Mekong farmers use iPads to learn about smart agriculture

Ho Chi Minh City  —  Authorities in Đồng Tháp Province have taken measures to bring farmers closer to smart agriculture at a time when they are struggling to find buyers for their produce. 

Harvesting rice in the Mekong Delta Province of Hậu Giang. VNA/VNS Photo Duy Khương

Lê Minh Hoan, secretary of the Đồng Tháp Province’s Party Committee, said the province was among the first in the region to provide economic information to farmers so they could improve their lives.

With Hoan’s recommendation, the business community donated iPads to farmers in the province. “The iPads are useful tools that help farmers learn about farming experiences from home and abroad,” said Hoan, adding that it is the best way to approach the “knowledge revolution”.

Many farmers’clubs have also been set up in the province.

After a visit from Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc two years ago, Hậu Giang Province also began focusing on smart agriculture.

During the visit, PM Phúc said: “Hậu Giang needs to transfer from chemical and industrial agriculture to organic agriculture and smart farming, and develop services and processing and auxiliary industries to support its farming industry.”

Since then, Hậu Giang has focused on sustainable development in agriculture and its programme on new rural areas.

This year, it began promoting a green economy, targeting smart agriculture, with priorities given to aquaculture, rice and vegetable cultivation.

The province set up a 5,200ha hi-tech agricultural park in the province’s Long Mỹ District with policies to support enterprises and farmers to develop clean and green agriculture in the park.

In addition to rice, Hậu Giang sells other products such as strabismus falls fish, dragon fruit, pineapple and soursop to overseas markets.

According to Lê Tiến Châu, chairman of the Hậu Giang Province People’s Committee, farmers need assistance from others to learn about high technologies. Scientists, universities and research institutes can provide help to farmers.

Dr Trương Duy Cần from Cần Thơ University said that local communities were focusing more on advanced technology and development of their major products.

“The agricultural revolution must begin with the reduction of the use of plant protection chemicals and fertilizers,” which must be replaced by biological products and eco-friendly production that results in products of high nutritional value, he said.