Digital transformation has been affecting all aspects of social life. Therefore, digital transformation in agriculture, especially the production process, is considered an inevitable trend to help farmers and enterprises approach new ways to develop, thereby improving productivity and product quality.

For many years, the application of digital technologies from production to processing, distribution and consumption of agricultural products has changed the way of managing, producing and consuming products from traditional to modern methods in many agricultural cooperatives in the city.

People buy vegetables from the Tuy Loan Safe Vegetables Production and Consumption Service Cooperative at a fair. Photo: VAN HOANG

Improving competitiveness through quality

The Tuy Loan Safe Vegetables Production and Consumption Service Cooperative in Tuy Loan Tay Village, Hoa Phong Commune, Hoa Vang District, has, in recent times, invested in modern industrial well and ditch systems to proactively irrigation.

At the same time, the cooperative has used land-tilling machines instead of human labor, built a net house system with an automatic irrigation system (twice a day) to produce hydroponic vegetables, and purchased automatic nursery seeding machine, thereby contributing to overcoming its dependence on weather.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ly, a member of the Tuy Loan Safe Vegetables Production and Consumption Service Cooperative, said that since she and other members of the cooperative switched to clean agricultural production, and applied high technology and digital transformation in the production process, farming work has been less strenuous and the income has been stable. From traditional farmers, they have gradually become "modern farmers".

Mr. Bui Dung, Director of the Tuy Loan Cooperative, said that the basic difference between digital and traditional agriculture is ways to apply digital technologies to change the ways of managing, producing and consuming products.

For instance, thanks to the application of abovementioned digital technologies, the Tuy Loan clean vegetable products are now available on a number of e-commerce platforms.

During the process of consuming products, the cooperative’s farmers have the opportunity to connect directly with consumers to better understand market needs, and consumer trends. Members of the cooperative also change ‘self-sufficient’ to scientific, safe, and modern production thinking.

Currently, the Tuy Loan Cooperative distributes its high quality products to more than 20 stores and supermarkets throughout the city and expands the market in Thua Thien Hue Province. Its major partners are corporations and schools such as Winmart (formerly Vinmart), Sun World Ba Na Hills, Hoa Tho Supermarket, and Sky-line High Quality Education System.

Changing farming mindset

Digital transformation in agriculture aims to develop a high-tech agricultural production model, creating modern production processes, high-quality products and fundamentally changing the thinking of agricultural workers, production establishments and businesses in the locality.

The Duong Son flower village in Hoa Vang District’s Hoa Chau Commune, one of the largest flower villages in the city, has been applying high-tech techniques to the production process such as automatic irrigation system, greenhouses, and smart LED lighting. This has helped the village overcome the effects of weather, bringing high productivity and stable income for people.

Mr. Nguyen Phu Thanh Son, Chief of Office of the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the department is now boosting digital transformation by building rice production process management software applying pilot digital conversion solutions in the An Trach paddy field in Hoa Tien Commune, Hoa Vang District.

Besides, digital transformation in the agricultural sector is also strongly focusing on OCOP products from supporting farmers to consume agricultural products, trace the origin of products and goods, prepare for packaging designs and labels, and build branding, thereby enhancing product reputation on e-commerce platforms.

Digital transformation really brings significant benefits to the operations of many businesses and production facilities; as well as changes the thinking of individuals and organisations involving in the agriculture field.

Reporting by KHANH HOA - Translating by M.DUNG