Digital ecosystem in agriculture needs boost

Vietnam needs to promote the digital ecosystem in its agriculture sector by comprehensively digitizing the value chain, analysts told the “Digital transformation of agriculture and rural areas in the process of industrialization and modernization until 2030, with a vision to 2045” conference held by the Central Economic Commission and ministries on November 17.

It is necessary to focus on developing the value chain of Vietnamese agricultural products through the application of digital platforms, smart farming, and artificial intelligence in food quality assessment. Digital transformation will help farmers, cooperatives, and businesses improve productivity and quality, reduce costs, increase profits, and boost production efficiency, according to Mr. Nguyen Duy Hung, Deputy Head of the Central Economic Commission.

Appropriate measures and policies from the government are needed for the agriculture sector to develop further in the future. “Investment attraction in areas such as the Mekong Delta must consider climate change in order to make appropriate development decisions,” said H.E. Nadav Eshcar, Ambassador of Israel. The country needs to make use of Industry 4.0 and encourage innovative activities in the fields of high-tech agriculture, smart agriculture, organic agriculture, biotechnology, industrial development, and agricultural services.

Enterprises need to apply and transfer technology while developing science and technology in agriculture and rural areas. Training high-quality human resources also has to be prioritized, to meet the requirements of businesses, cooperatives, and farmers implementing digital transformation in agriculture and rural areas. “Encouraging people to participate also needs local government to play a role,” said Ms. Dina Umali-Deininger, Agriculture and Food Practice Manager for the East Asia and Pacific Region at the World Bank.