Arabfields, Meriem Senouci, Correspondent, Hanoï, Vietnam — Vietnam is looking to unlock greater economic value from its winter crop season as farmers shift towards higher-value vegetables and other crops, with authorities encouraging production models that respond more closely to market demand.

The strategy reflects a broader effort to improve rural incomes by making better use of agricultural land after the main rice harvest. Rather than focusing solely on planting more hectares, local authorities are promoting crop diversification, improved farming techniques and closer links between growers, cooperatives and buyers.

In Bac Ninh province, farmers are moving quickly to plant potatoes, carrots and other vegetables following the rice harvest. For Nguyen Duc Khien, a farmer in Nhan Hoa ward, winter potatoes offer an opportunity to generate significantly more income from land that would otherwise remain unused during the colder months.

His family is cultivating around 1.5 hectares of potatoes this season. A typical plot of 360 square metres can produce between 800 and 900 kilograms of potatoes, generating about 12 million Vietnamese dong in revenue when sold directly from the field. After expenses, the profit can reach 3 million to 4 million dong per plot, according to figures reported by local authorities.

The figures illustrate why winter crops are becoming increasingly important to farming households. A relatively short growing cycle can provide an additional source of income, although returns depend on yields, input costs, weather conditions and the prices available when the harvest reaches the market.

Bac Ninh has set a target of planting 26,000 hectares of winter crops in the 2026-27 season, equivalent to the previous year’s level. As of October 15, farmers had planted 11,440 hectares, representing 44% of the target.

Vegetables are expected to account for 12,750 hectares, with projected output exceeding 274,000 tonnes. Planned areas also include approximately 5,100 hectares of potatoes, 4,400 hectares of maize, 1,700 hectares of sweet potatoes and 750 hectares of peanuts.

Local officials are encouraging farmers to select varieties suited to local conditions, prepare land immediately after the rice harvest and adopt techniques that reduce production costs. They are also promoting larger, more concentrated growing areas to improve efficiency and create more consistent supplies for commercial buyers.

The challenge extends beyond increasing production. Farmers can lose much of the value of a successful harvest if they lack access to storage, transport or reliable buyers. For that reason, authorities are increasingly emphasising production linked to consumption networks, including agreements between cooperatives, processing businesses and distributors.

Other Vietnamese provinces are pursuing similar approaches. In Ninh Binh, the winter crop season generated more than 2.158 trillion dong in economic value in 2025, from an area exceeding 22,000 hectares. The province is targeting more than 22,500 hectares in 2026, with an ambition to increase total production value to over 2.2 trillion dong and average income to more than 100 million dong per hectare.

These targets underline the economic potential of winter farming, but they also highlight the importance of choosing the right crops for each region. Soil conditions, temperature, water availability and access to markets can vary considerably, making a uniform planting strategy less effective than locally adapted production plans.

Weather remains a significant source of uncertainty. Agricultural authorities have warned that elevated temperatures and heavy rainfall early in the winter season could affect planting schedules and the development of crops that require cooler conditions. The anticipated influence of El Niño could further complicate production planning, increasing the need for flexible planting calendars and careful crop selection.

For farmers, timing can determine the difference between a profitable harvest and a disappointing season. Planting too early or too late may affect yields and product quality, while concentrated harvesting periods can put pressure on prices if too much produce reaches the market simultaneously.

Over the coming months, the performance of Vietnam’s winter crop season will depend on whether farmers can complete planting on schedule, manage weather risks and secure outlets for their produce. Greater use of mechanisation, improved seed varieties and safer cultivation practices could help raise productivity, but investment and access to technical advice will remain important.

The outlook is cautiously positive if production plans are matched by reliable market demand. Expanding high-value crops and strengthening links with processors could increase earnings per hectare, particularly in areas where farmers can coordinate planting and stagger harvests to maintain a steady supply.

However, higher production alone will not guarantee higher profits. Without effective distribution networks and better risk management, farmers could face falling prices, rising costs or losses caused by adverse weather.

Vietnam’s winter crop season is increasingly being viewed as an opportunity to strengthen rural livelihoods rather than simply add another planting cycle. The longer-term gains will depend on whether the shift towards market-oriented agriculture delivers more stable incomes for farming households while improving the efficiency and competitiveness of the country’s agricultural sector.