Amidst the majestic mountains and peaceful villages of Muoi Noi and Binh Thuan communes in Son La province, a new vitality is gradually spreading. It is not an unfamiliar technology or a complex model – it is biogas, a seemingly simple solution that carries high hopes for a green, clean, and sustainable future for the local farmers.

Within the framework of the Project "Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in the Agriculture and Forestry Sector of the Northwest Mountainous Region – Phase 2," implemented by the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD), the biogas digester model for treating agricultural byproducts according to circular principles has been officially applied in four project communes. The model's objective is not only to treat livestock waste but also to transform waste into resources and energy for daily life.

Out of a total of 29 registered households, 28 have now completed construction and are using biogas digesters at home. Seeing the gas pipes connecting the digester to the stove, the gentle blue flame flickering in the kitchen each evening, it is clear to everyone: this is not just a technical installation – it is a source of joy and peace of mind for the farmers. After implementing and using the biogas digesters, the families all share that their costs for traditional fuels have significantly decreased, their living environment is cleaner, and their fields and gardens are more lush. This is a small step with enormous significance, contributing directly to climate change response and laying a solid foundation for building new-style rural areas.

"Previously, cooking with a wood stove was smoky and time-consuming. Now, I turn on the valve and have gas for cooking. The house is cleaner, and there's no more smell of manure around the barns. It's a win-win!" – shared Mr Luong Van Cong, a resident of Muoi Noi commune.

The biogas digester effectively treats livestock manure. Instead of being discharged directly into the environment, causing pollution, the waste is now managed and collected into the digester. After decomposition (anaerobic digestion), the waste creates clean gas for household use. It also produces treated bioslurry and effluent, which residents can dilute and use as fertilizer for their crops. This is a key change in the project's model, demonstrating a closed-loop circularity by utilizing all output materials for reuse, thereby reducing environmental pollution.

To bring the model into practice, the project organized specific, easy-to-understand, hands-on training sessions, guiding residents on how to build, maintain, and use biogas digesters effectively. The project also provided support with essential materials, helping to reduce the financial burden on residents. Beyond technical assistance, the model is also fostering a change in the production mindset – shifting from passive waste treatment to proactive resource reuse, from "discarding" to "creating value."

In the near future, the project will continue to survey and support more families in applying this model, while also expanding communication efforts to the community to replicate the model. It is hoped that, starting from these 28 households, the "blue flames" will spread to every village and every kitchen of the farmers in the highlands of Son La.