Can Tho promotes digital agriculture toward sustainablity

As climate change increasingly affects agricultural production, Can Tho City is gradually shifting toward green agriculture, circular farming and the application of digital technologies. From initial pilot models, a range of scientific and technological solutions has begun to take root in practice, delivering clear economic and environmental benefits for farmers.

According to Nguyen Minh Duc, director of the Can Tho Center for Agricultural Extension and Agricultural Services, 2025 can be considered a foundational stage for green agriculture and digital transformation in the city. A number of agricultural extension models have been implemented to reduce emissions, conserve resources, and apply new technical advances. While not yet representing a major breakthrough, these models have already demonstrated tangible results and helped shift farmers’ production mindsets.

Building on these outcomes, the city has identified 2026 and the coming years as a period to continue placing green and digital agriculture at the center of its development strategy in order to expand model scale and broaden their adoption in agricultural production. Beyond policy direction, the models themselves have become practical examples that farmers can easily access and replicate.

One of the most highly regarded initiatives at present is circular agriculture. The model enables farmers to make the most of available resources, reduce input costs and limit environmental impacts.

Under this approach, areas of low-efficiency rice cultivation are converted to elephant grass for cattle feed. Cattle manure is then used to raise earthworms, which serve as feed for poultry and aquatic species, while worm castings are used as organic fertilizer to nourish the elephant grass. The entire process forms a closed production cycle that increases value on the same unit of land.

In practice, the model has proven not only economically effective but also well-aligned with Can Tho's green and sustainable agriculture strategy.

Within this linked production chain, the Can Tho Center for Agricultural Extension and Agricultural Services plays a clear bridging role among stakeholders. For farmers, extension officers closely monitor on-the-ground conditions to understand producers’ needs and challenges. For research institutes, universities, and scientists, the center acts as a focal point to receive, evaluate, and introduce appropriate technical advances into production. For businesses, it facilitates connections that help form production and consumption linkages, giving farmers greater confidence in their output markets. For the government, it coordinates policy management and support to ensure models are implemented in a synchronized manner from input supply to product distribution. Only when these “links” are tightly connected can green agriculture and digital transformation develop sustainably over the long term.

According to Duc, the biggest challenge at present lies in institutional mechanisms and administrative procedures. Previously, under existing regulations, many new technical advances required the issuance of official standards and procedures before they could be widely deployed, a process that often took considerable time. Meanwhile, technology evolves rapidly, meaning that by the time procedures were completed, some techniques were no longer new.

However, relevant regulations are now being reviewed and adjusted toward greater flexibility. This is considered a positive signal that could shorten the gap between research and practical application, allowing farmers to access more effective solutions sooner.

In the coming period, the Can Tho Center for Agricultural Extension and Agricultural Services plans to continue focusing its efforts on green agriculture, sustainable farming and digital transformation. Agricultural extension models will be more closely aligned with goals of reducing emissions, protecting the environment, improving agricultural product quality and increasing farmers’ incomes.

“The center will strengthen cooperation with businesses, research institutes and universities to build large-scale raw material areas that meet market and export requirements. The ultimate goal is to ensure science and technology truly enter production so farmers become the direct beneficiaries,” Duc said.