Enhancing the value of agricultural products through high technology and digital transformation.

The impact of technology on the fields.

In recent years, rice cultivation on the 6 sao (approximately 0.6 hectares) of land owned by Ms. Bui Thi Truc's family in Hung Nguyen Nam commune has become increasingly convenient thanks to the introduction of machinery into the fields. Even though her husband works far away, she almost no longer has to worry about the hardships or pressure of the planting season.

"Before, we had to do everything ourselves, it was very hard work, but now farming is so much easier. We just hire a machine to do the land in half a day, and when it's time to harvest, we have machines to harvest, thresh, and bag the rice right in the field. We just have to transport it back to dry, and sometimes we even sell the fresh rice directly to traders right at the edge of the field," Ms. Truc happily shared.

Over the years, Nghe An province has made significant breakthroughs in mechanization and the application of scientific and technological advancements in agricultural production. The province currently has over 100,000 machines of various types, with a very high mechanization rate: land preparation reaching over 98%, transportation over 90%, and especially rice harvesting reaching 98%. The technology of spraying pesticides using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) is increasingly widely applied. With a spraying capacity of 3-5 hectares per hour, these drones not only help reduce production costs but, more importantly, protect the health of farmers by minimizing direct contact with harmful chemicals.

Six years ago, Mr. Vo Van Thinh in Dong Loc commune bought 8,000 square meters of land.² Unproductive rice fields were abandoned and replaced with investments in building organic farms for growing green grapes and cantaloupes. The application of sweetness measurement technology and strict care procedures not only resulted in a 30% higher yield compared to conventional farming but also produced clean, high-quality products.

In particular, the "digitization" of his output through social media has helped him quickly sell tens of tons of grapes and melons harvested each year. Customers from Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hanoi are increasingly aware of his farm's products, thanks to their trust in quality certifications and frequent online interaction. "When technology is introduced, the distance between producers and customers is significantly narrowed, and product sales are becoming increasingly convenient," Mr. Thinh shared.

Create deep, sustainable supply chains.

However, despite many positive results, the application of digital technology, high technology, and digital transformation in agriculture in localities still faces many limitations and is not commensurate with its potential. By the end of 2025, the area of ​​high-tech agricultural cultivation in Nghe An will only reach over 40,000 hectares, accounting for about 13% of the total area. Although the province has 730 agricultural cooperatives, ranking among the leading groups nationwide, the number of cooperatives applying high technology is only 101.

These limitations stem from the fact that agricultural production in Nghe An still faces many shortcomings. Land is fragmented, and the issue of human resources is also a "barrier," as the agricultural workforce is aging, production thinking is based on outdated experience, and a fear of risks when adopting new technologies remains prevalent.

Furthermore, the severe impacts of climate change, from intense cold spells at the beginning of the year to scorching heatwaves in the middle of the season and storms and floods at the end of the year, have increased the risks for high-tech investment activities that already require very large capital.

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Digital transformation in agricultural production faces challenges right from the awareness stage. Establishing planting area codes or bringing agricultural products to trading platforms requires rigorous processes, sufficiently large areas, and the ability to use smart equipment; however, most farmers are still accustomed to small-scale, self-sufficient production.

Mr. Le Van Hong - Chairman of the People's Committee of Quan Thanh Commune

In order to create a foundation for the overarching goal of shifting strongly from a "production mindset" to an "agricultural economic mindset," Nghe An province has allocated significant public investment resources to infrastructure. Specifically for 2025, the total public investment capital allocated to the Department of Agriculture and Environment reached over 1,737 billion VND, of which over 1,133 billion VND came from the central government budget.

Key projects such as the Ban Mong Reservoir, pumping station systems in many localities, the upgrading of the Da Mai reservoir and dam, and the Southern irrigation system... have been and are being urgently implemented. This forms the basis for the formation and development of high-tech raw material areas, enabling agriculture to proactively cope with increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather events.

"To realize the goal of green growth and comprehensive digitalization, the agricultural sector is focusing on a synchronized set of solutions: reviewing and replanning large-scale concentrated production areas, coupled with strong policies to encourage land consolidation," said a leader of the Department of Agriculture and Environment.

The province is also strengthening its efforts to attract businesses with the capacity to access high technology in breeding and deep processing to create sustainable supply chains, where businesses play a leading role in technical development and product distribution.

Furthermore, scientific research and agricultural extension work are gradually being reformed in a more substantive direction, focusing on areas of strength such as dairy farming, fruit and vegetable production, flowers, and forestry for export. In particular, supporting farmers in accessing preferential loan sources under Resolution 34 of the Provincial People's Council will be a "lever" for farms and cooperatives to boldly invest in smart equipment and digital transformation in both production and consumption.