Digital transformation in agricultural extension activities brings farmers to the "big sea"

The National Agricultural Extension Center has begun to build a digital transformation strategy for the entire system, however, it still faces many challenges.

Chuyển đổi số trong hoạt động Khuyến nông đưa nông dân ra — Overview of the workshop "Digital transformation in agricultural extension activities" organized by the National Agricultural Extension Center in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Hai Phong on November 8, emphasizing that digital transformation in Vietnam's agricultural sector is seen as an inevitable step forward. Photo: Nghia Le

That was the information given at the Digital Transformation Workshop in Agricultural Extension recently organized by the National Agricultural Extension Center in Hai Phong. Digital transformation is opening up a "big sea" for farmers, helping them access new knowledge and reach out to the international market. This is not only an inevitable direction but also a sustainable solution to help improve the quality of Vietnamese agricultural products, creating opportunities to change the lives of Vietnamese farmers.

In the era of Industry 4.0, with the development of advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and Big Data, digital transformation has become an important and inevitable direction for the agricultural sector. Thanks to digital transformation, farmers not only have access to new knowledge and techniques but can also manage and control their production processes more effectively.

However, at the workshop, the practical problems that units and farmers are facing when applying technology to agriculture were emphasized and showed that this path is not smooth.

"In particular, agricultural production and cultivation in Vietnam are still fragmented, small-scale, and difficult to apply high technology; agricultural enterprises have not invested much in digital transformation; the quality of highly specialized human resources in digital agriculture is still limited," Mr. Nam added.

The goal of building a database to serve digital transformation in agricultural extension activities is to gradually transform agricultural extension activities from the traditional environment to simultaneously combine agricultural extension in the digital environment to meet the goal of "three agriculture" agricultural extension in the new period.

Digital transformation is a transformation of thinking...

Mr. Le Quoc Thanh, Director of the National Agricultural Extension Center, said that the National Agricultural Extension Center has begun to develop a digital transformation strategy for the entire system, but still faces many challenges. Therefore, those working in agricultural extension need to clearly understand their current position, fully perceive the changes and form new approaches to suit the trend.

The Center will develop a common set of standards for localities to implement synchronously and will submit to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development the policy of developing the Agricultural Extension Project No.

"Digital transformation in agriculture not only helps farmers expand their markets but also helps them improve their production processes, increase productivity and product quality. Using IoT devices allows farmers to monitor and control environmental factors such as soil humidity, temperature and pH accurately and promptly. Data collected from these devices helps farmers adjust their planting and crop care activities, thereby minimizing risks and optimizing productivity," Mr. Thanh added.

Mr. Le Quoc Thanh shared: “With an agricultural extension force of more than 40,000 people, the question is how to create a unified digital transformation space throughout the system. Therefore, a comprehensive strategy is needed starting from the National Agricultural Extension Center, synchronously connecting with local agricultural extension centers. From here, a new approach to the digital transformation process in the agricultural extension system will be formed. When implementing digital agricultural extension, we will be able to accompany farmers in the digital transformation process in agricultural production.”

Thus, digital transformation is not only about applying technology, but also a revolution in thinking, helping Vietnamese farmers gradually reach out to the "big sea".

Orientation of digital transformation in agricultural extension activities...

Mr. Le Nguyen Truong Giang, Director of the Institute of Digital Transformation Strategy, said: "To promote digital transformation in agricultural extension activities, experts need to propose the development of a comprehensive and systematic training program, linked to an overall digitalization strategy to ensure capacity and efficiency in technology application."

Building a foundational data architecture is also essential, helping to form an open and linked data system as the basis for quick and accurate decisions, better supporting agricultural extension activities nationwide.

In addition, experts emphasize promoting data-based decision making and building a digital economic platform for agricultural extension. Data analysis systems will help managers, farmers and experts make optimal decisions and minimize risks.

The digital economic platform also helps farmers easily access the market, while strengthening connections with stakeholders, creating a sustainable value ecosystem for the agricultural sector.

According to the Center for Digital Transformation and Agricultural Statistics, the digital transformation goal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development focuses on building digital government, digital agricultural economy and digital rural areas.

The Ministry is promoting the application of digital technology to modernize the administration, provide effective public services, and build a transparent policy and management platform that is suitable for development needs.

Currently, digital transformation in agricultural extension activities has been implemented in fields such as cultivation, animal husbandry and forestry. In the field of cultivation, IoT, Big Data and AI technologies are applied to manage the environment, analyze crop varieties, monitor plant growth in real time, and support traceability.

In the livestock sector, IoT, biology and blockchain technologies help closely manage processes on farms. In the forestry sector, GIS technology and remote sensing images are used to monitor and detect early changes in forests, promptly warning of the risk of forest fires.

Finally, digital transformation promises to help Vietnam’s agricultural sector shift from a small-scale, fragmented production model to a modern, value-chain-linked production model. This will not only improve economic efficiency but also create a driving force for sustainable development for the agricultural sector, helping it integrate with global development trends.

Within the framework of the workshop, representatives of a number of management agencies, research agencies, experts, enterprises in the agricultural sector, representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of provinces and cities exchanged general information on digital transformation, especially digital transformation in agricultural extension activities; digital transformation solutions in agricultural extension activities; management of agricultural production activities using the FACEFARM application; agricultural market 4.0; family gardens, shared gardens; Global Check technology fields; linking agricultural product consumption on technology platforms; smart technology solutions applied in agricultural production...

Issues of concern to delegates related to the application of digital transformation in agricultural production practices and agricultural extension activities were informed and answered specifically by agricultural experts and engineers...

Source: https://danviet.vn/chuyen-doi-so-trong-hoat-dong-khuyen-nong-dua-nong-dan-ra-bien-lon-20241112002756896.htm