Sweet Potato Seedlings Become a New Path to Prosperity for Lam Dong Farmers
Hoang Sa•27/06/2026 16:40
In recent years, alongside the expansion of sweet potato production areas serving processing industries and export markets, sweet potato seedling cultivation has emerged as a highly profitable agricultural model in many parts of Lam Dong Province.
Sweet potato seedling production is generating high economic returns for farmers in many localities across Lam Dong Province.
High Returns From Sweet Potato Seedling Fields
The beginning of the rainy season marks a sharp increase in demand for sweet potato seedlings across the Central Highlands. Benefiting from a mild climate, fertile soil and years of farming experience, many localities in Lam Dong have become specialized seedling production areas, supplying high-quality planting materials to commercial sweet potato farms in Dak Lak, Binh Dinh and other provinces.
In several areas of Lam Ha , sweet potato seedling harvesting is currently in full swing. Across lush green fields, farmers are busy cutting vines, bundling them together and preparing them for delivery to customers who have placed orders in advance.
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Our sweet potato seedlings are mainly sold to provinces across the Central Highlands. Customers usually place orders beforehand, so when harvest time arrives, we simply cut and deliver the products.
Vu Thi Hien, Nam Ha Lam Ha Commune
According to local farmers, sweet potato vines can be harvested approximately three months after planting. Depending on weather conditions and cultivation practices, growers can harvest seedlings two to three times per year. One economic advantage of this model is that it allows growers to earn income from both seedling vines and commercial sweet potato tubers.
Each hectare of sweet potato seedling cultivation can be harvested two to three times per season.
During the first harvest, each hectare can yield between 8,000 and 10,000 bundles of seedlings, with each bundle containing around 200 vines. Prices range from VND 27,000 to VND 30,000 per bundle. The second harvest typically produces another 4,000 to 5,000 bundles.
In addition to seedling sales, farmers can harvest approximately four tons of commercial sweet potatoes per hectare, selling at around VND 6,000 per kilogram. By fully utilizing both vines and tubers, producers significantly increase overall economic value.
After deducting costs for investment, fertilizers, labor and cultivation, farmers can earn profits exceeding VND 200 million per hectare annually. This is considered a highly attractive return compared to many other short-term crops grown in the province.
The strong profitability of the model has encouraged many households to shift from commercial sweet potato cultivation to specialized seedling production. Japanese sweet potatoes and honey sweet potatoes are currently the two most commonly cultivated varieties due to their adaptability to Central Highlands conditions, stable yields and strong market demand.
Sweet potato seedlings are harvested in bundles of approximately 200 vines each and sold for VND 27,000 to VND 30,000 per bundle.
Beyond generating income for producers, the industry also creates seasonal jobs for local workers. During harvest periods, dozens of laborers participate in cutting, sorting and packaging the seedlings.
Nguyen Thi Hai, a farmer in Nam Ban Lam Ha Commune, said that demand for seedlings rises sharply during the rainy season, requiring farmers to work continuously. Since customers place orders in advance, additional workers are often hired to ensure timely delivery.
According to Song Khanh Bao, a sweet potato seedling trader from Dong Nai City, current demand is extremely high, especially at the beginning of the rainy season. Seedlings from Lam Dong are highly trusted because of their quality, high survival rates and vigorous growth after planting.
Supporting the Development of Lam Dong’s Export-Oriented Sweet Potato Value Chain
According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, Lam Dong is one of the largest sweet potato-producing localities in the region. The province cultivates approximately 2,200 hectares annually, generating nearly 47,000 tons of output.
Lam Dong sweet potatoes have gradually established a strong presence in international markets. Every year, more than 8,000 tons are exported to Japan. Another 5,000 tons are shipped to markets including South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia.
Developing high-quality sweet potato seedling production areas plays an important role in strengthening Lam Dong’s sweet potato value chain.
Exported products are increasingly diversified, ranging from fresh sweet potatoes to processed products. The Japanese market, in particular, mainly imports processed sweet potato products, requiring strict standards for raw material quality and production processes.
Developing high-quality production areas for sweet potato seedlings plays a critical role in strengthening the entire value chain. Quality seedlings help improve productivity, enhance product quality and ensure consistency across raw material supply areas serving export markets.
Alongside Japan, China is considered a highly promising market due to its strong demand and favorable transportation costs. To meet official export requirements, Lam Dong is currently developing planting area codes and packaging facility codes for sweet potato products.
At present, Vietnam has 13 packing facilities and 70 sweet potato growing areas eligible to export to China. This presents both opportunities and new requirements for localities to organize production more systematically and meet increasingly stringent market standards.
The success of sweet potato seedling production demonstrates that it is a highly valuable agricultural model that generates stable employment and improves rural incomes.
With its favorable climate, fertile soils and extensive farming experience, Lam Dong is gradually establishing itself as a major supplier of high-quality sweet potato seedlings in the Central Highlands, laying the foundation for the sustainable development of the sweet potato industry in the years ahead.
