© IJARW | ISSN (O) - 2582-1008 March 2024 | Vol. 6 Issue. 9 www.ijarw.com IJARW2441 International Journal of All Research Writings 153 FACTORS AFFECTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN SON LA PROVINCE Nguyen Thị Ngan 1 , Tran Huy Ngoc 2 Thai Nguyen University of Economics and Business Administration ABSTRACT The development of organic agriculture is a major policy priority in Son La Province, receiving significant attention and promotion. However, the area dedicated to organic farming in Sơn La remains relatively modest, with some agricultural products still being produced on a small and fragmented scale, which does not fully reflect the province’s potential and strengths. This study collected research data from 400 traditional farming households and 300 organic farming households across five districts (Phu Yen, Muong La, Thuan Chau, Moc Chau, and Van Ho) in Son La Province. The study employed exploratory factor analysis and a binary Logit regression model to assess the impact of various factors on farmers' participation in organic agriculture in Son La. The research findings indicate that five key factors positively influence farmers' participation in organic farming: policies, household head’s farming experience, awareness of organic agriculture, application of science and technology, and market conditions. Keyword: Organic production, organic agriculture, organic agricultural development 1. INTRODUCTION In recent years, due to rapid population growth, industrialization, urbanization, and increasingly severe climate change, arable land has been gradually lost. As a result, many countries worldwide, including Vietnam, have opted to develop agriculture through intensive farming to increase productivity. However, along with intensification, the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has led to soil degradation, environmental pollution, and serious food safety concerns, affecting human health. In response to this situation, organic agriculture is considered a solution to mitigate these issues, aiming for sustainable agricultural production while meeting consumer demand for clean, safe agricultural products and supporting export markets. Therefore, the development of organic agriculture has become an inevitable global trend, significantly influencing the sustainable development of many countries, including Vietnam. Son La is a mountainous province located in the Northwest region of Vietnam. With favorable natural conditions and climate, the province is considered to have great potential for developing organic agriculture. By the end of 2022, the total certified organic farming area in Sơn La was 187 hectares. Additionally, the province had 395.9 hectares certified for organic transition and 7,610 hectares cultivated following organic-oriented practices (People’s Committee of Son La Province, 2022). However, the organic farming area in Son La remains relatively modest. The production scale of some agricultural products is still small and fragmented, failing to fully reflect the province's potential and strengths. Organic agricultural products account for only a small proportion of the province's total agricultural output and export value. The number of enterprises, cooperatives, and farming households engaged in organic agriculture remains limited, with weak linkages among production participants. The proportion of deeply processed organic products is also low. Moreover, most agricultural production areas in Son La are located on sloping land, making zoning and management challenging (People’s Committee of Son La Province, 2022). Organic farming requires significant time, costs, and effort, leading to limitations in investment and development. At the same time, the market for certain agricultural products remains unstable. Farmers face difficulties related to capital, production techniques, and market access for organic products, which require further research and evaluation to develop appropriate solutions.