Digital platforms help farmers confidently produce and consume agricultural products

Digital technology serves as a fulcrum for product consumption

On December 6 in Hung Yen, the Center for Technology Transfer and Agricultural Extension (Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences) organized a conference to summarize the central agricultural extension project "Building a high-quality vegetable production model, Applying information technology to connect supply and demand in some Northern provinces".

Dr. Do Van Ngoc, the project manager, said the project will be implemented in Hanoi, Hung Yen, and Son La from 2021 to 2023. The project aims to apply information technology in building chain models of high-quality, uniform commercial vegetable production suitable to the investment conditions of farmers in some Northern provinces.

After 3 years of implementation, despite facing many difficulties and challenges, especially during the period of strong outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, up to now, all project objectives have been completed according to schedule, even with targets far exceeding initial expectations.

Specifically, the project has successfully deployed 18 demonstration models in Hung Yen, Hanoi, and Son La on crops including fragrant melons, tomatoes, and leafy vegetables with a total area of 55 hectares (8 hectares of fragrant melons, 10 hectares of tomatoes, 37 hectares of leafy vegetables). Of these, 14 models have shown very positive results when crop productivity increased, economic efficiency is 20% higher than the control and 4 models are in the process of being deployed. In addition, 18 production technique training classes were organized for nearly 700 households, and 6 information technology application technique classes were organized for 120 households participating in the model.

Regarding training outside the model, the project has deployed 8 production technical training classes for more than 240 farmers, and 4 information technology application technical classes for 80 households and is developing an implementation of launching the following courses in the future.

In particular, the project has completed and implemented the information portal connecting supply and demand (website: khuyennongketnoicungcau.vn and application (App) running on iOS and Android platforms.

In addition, 7 conferences were organized to visit and evaluate the model in project implementation localities with more than 350 delegates attending and are developing plans to deploy 2 conferences with 100 delegates in Hanoi and Hung Yen. Yen.

Complying with technical procedures such as using quality seedlings, organic fertilizers to improve soil, biological pesticides, and recording production logs (sowing date, land preparation). , fertilization, labor...) so plants grow well, yield is 10 - 15% higher, product selling price is 10 - 20% higher than previous traditional production.

Selling products not only to the "cart"

Dr. Pham Van Dan, Director of the Center for Technology Transfer and Agricultural Extension, shared that the application of information technology and digital transformation is taking place firmly in many fields, including agriculture. Supporting farmers in creating high-quality products and connecting to trade and sell products using available technology (smartphones) is highly urgent.

To apply information technology to connect establishments and individuals producing high-quality agricultural products with consumers, creating more consumption channels, within the framework of the project, CETDAE has built, completed and Put into use the information portal connecting supply and demand from December 2022.

Participating entities can post-introductory information about the unit, products, plans, production processes, productivity and expected harvest time... From there, capture order requests and information. partner. At the same time, consumer units can search, order, and connect directly to production facilities (the portal management board has verified information).

After completion and official operation, CETDAE coordinated with cooperatives, companies, and households to bring 100% of the project's demonstration model products to the portal to promote and connect with consumers. Initial results show that about 70% of the project's products have been consumed through this portal.

Mr. Nguyen Van Kha, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Yen My district (Hung Yen), emphasized that Yen My is one of the districts with rapid industrial development and urbanization in the province. Therefore, the area of agricultural land is increasingly narrowing (the district currently has more than 1,000 hectares of rice, more than 1,200 hectares of fruit trees, and nearly 600 hectares of vegetables). Meanwhile, the demand for quality agricultural products, especially vegetables, is higher than ever.

Specifically, as of November 30, there were 84 production and supply facilities across the country, with 118 agricultural products posted on the project's supply and demand connection portal, with more than 11,600 orders recorded. The number of customers approached increases by 5 - 10% each month. Currently, CETDAE is collecting feedback from participating entities to improve and optimize utilities, gradually increasing the number of users.