Agricultural extension - tireless footsteps: [11] Awakening agricultural economy mindset

More than technical transfer

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One morning in the dragon fruit-growing area of Thuan My, Tay Ninh Province, while many people are still preparing for the day ahead, Lai Thi Ngoc Lan is already in the fields, joining local farmers to inspect their orchards after the season's first rains.

Today, the work of a grassroots agricultural extension officer is more than providing guidance on fertilizer application or pest and disease control. Since the two-tier local government model came into operation, agricultural extension officers have been required to participate in organizing production, developing raw material areas, guiding farmers in digital transformation, supporting the registration of planting area codes, connecting producers with businesses, and accompanying farmers throughout the entire value chain, from production to consumption.

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As an aquaculture engineer, Lai Thi Ngoc Lan has served as Director of the former Chau Thanh District Agricultural Service Center, Head of the Tam Vu Regional Agricultural Extension and Agricultural Service Station, and now Director of the Public Service Provision Center under the Thuan My Commune People's Committee, where she advises the local authority on state management of agricultural extension. Despite multiple rounds of institutional restructuring and different roles, she has consistently chosen to remain committed to agricultural extension.

"Every time I move to a new position, I face a different working environment, but my goal has never changed, which is to accompany farmers. Agricultural extension is not just about transferring techniques; more importantly, it is about helping farmers transform their mindset toward production. Seeing them confidently apply new practices, improve productivity, and increase their incomes gives me even greater motivation to stay with this profession," Lan shared.

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Drawing on local production realities, Thuan My commune has identified dragon fruit and brackish-water shrimp as its two key commodities, concentrating resources on their development. The objective is not only to raise productivity but also to establish large-scale raw materials for processing and export. Under its development plan through 2030, the commune aims to build a 200-hectare high-tech dragon fruit production area and develop a 50-hectare brackish-water shrimp farming zone that integrates modern technologies with digital transformation.

To realize these goals, agricultural extension officers have become the force working most closely with the grassroots level. Beyond providing guidance on safe cultivation practices, Lan also directly assists farmers in maintaining electronic production logs, using management software, obtaining planting area codes, implementing traceability, and connecting with purchasing enterprises.

In the riverside shrimp farming areas, Lan is present throughout almost every production cycle, guiding farmers on stocking schedules and water management and transferring technologies, smartphone-based pond monitoring systems, microbial products, and shrimp health diagnostic equipment.

Drawing on her close engagement with farmers, she has also developed an innovative solution using specialized pond-lining materials to minimize sediment disturbance, improve water quality, increase oxygen levels, and reduce environmental treatment costs in high-density shrimp farming.

From hands-on guidance to an export dragon fruit area

Standing in his family's lush dragon fruit orchard, Tran Minh Song vividly recalls the moment he decided to change the way he farmed. "At first, I was hesitant. The production process involved many steps, required detailed record-keeping, and demanded strict compliance with regulations on the use of pesticides," Song said.

What gave Song the confidence to embrace the transition was the persistent support of agricultural extension officers throughout the process. Beyond classroom training, Lan repeatedly visited his orchard, working alongside him to improve soil quality, apply organic fertilizers, adopt Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices, maintain production records, and monitor every stage of production before harvest. "As I put these practices into action, I could see the plants becoming healthier, the soil improving, and my confidence in the quality of my produce growing," Song said.

As of now, his family's 1-hectare dragon fruit orchard has met Australia's export requirements, complying with nearly 600 food safety and pesticide residue criteria. Every shipment is sampled and tested by the purchasing company before procurement. The entire production process is fully documented, with cultivation relying primarily on organic fertilizers, microbial fertilizers, and pesticides approved for use.

His family has also replaced traditional lighting systems with energy-efficient equipment and is preparing to invest in a drip irrigation system integrated with automated fertigation powered by solar energy. As a member of the Thuan My Dragon Fruit Cooperative Group, which brings together 89 members cultivating nearly 54 hectares, Song has also become a source of experience and practical guidance for other households.

Through hands-on guidance right in their orchards, many farmer households have boldly transformed their production methods and linked together to build a raw material area that meets export standards. "In the past, everyone farmed on their own. Now we learn together and share our experiences to ensure consistent production, because only when the entire production area meets the required standards will businesses be willing to establish long-term partnerships with us," Song said.

Building agricultural value chains

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Chairman of the Thuan My Commune People's Committee, following the administrative merger, Thuan My has continued to identify agriculture as the foundation for economic development, with dragon fruit and brackish-water shrimp designated as two key commodities.

To achieve this vision, agricultural extension personnel play a particularly important role. "Without agricultural extension officers working closely with local communities and guiding each farmer household in transforming its production mindset, it would be extremely difficult to establish large-scale raw material areas capable of meeting export standards. They serve as the bridge connecting local authorities, businesses, and farmers," Mr. Hieu said.

According to Mr. Hieu, among the commune's agricultural extension officers, Lai Thi Ngoc Lan is one of those who has remained steadfast in accompanying local farmers. Beyond developing high-tech dragon fruit and shrimp production models, she has patiently guided farmers in using electronic logs, obtaining planting area codes, implementing traceability, and accessing digital platforms.

From smallholder farmers like Tran Minh Song to cooperative groups and cooperatives, the imprint of agricultural extension officers can be seen at every stage of the transformation. For Lan, the greatest concern is helping farmers shift their mindset from agricultural production to agricultural economy, from simply producing commodities to creating value. In the new context, agricultural extension officers are no longer confined to transferring techniques; they are increasingly becoming architects of agricultural value chains.

Not only transferring techniques, today's agricultural extension officers are serving as the "conductors" in the fields, linking policy with practice, connecting businesses with farmers, and bringing science and technology into agricultural production. Thanks to their persistent commitment, agricultural extension officers are helping shift production mindsets, build agricultural value chains, and lay the foundation for a modern, green, sustainable, and globally integrated agricultural sector.