'Better Life Farming' - Helping farmers farm smarter

Smart farming is the application of advanced technical solutions, creating a sustainable agricultural development model, increasing the value of agricultural products and protecting the environment.

The project, called Better Life Farming - Pioneering Agriculture, Prosperous Farmers (BLF), is a global program co-founded by Bayer Group, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Netafim - the Precision Agriculture division of Orbia, the world's leading irrigation system company, with the participation of Yara - a global fertilizer brand specializing in providing leading plant nutrition solutions.

In Vietnam, the project is supported by the National Agricultural Extension Center (NAEC), and the Western Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute (WASI), and is expanding its network of cooperation with other agencies.

The project will help farmers practice “smart farming” by accessing scientific advances, helping with sustainable farming, improving productivity and quality of coffee and durian trees.

Stable farming, sustainable development

On the morning of October 15, at the durian garden of Mr. Nguyen Van Su's family, in village 4, Cu Sue commune, Cu M'gar district, Dak Lak province, Bayer Vietnam and its partners held a launching ceremony for the Better Life Farming project. The launching ceremony was attended by leaders of the National Agricultural Extension Center, the Western Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute (WASI); leaders of the Department of Crop Production, Dak Lak Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. In particular, the project launching ceremony attracted a large number of durian farmers from various places to attend.

Better Life Farming project launch ceremony. Photo: Hong Thuy.

Mr. Kg Krishnamurthy, Director of Crop Science, Bayer Vietnam, said that the BLF project focuses on creating value for all stakeholders. The success of the project will be evaluated based on the economic, social and environmental benefits it brings to farmers and the community. By integrating principles towards regenerative agriculture and a systematic and comprehensive approach, the Better Life Farming project aims to help farmers increase production efficiency with fewer inputs, while conserving natural resources in an efficient and responsible manner, ensuring sustainability in agricultural cultivation.

As one of the households participating in the BLF demonstration project, Mr. Nguyen Van Su, 62 years old, owner of Dona durian garden, said that he has been growing durian for 21 years, and after many failures, he has gradually accumulated experience. Therefore, his durian garden is invested in thoroughly, from planting to care, so each tree has a large trunk, wide canopy, and many branches. "My total durian area is 2.4 hectares. In the last crop, I harvested 60 tons of fruit, sold in the garden to traders at 77,000 VND/kg. After deducting investment costs, hiring workers, not including the labor of my wife and I, the profit is about 4 billion VND", Mr. Su said.

Mr. Nguyen Van Su, owner of a durian garden, shares his experience with farmers visiting the Better Life Farming project demonstration durian garden. Photo: Hong Thuy.

Regarding the reason for participating in the BLF project, Mr. Su said that in recent years, climate change has become increasingly serious, the weather is erratic, and farmers have encountered many difficulties. Although he has experience, it is still only patchwork knowledge. “By participating in the project, I will have the opportunity to equip myself with deeper and more systematic knowledge, apply advanced science and technology, cultivate effectively and sustainably, and improve crop productivity and quality. Once I have the knowledge, I want to share both my experience and the knowledge I have learned with other farmers. I hope that many farmers will do well and follow advanced technical processes so that their products meet export conditions and standards, only then can we develop sustainably and safely.”

Fundamental, long-term solution

According to reports, the area of ​​durian cultivation nationwide has reached 150,000 hectares. Despite the remarkable growth, durian production and export in Vietnam is still fragmented, fragmented and poses many potential risks to growing areas.

Faced with challenges and market demands, durian growers are seeking and testing modern, sustainable farming methods to meet the requirements of productivity, output, and harvest quality, while minimizing environmental impacts, effectively utilizing and restoring natural resources. In addition, farmers' demand for expanding connections with export purchasing units and finding potential markets to ensure output and profits is also increasing.

In this context, the BLF project is also an important solution, providing timely and effective support for coffee and durian farmers. The project is built on the public-private partnership between Bayer Vietnam and the National Agricultural Extension Center (NAEC), the Western Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute (WASI) and many leading partners in the agricultural sector.

Mr. Kg Krishnamurthy, Director of Crop Science Division of Bayer Vietnam shared at the BLF launch event. Photo: Hong Thuy.

During the BLF launch, Bayer also piloted an online agronomy consulting solution via the Zalo account “Durian Consulting with Bayer” for durian farmers, with a team of experts answering farmers’ questions about pest situations, garden care, and instructions based on the specific conditions and cultivation stages of the garden. In particular, through this platform, farmers can register to have experts visit and consult directly in the garden.

Within the framework of the Better Life Farming project, on October 14, Bayer Vietnam signed a cooperation agreement with the National Agricultural Extension Center to expand the sustainable and safe farming model; at the same time, improve the productivity and quality of rice, durian, and coffee in Vietnam.

At the signing ceremony, Dr. Le Quoc Thanh, Director of NAEC said: “The cooperation program between the two parties aims to improve agricultural productivity and create innovations in farming practices through model farms in major growing areas; implement plant health management programs, integrated pest management and disseminate and apply good agricultural practices for rice, durian and coffee farmers. I believe that we will help farmers practice sustainable, safe and effective agriculture, improve quality and productivity, contributing to increasing the value of Vietnamese agricultural products in the international market”.

Mr. Le Quoc Thanh, Director of the National Agricultural Extension Center (right cover) and Mr. Kg Krishnamurthy, Director of the Crop Science Branch of Bayer Vietnam Company at the cooperation signing ceremony on October 14, 2024. Photo: HT.

Talking about agricultural crops of Cu Sue commune, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Chien, Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, said that Cu Sue has 3,200 hectares of agricultural land, mainly growing crops such as coffee, durian, pepper, and fruit trees... because most of the commune's land area is fertile red basalt soil, so crops grow strongly, including coffee. In particular, durian trees of Cu M'gar district have been granted the collective trademark "Cư M'gar durian" by the Department of Intellectual Property, Ministry of Science and Technology. "However, to develop sustainably and improve the quality of agricultural products, farmers still need "locomotives" in science and technology such as Bayer company, helping farmers master scientific and advanced farming knowledge, this is a fundamental and long-term solution for Vietnam's agricultural sector", Mr. Chien said.

“The project is designed to create an ecosystem, providing comprehensive and innovative solutions, to ensure farmers have access to knowledge, solutions and techniques for efficient and sustainable farming, creating the premise for strong and positive transformations, promoting economic, social and environmental development in a sustainable, positive and long-term manner”, Mr. Kg Krishnamurthy, Director of Crop Science Division, Bayer Vietnam.

Source: https://nongsanviet.nongnghiep.vn/better-life-farming--giup-nong-dan-canh-tac-thong-minh-d405196.html