Digital farming expands across Da Nang

A strategic direction for many cooperatives

Inside a greenhouse growing leafy vegetables in Hoa Vang commune in Da Nang, Nguyen Tan Phuong, director of Afarm High-Tech Agriculture JSC, quickly taps on his smartphone to check humidity levels, nutrients and harvest schedules. With just a few touches on the screen, comprehensive information about the farm appears instantly.

The “Farm on Smartphone” model allows the farm to operate almost automatically. According to Phuong, the entire process from planting and irrigation to harvesting is controlled through a digital application. As a result, each worker can manage several thousand square meters of cultivation, significantly reducing manual labor while improving the accuracy of production management.

Afarm is not alone. Digital transformation is becoming a strategic path for many cooperatives across Da Nang. At 43 Farm Cooperative in Thang An commune, Diep Thi Thao Trang said the unit has invested in a sensor system to closely monitor the crop-growing environment. Indicators such as humidity, temperature, light intensity, nutrients and pH levels are continuously updated.

“By setting automated irrigation and lighting schedules, we can proactively control productivity and minimize negative weather impacts. This allows 43 Farm to rotate and stagger vegetable crops continuously,” Trang said.

Another distinctive feature of 43 Farm lies in its deep processing stage. Instead of conventional heat drying, the cooperative has invested in freeze-drying technology combined with grinding using granite stone mills. The process generates no heat during operation, allowing vegetable powders to retain more than 90% of their natural nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and key enzymes.

Fresh agricultural products are thus upgraded into higher-value processed goods, extending shelf life and expanding market opportunities. In the coming period, 43 Farm plans to further promote digital technologies throughout the entire value chain, from soil preparation and irrigation to preliminary processing, packaging, storage, and transportation.

Foundation for modern agriculture

Technology is not only being applied inside greenhouses but also adapted flexibly to hillside farmland. In Que Son commune, a model combining Taiwanese pear guava with An Phuoc plum cultivation by the Rung Bao Agricultural Cooperative illustrates how technology can help farmers adapt to harsh natural conditions.

On the more than three-hectare hillside plot, Truong Van ARin has invested in a drip irrigation system based on improved Israeli technology. Designed to suit the steep terrain of central Vietnam, the system allows precise watering at each tree root with the press of a single control button.

“By irrigating at the right time and in the right amount, more than 1,200 guava trees and 350 plum trees grow evenly while minimizing labor and costs,” ARin said.

Beyond irrigation technology, ARin also applies a “water restriction” technique to stimulate flowering and fruiting throughout the year. This helps avoid concentrated harvest periods that can cause prices to drop.

Last year, the cooperative harvested 11 tons of guava and aims to raise output to 50 tons by 2026. The growth is driven not only by expanded acreage but also by technology- and data-based production management.

According to the Da Nang Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, the city’s total cultivated area currently stands at about 152,533 hectares, covering key crops such as rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, fruit trees and medicinal plants. In recent years, farmers have widely adopted technical advances including plastic mulch, sprinkler and semi-automated irrigation systems, the processing of agricultural by-products into organic fertilizer, and programs such as IPM, ICM and SRI.

In particular, greenhouse models for vegetables and flowers, IoT-based cultivation of melons, tomatoes and leafy greens, as well as farmstay models combining high-tech agriculture with experiential tourism, are delivering higher economic efficiency than traditional farming methods.

However, the application of advanced technologies remains largely concentrated in small-scale operations and is uneven across different areas. Even so, these pioneering models are laying an important foundation for Da Nang’s transition toward modern agriculture.

In the coming period, the city plans to continue supporting residents in expanding smart agriculture through technologies such as GIS, IoT, automation, environmental sensors and data analysis. These tools will enable farmers to better manage fertilizers, monitor crop health, control pests and plan cultivation in response to climate variability.

At the same time, digital transformation in crop area management, the development of planting-area codes and electronic traceability systems will help improve transparency and strengthen the competitiveness of Da Nang’s agricultural products.