Bustling autumn corn purchasing and processing season in Laos.

(Baonghean.vn) - In recent years, many households in Dinh Son, Cam Son, and Tuong Son communes of Anh Son district have found a new direction: purchasing corn, processing it, and selling it throughout the country. This is the peak season for purchasing Lao corn, so the atmosphere at the processing plants is very busy and bustling.

At the agricultural processing factory of Mr. Vo Anh Tan's family in Tan Lam village, Cam Son commune, we witnessed a constant stream of trucks coming and going to load corn.

Currently, Anh Son district has over 20 large corn purchasing facilities concentrated in the communes of Dinh Son, Cam Son, and Tuong Son.

In 2009, his family invested over 100 million VND to build a processing and collection workshop for agricultural products, covering more than 300 square meters.²He also bought two trucks worth over 1 billion VND to specialize in purchasing corn in Laos and neighboring areas for resale throughout the country.

The annual harvesting season runs from September of the previous year to March of the following year. They import corn every 2-3 days, averaging 600-800 tons per month. Currently, they buy corn at 4.6 million VND/ton and resell it at 5.1 million VND/ton. After deducting expenses, their family earns a profit of over 20 million VND per month. Not only do they have a stable income, but they also provide employment for 15-20 workers in various stages of the process, from loading and unloading to drying and packaging.

The family of Mr. Vo Anh Tan in Tan Lam village, Cam Son commune, imports corn in batches every 2-3 days. On average, his family purchases 600-800 tons per month, creating jobs for 15-20 workers.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Yen's family in Ha Du village, Cam Son commune, is one of the largest agricultural product purchasing agents in Anh Son district. Ms. Yen said: Her family has been buying corn for over 10 years. Starting as a small-scale agency, initially buying only small quantities from farmers in the commune, her family now purchases corn throughout the entire district, including districts such as Con Cuong, Tuong Duong, and Ky Son.

Currently, the family is purchasing corn from Laos to supply dealers throughout the province. Each day, they import around 25 tons of corn, and sometimes over 100 tons. Annually, they purchase 4,000 tons of corn kernels, providing regular employment for 20 workers, each earning 300,000-400,000 VND per day. After deducting expenses, the family earns a profit of 100-150 million VND per year.

During the peak season, Nguyen Thi Yen's family in Ha Du village, Cam Son commune, imports about 100 tons of corn every day.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thang, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Cam Son commune, said: Currently, in Cam Son commune alone, there are 6 large agencies that purchase agricultural products, mainly corn. In addition to expanding their purchasing market to Tuong Duong, Con Cuong, and Ky Son districts, they are also expanding into Laos.

In recent years, local agents have directly purchased the produce from 220 hectares of the commune's corn-growing area, giving farmers great peace of mind regarding product sales. This not only demonstrates the farmers' responsiveness to market demands but has also contributed significantly to the overall economic development of the commune. In recent years, Cam Son has achieved an average growth rate of 13.2% per year. The agricultural sector's income reached over 85 billion VND, achieving 99.48% of the plan.

During harvest season, corn mills operate at full capacity.

Currently, Anh Son's corn cultivation area remains stable at around 3,000 hectares per season, with a yield of over 30,000 tons per year. Finding markets for corn is always a challenge for the people, local authorities, and relevant sectors.

According to statistics, Anh Son district currently has over 20 large corn purchasing facilities concentrated in Dinh Son, Cam Son, and Tuong Son communes. The emergence of these purchasing centers has facilitated farmers in bringing their agricultural products to market, stabilizing prices, improving crop quality and productivity, and creating an impetus for people to enthusiastically expand their acreage and invest in intensive corn cultivation in the district.

Thai Hien