Binh Duong promotes digital transformation in the agricultural sector

Modernization of agriculture

In recent times, the agricultural sector of Binh Duong province has made great strides thanks to the application of many advanced technologies along with taking advantage of existing advantages in industrial, commercial and service development in the province.

Smart farming solutions, artificial intelligence applications and sensors have helped farmers optimize the management and care of crops and livestock effectively; thereby helping to increase productivity and minimize resources, sustainable agricultural production and environmental friendliness.

In fact, through the application of high technology, the agricultural sector in the province has overcome and minimized risks from natural factors that are difficult to control, improved the quality and value of agricultural products, and brought many economic benefits.

Up to now, the area applying high technology in cultivation in the whole province is about 6,413.2 hectares with valuable crops such as: Vegetables, mushrooms, fruit trees, orchids, ornamental plants. The area of urban agricultural production is about 407.2 hectares with main crops such as: Hydroponic vegetables, sprouts, mushrooms, orchids, ornamental plants.

The Department of Agriculture has guided and granted 24 export growing area codes to markets such as China, the United States, the EU, the UK, Russia, New Zealand, etc. with a total area of 1,185.16 hectares, focusing on crops such as bananas, mangosteens, durians, jackfruits, longans and grapefruits in the districts, of which Phu Giao district has granted 05 growing area codes, contributing to the export of potential crop products in the province.

In addition, the province has 443 organizations and individuals that have been assessed and certified for VietGAP and GlobalGAP (260 crop organizations, 183 livestock organizations); of which, 132 organizations and individuals enjoy support policies and 103 products of the province have achieved OCOP certification from 3-4 stars.

The province's livestock industry structure has been strongly transformed from small-scale household livestock farming to high-tech farm-scale livestock farming linked to supply chains and value chains; ensuring food safety and environmental sanitation.

Currently, high-tech livestock farming has developed steadily with 465 farms (261 pig farms, 147 chicken farms, 01 cow farm, 56 duck farms); Phu Giao district alone has 154 farms, the value of high-tech agricultural production reaches over 600 million VND/ha/year.

Many private livestock companies and farms in the province are bright spots in applying high-tech livestock farming such as: CP Vietnam Livestock Joint Stock Company, Emivest Feedmill Vietnam Co., Ltd., Vinh Tan Livestock Farm System, 3F Viet Joint Stock Company, etc. In addition, there are 03 large-scale high-tech livestock farming projects (Anova Agri Binh Duong Joint Stock Company, Tien Hung High-Tech Agricultural Zone, Ba Huan Co., Ltd.), with a total assigned land area of 567.91 hectares.

The effectiveness of the high-tech agricultural model has spread widely throughout the province, contributing to creating more jobs for rural workers, closely linking the processing industry with agriculture, creating a foundation for agricultural integration.

Kim Long High-Tech Agricultural Cooperative is a typical example of applying technology in the production and consumption of agricultural products effectively. After 6 years of operation and development, up to now, Kim Long Cooperative has an agricultural greenhouse area for growing melons of about 20 hectares. Every year, it supplies the market with 1,500-1,800 tons of products with a revenue of 45 billion VND/year. The cooperative's products meet 3-star OCOP and Global GAP quality standards with a multi-channel distribution system including wholesale markets, wholesale agents in many provinces and cities, especially provinces and cities with tourism development. In parallel, there are 4 large supermarket systems including: Bach Hoa Xanh, MM Mega, Go, CoopMart and online sales channels on e-commerce platforms such as Vo So, Sendo, Postmart...

Mr. Nguyen Hong Quyet - Director of Kim Long High-Tech Agricultural Cooperative said that when it was first established, the Cooperative had only 07 members, but up to now, there have been 75 members cooperating in production and business. All farm systems are cultivated according to a process, periodically there is a technical department to check and support the people. The Cooperative has also applied Facefarm electronic diary to production; organized many training programs, shared new experiences and initiatives. In addition, the Cooperative always updates, learns and applies scientific and technical advances to production, thereby reducing production costs by 20%; reducing many workers, minimizing the impact from nature, and controlling pests better. At the same time, reducing 70% of the use of pesticides on crops helps improve the working environment to create quality and safe products, beautiful designs, high uniformity as well as increasing crop yields. "In 2023, Kim Long High-Tech Agricultural Cooperative is honored to be one of 63 outstanding cooperatives nationwide" - Mr. Quyet happily shared.

Regarding the high-tech livestock farming model, currently, Minh Tan Phat poultry farm in Dau Tieng district owned by Mr. Le Van Duong is a typical example in the comprehensive traceability process from the breeding stage to the circulation of finished products. The farm includes 4 poultry farms with a total area of nearly 14 hectares, a total flock of 600,000 laying hens, supplying the market with about 500,000 eggs per day. Mr. Duong said that the above poultry farms all trace the origin of chickens from 1 day old, apply a closed process in care, disease control and absolutely do not use antibiotics during the breeding process. "High-tech livestock farming is a powerful tool to avoid disease risks, increase production efficiency and aim for food safety for consumers, expanding the consumption market" - Mr. Duong shared.

Bringing agricultural products to e-commerce platforms

It is undeniable that the effectiveness of applying science and technology to agricultural production helps to improve efficiency, enhance product quality; significantly contribute to economic development, enhance competitiveness and improve the quality of life for farmers. In particular, digital transformation in the agricultural sector is also considered an inevitable direction and one of the urgent contents today. Through digital transformation, farmers and businesses have access to new ways of working to keep up with development trends, thereby improving productivity and product quality; actively supporting the restructuring process of the agricultural sector, towards smart agriculture.

Along with implementing many specific solutions, strengthening the connection of agricultural product consumption on the information technology application platform, e-commerce platforms have been considered by Binh Duong as the optimal solution to create new and modern distribution channels; at the same time, correctly positioning brand value, promoting consumption and increasing the value of agricultural products.

The province has issued plans to support bringing agricultural production households to e-commerce platforms, promoting the development of the digital economy of agriculture and rural areas to connect, promote, introduce products, and expand domestic and international markets. Accordingly, the province's agricultural products participate in transactions on platforms such as postmart.vn, Voso.vn, binhduongtrade.vn, foodmap, etc.

To date, the province has had more than 2,000 organizations and individuals registered to participate in e-commerce platforms and 17,000 organizations and individuals in the agricultural sector registered accounts to buy and sell on these platforms. The plan to support bringing agricultural production households to e-commerce platforms, promoting the development of the digital economy in agriculture and rural areas in the province has set a goal of having over 50% of agricultural production households have digital booths on e-commerce platforms by 2023 and over 60% of households have electronic payment accounts.

Agricultural production households participating in buying and selling transactions on e-commerce platforms are trained in digital skills and skills to participate in activities in the digital environment; are guided to register for business accounts, online payment accounts, and perform the packaging - connection - delivery process to operate in the process of connecting buying and selling on e-commerce platforms. Agricultural products are promoted and introduced through e-commerce platforms and distribution channels of postal enterprises owning the platforms; expanding the consumption of agricultural products on new, modern and sustainable distribution channels through digital platforms. In addition, agricultural production households are also supported in providing information and input materials to serve the production and business process. The province will focus on completing the database system on agriculture, rural areas, and farmers. This system plays a role in managing growing area codes and tracing the origin of products.

Sharing about the agricultural development orientation of Binh Duong province until 2030, Mr. Pham Van Bong - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said that in addition to organic agriculture, the province promotes the application of high technology, ecological agriculture associated with tourism development in 4 northern districts: Phu Giao, Dau Tieng, Bau Bang, Bac Tan Uyen. The focus is on actively applying digital transformation, increasing added value for agricultural products, increasing competitiveness in the market, international integration, aiming at sustainable agricultural development; supporting businesses to develop high-tech production, creating clear breakthroughs.

In order to effectively implement the Digital Transformation Plan of the Agriculture and Rural Development sector of Binh Duong province in the period of 2022 - 2025, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will actively promote and support agricultural producers to promote the introduction of products on e-commerce platforms and conduct online agricultural product transactions connecting supply and demand.

E-commerce platforms are not only a safe and effective channel for consuming products, but also help build agricultural product brands for cooperatives and businesses. Therefore, in the coming time, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will continue to support cooperatives and farming households to register to participate in e-commerce platforms to connect, promote and introduce products. At the same time, strengthen coordination with departments, branches and localities to guide and train digital skills, how to build packaging processes, connect, deliver and operate on e-commerce platforms for cooperatives and farmers.

Emphasizing the need to promote more comprehensive digital transformation of the agricultural sector in the coming time, Mr. Mai Hung Dung - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee affirmed that digital transformation is an inevitable trend and also an effective tool to create added value for agricultural products, contributing to improving productivity, efficiency of the sector and ensuring sustainable development. Binh Duong province has also set a goal that by 2025, 70% of communes will apply information technology in agricultural production, farm management, growing areas and market access.

The digital transformation of the Agriculture and Rural Development sector of Binh Duong province aims to create a digital environment and ecosystem in the field of Agriculture and Rural Development; lay the foundation, create institutions, promote the transformation from "agricultural production" to "agricultural economy"; develop high-tech agriculture in the direction of focusing on smart agriculture, precision agriculture, and increase the proportion of digital technology agriculture in the economy.

The Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested departments, branches and localities to actively coordinate in implementing comprehensive digital transformation, developing e-commerce, building model rural areas associated with the smart village model; improving the science and technology content in agricultural products. In addition, it is necessary to drastically restructure agricultural products towards improving productivity and quality; expanding consumption markets towards sustainable development./.

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