Smart Farm: A new direction in Vietnam - South Korea cooperation

From March 21 to 23, South Korea’s Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), Song Miryung, led a delegation on an official visit to Vietnam. Accompanying her were senior officials from MAFRA’s International Cooperation Bureau and the Agricultural Counselor of the South Korean Embassy in Vietnam.

During the bilateral meeting on March 21, leaders from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and MAFRA agreed that smart farming is a highly promising area of cooperation. Minister Do Duc Duy noted that this model is not only well-suited for South Korea but also aligns with Vietnam’s ecological and agricultural conditions.

From the South Korean side, MAFRA Minister Song Miryung shared that many smart farming businesses in South Korea are highly interested in expanding their investments in Vietnam.

Following her meeting with Minister Do Duc Duy, Mrs. Song Miryung conducted an on-site visit to Duc Chinh Agricultural Service Cooperative (Duc Chinh Commune, Cam Giang District, Hai Duong Province) to observe the adoption of high-tech applications in crop production.

From Hai Duong farms to Korean dining tables

When asked about future development directions, Mr. Nguyen Duc Thuat, Director of Duc Chinh Cooperative, shared that the cooperative will focus on post-harvest preservation and preliminary processing.

With a strong, confident voice, Director Thuat affirmed, “By further enhancing value to export to the Korean market, we hope to strengthen the ties between our two countries.”

The successful export of Duc Chinh carrots to South Korea has become a remarkable phenomenon in Hai Duong. Of the province’s total 1,500 hectares of carrot cultivation, Duc Chinh Commune solely accounts for 25%, equivalent to 360 hectares. The application of technology in production, processing, and preservation has helped elevate the Duc Chinh Carrot brand, making it a trusted choice for many agricultural export enterprises.

In 2021, Duc Chinh Cooperative was selected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment as a direct beneficiary of the “Support for Agricultural Product Processing and Preservation Facilities in Vietnam” project, funded by the South Korean government through MAFRA. Through this project, the cooperative received support to build a nearly 1,000m² processing facility, equipped with an automated washing line, a sorting machine with a capacity of 25 tons per day, and a 48m² low-temperature storage unit.

Reflecting on Minister Song Miryung’s visit, Mr. Nguyen Duc Thuat expressed his delight that Duc Chinh Cooperative had the honor of welcoming the South Korean delegation to join in harvesting carrots, visiting the processing facility, and engaging in discussions with local farmers.

According to Mr. Thuat, the processing facility, supported by South Korea, currently provides employment for around 50 workers daily. With a stable post-harvest processing system for exports, Duc Chinh's farmers no longer worry about "bumper crops leading to falling prices" and have even seen their income increase by 15 - 20%.

Notably, building on the technological foundation provided by South Korea, the cooperative has proactively improved and upgraded its equipment, ensuring regular maintenance to keep the production line running smoothly.

Each year, Hai Duong Province cultivates approximately 1,500 hectares of carrots, producing around 80,000 - 100,000 tons, with an annual value of about VND 800 billion. Around 40% of this output is exported to South Korea.

During a working session with Minister Song Miryung in Duc Chinh Commune, Mr. Tran Van Quan, Vice Chairman of the Hai Duong Provincial People’s Committee, emphasized that South Korea is considered the most crucial market, determining the success of the province’s carrot production and export. He expressed gratitude to MAFRA for addressing challenges and facilitating the continued export of Vietnamese carrots to South Korea.

Speaking with Vietnam Agriculture & Nature Newspaper after visiting Duc Chinh Cooperative (Hai Duong), MAFRA Minister Song Miryung expressed her admiration for the achievements of local farmers made possible through support from the South Korean government.

What moved her most was the proactive spirit of Duc Chinh Cooperative. "I deeply appreciate that, beyond receiving support in equipment, the cooperative's director and staff have voluntarily invested in additional necessary components," the Minister stated.

Always accompanying agricultural scientists

On the final day of her official visit, Minister Song Miryung held a meeting with the leadership of the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS) to discuss future cooperation directions.

Throughout its development, VAAS has received significant support from the South Korean government through organizations such as the Korea Rural Community Corporation (KRC), the Korea Program on International Agriculture (KOPIA), and the Korea Agricultural Technology Promotion Agency (KOAT)...

Since 2019, VAAS has implemented 45 projects and sub-projects with South Korean support, with a total funding of nearly 20 million USD. These projects have been carried out in close collaboration with experts from both countries.

"Minister Song Miryung has personally witnessed the joy of Hai Duong's farmers during the carrot harvest season, but she will see this joy in many other localities as well. South Korea’s contributions have spread to many economically challenged regions across Vietnam, supporting the development of new rural areas - an important national strategy of Vietnam," expressed Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hong Son, Director of VAAS.

In the coming time, the Institute hopes to promote strategic cooperation between MAFRA and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in developing agricultural equipment, materials, and smart farms.

A prime example is the Vietnam - Korea Smart Farm, located within the experimental and demonstration zone of VAAS, which serves as a highlight of agricultural and environmental cooperation between the two countries. All materials, equipment, machinery, and tools for the farm were transported from South Korea to Vietnam, and Korean experts have also been directly involved in installation and operational guidance.

Minister Song Miryung expressed her delight at the initial success of the cooperation. She believes that a standardized demonstration model will attract more farmers, advanced cooperatives, and agricultural enterprises to invest in the application of high technology in production.

"South Korea and Vietnam share the same starting point in traditional agriculture. Our two countries have built a strong cooperative relationship to move towards the innovation and modernization of the agricultural sector. MAFRA will always accompany and serve as a solid launchpad for cooperation between the Vietnamese and Korean scientific communities," Minister Song Miryung affirmed.

$ 1 = VND 25.370 - Source: Vietcombank.

The leader of MAFRA stated that, amid increasing climate change and a declining workforce, the agricultural sector faces numerous pressing challenges. Therefore, countries are striving to transform toward smart agriculture by applying advanced technology and modern equipment and materials to enhance production and productivity.