Digital transformation in Thanh Ha agriculture

Pham Van Giang in Thuy Lam hamlet, Thanh Son commune, proficiently uses an electronic diary to monitor lychees

In a locality famous for the specialties of Thanh Ha lychees, Lien Mac guavas, etc., over the past time, the development of modern technology has helped Thanh Ha farmers erase geographical boundaries and remove bottlenecks in circulation, transport, and consumption of agricultural products, especially during the complicated Covid-19 epidemic. Many farmers have taken Thanh Ha lychees, Lien Mac guavas, and Thanh Hong rosy-pulped pomelos to the “electronic markets” of Lazada, Sendo, Voso, etc.

Thanh Ha farmers have also effectively exploited Facebook social networking site to popularize and offer farm produce.

Luong Thi Cu in Lien Mac commune has sold guavas on social networking sites for about five years and on Sendo and Lazada e-commerce platforms for two years.

Her family’s guavas are cultivated under VietGAP process and attached with a QR code for traceability. Thanks to the utilization of technology for sale, guavas of Cuc’s family always sell smoothly, even when the price is low.

In the past, Pham Van Giang in Thuy Lam hamlet, Thanh Son commune, was always busy writing information about lychee care in each notebook, but so far all procedures have been recorded in an electronic diary.

After updating, Giang and agricultural officials from the district and the province can also monitor the lychee care process.

The lychee garden of Giang’s family has been granted a QR code, which is very convenient for lychee buyers to trace the origin.

Most of lychees in areas given growing area and QR codes are selected for export to large and fastidious markets.

According to Giang, thanks to the application of software, his family’s production management process is more scientific. He can set the time of spraying pesticides, pruning branches, etc.

Thanh Ha farmers’ advantage is that an iMetos smart meteorological station has been installed in Thanh Quang commune. From there, weather forecasts, disaster warnings, rules of the weather that affect the outbreak of harmful organisms, and irrigation and fertilization management measures are put forth. This helps farmers capture the weather and adjust production more proactively.

Despite efforts in approaching digital transformation, many farmers are not properly aware of it, even part of staff members of agencies and units. A lot of farmers still hesitate to change production methods. The budget for information technology application is still limited...

In the coming time, Thanh Ha district authorities will continue to promote propaganda on the mass media, at conferences, seminars, etc. about the role and benefits of applying digital technology to management, production, and consumption of agricultural products; encourage digital technology enterprises to invest in agricultural production and new-style rural areas and accompany farmers in production and consumption of agricultural products.

MINH NGUYET