirit of dedication and determination to overcome difficulties of young people not only contributes to personal development but also motivates the building of a dynamic, developed and internationally integrated Lao Cai./.