Preserving the Fragrance of Khoai Den Sticky Rice

In Chi Dam Commune, entering the crop season marks the time when low-lying fields gradually turn dark green with Khoai Den sticky rice —a local variety restored and expanded by residents, becoming a signature agricultural product. Featuring plump, rounded grains that cook into soft, fragrant rice, Khoai Den sticky rice provides substantial income for farmers while opening avenues for commercial production tied to local brand building.

Currently, Chi Dam Commune cultivates around 30 hectares of Khoai Den sticky rice, concentrated primarily in Doan Ket, Minh Lac, and Dong Tien villages. Local residents have grown this variety for years, though its acreage once shrank. Since 2023, the commune began focusing on restoring the crop, encouraging residents to expand cultivation, and working to build a brand that enhances product value.

Khoai Den sticky rice cultivation is concentrated in Doan Ket Village, Chi Dam Commune.

According to locals, the Khoai Den variety originated in Thai Nguyen and was brought to Chi Dam many years ago. It earned the name “Khoai Den” because its stalks and leaves display a characteristic dark color during growth. The plant features tall, sturdy stalks with strong lodging resistance and low pest susceptibility, making its growth traits well-suited for low-lying fields, local weather, and water conditions during the crop season.

The production cycle of Khoai Den sticky rice aligns with the traditional crop season. Farmers plant the seedlings around June and harvest in October. On suitable fields, the rice grows vigorously with long panicles and solid grains, yielding nearly 2 quintals per sào (equivalent to roughly 5.5 tons per hectare)—significantly higher than several other rice varieties grown in the same area.

The value of Khoai Den sticky rice lies not only in its adaptability but, more importantly, in its grain quality. The rounded, plump grains yield rice with a signature soft, sticky texture and aroma when cooked, making it ideal for holidays, Lunar New Year celebrations, gifting, or traditional cooking. Consequently, Khoai Den sticky rice enjoys strong consumer demand and stable distribution, fetching prices between 35,000 and 40,000 VND per kilogram—considerably higher than ordinary sticky rice varieties.

Khoai Den sticky rice yields heavy, well-filled panicles when cultivated in the low-lying fields of Chi Dam Commune.

In Doan Ket Village, Khoai Den sticky rice attracts wide interest among households. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh, head of the village Women’s Union branch, is among the active leaders in restoring and maintaining this crop. Her family currently cultivates 1.000m2 of Khoai Den sticky rice. Since its restoration, she and local women’s union members have step-by-step expanded the area, balancing production with promoting the rice to consumers.

“Khoai Den sticky rice suits our local fields and faces few pests, easing the care process for farmers. Most importantly, the rice is delicious, soft, and fragrant, commanding good prices that motivate us to maintain cultivation,” shared Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh.

Beyond Ms. Thanh’s family, the movement to grow Khoai Den sticky rice is expanding among women’s union members in Doan Ket Village. Today, over 70 members cultivate the variety across the village. Moving away from small, scattered plots, residents are forming concentrated production zones that facilitate market linkages, sales, and brand development.

The recovery of Khoai Den sticky rice demonstrates the efficacy of selecting well-suited crops. Rather than focusing solely on yields, the locality targets crops with unique advantages that deliver high quality and economic value. For Khoai Den sticky rice, the standout edges remain its distinct rice quality and adaptability to low-lying terrain.

In 2023, local Khoai Den sticky rice achieved 3-star OCOP certification. This key milestone enhanced the product’s market value and standing. Since gaining OCOP status, production, promotion, and distribution have received greater support, encouraging farmers to maintain supply areas.

Khoai Den sticky rice products achieve 3-star OCOP standards, enhancing value and promoting Chi Dam Commune’s local specialty.

Comrade Cao Thi Ngoc Mai, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Chi Dam Commune Party Committee, stated that the commune will continue prioritizing Khoai Den sticky rice as a flagship agricultural product. The locality aims to upgrade the product from 3-star to 4-star OCOP status, encouraging farmers to expand cultivation by approximately 10 additional hectares while organizing commercial production to form concentrated raw material zones that raise product quality and value.

Furthermore, Chi Dam Commune plans to step up promotional campaigns, leveraging OCOP advantages to widen market reach. Attention will be directed toward packaging, labeling, traceability, and telling the story of the traditional rice variety to help consumers easily identify Chi Dam’s Khoai Den sticky rice.

From a variety once facing risk of oblivion, Khoai Den sticky rice is reviving across Chi Dam’s fields. Every crop season, its distinctive dark green foliage stretches across the landscape, carrying hopes for a signature agricultural product. As raw material zones expand, commercial production advances, and OCOP ratings rise, Khoai Den sticky rice grains will serve as a hallmark product—boosting local incomes and enriching Chi Dam Commune’s agricultural portfolio.

Hoang Huong