Digital transformation of agriculture is still a big challenge

On the afternoon of August 16, a consultation conference was held in Dong Nai on implementing a digital data platform on agriculture and a traceability platform. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep and Mr. Vo Van Phi, Vice Chairman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee, co-chaired the conference. 

Digital transformation is an inevitable trend globally, opening unprecedented opportunities for Vietnam to break through and change its national ranking. 

The National Digital Transformation Committee chose 2023 as the year of national digital data and determined to focus on implementing several important targets for ministries, branches, and localities to focus on. Dong Nai and seven provinces (Ben Tre, Dong Thap, Quang Nam, Son La, Thai Binh, Hung Yen, and Phu Tho) were assigned to pioneer the implementation of the agricultural digital data platform, the original seeking platform.

Defining digital transformation as an inevitable trend, sectors at all levels in Dong Nai province have actively implemented it in recent years. However, the locality also faces specific difficulties and problems. This problem is also the primary content presented by Mr. Ta Quang Truong, Director of the Department of Information and Communications of Dong Nai Province, on the situation and solutions to implement digital transformation in the province. 

Truong also said that until now, Dong Nai has 1,174 individuals and organizations that have registered to participate and been granted accounts. In addition, the province has implemented wearing bracelets and stamping access at participating establishments. Accumulated to June 30, there are 47,537/540,000 pigs traceable. However, the project also needed more support.

"Markets, supermarkets, convenience stores, and kitchens do not carry out tracing. Or these units do not apply traceability stamps on products before selling to consumers. In general, businesses and people are still quite indifferent or do it in the form of resistance," Mr.Truong said. 

Also, according to Mr. Nguyen Truong Giang, Director of Dong Nai Province's Sub-Department of Livestock and Animal Health, currently, there are 1,795 livestock farms registered, declared, and certified on the software, reaching the rate of 85.48% compared to the number of livestock farms, province-wide farm. However, only in July 2023, only 243 farms maintained periodic reports, reaching 13.82% of the registered farms. 

Mr. Giang also analyzed that the reason was that the data entry is the breeder, but there is no regulation, so the rate is low. The declaration through the app is still new, so people have not formed a habit of declaring; people have yet to see all the benefits of the statement.

In addition, in the implementation process, there are still certain limitations, such as the information technology infrastructure is not synchronized; Human resources for information technology in agencies and units are still limited; several applications for directing and operating but individually not synchronized and connected, ensuring common sharing; The software has not been updated regularly.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep assessed that digital transformation of the agricultural sector is a big challenge, with many things to do and difficulties. If digital transformation is complex in other industries, the problem is multiplied many times in the agricultural sector.

"Although the agricultural sector accounts for about 14% of economic GDP, it accounts for 66% of the population. Therefore, accepting and coping with difficulties is the sacred obligation of agricultural digital transformation. This challenge is the gold test fire mission.

Digital transformation is a seamless and seamless process with a beginning and an end. It must connect from central to local, government to local. We need a different way of thinking and doing to succeed. Software, computers, and clouds are just tools. The farmer does not join him if he is not interested in it. That will fail," said Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep. 

Also, according to Deputy Minister Hiep, Dong Nai is a pioneer in digital transformation, accepting to face difficulties. However, in addition to determination, Dong Nai needs to have sanctions, balance interests, harmonize and show roles and claims to be successful. 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is also rushing to implement the data architecture map of the agricultural sector, which will be released in November. This data is the hinge for digital transformation and traceability and helps localities perform more synchronously.

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Vo Van Phi, Vice Chairman of Dong Nai People's Committee, also hoped for the success of digital transformation using information technology. They know this is one of the bridges for the province to integrate into the international economy and meet market demand.

"Dong Nai is ready and estimated to spend about VND 2,000 billion on digital transformation. However, due to many factors, disbursement is still impossible. Hopefully, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will soon successfully implement the transition so Dong Nai and other provinces can be inherited. For example, Dong Nai has 11 area codes for durian growing areas, and there are standards for implementing and managing area codes for durian cultivation. To keep the planting area code under the control of the authorities and authorities, ensuring the benefits for the people, "said Mr. Phi. 

Mr. Tran Lam Sinh, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the Department used Egov software in receiving and handling administrative procedures and circulating all administrative documents between departments. 

Currently, there are 93 administrative procedures in 12 groups of fields, of which 86 systems are operated in the electronic environment at levels 3 and 4, accounting for 93% of the total number of administrative procedures; The rate of applications received in 2022 is 1,866 applications, accounting for 98.3%.