Experts and businesses propose solutions to accelerate green growth

Dr. Nguyen Quoc Hung, Vice President and General Secretary of the Viet Nam Banks Association: Agricultural incentive policies need to be more specific and substantive

"Regarding agriculture and rural areas, this is a sector I am particularly concerned about due to its immense potential. While Vietnamese agricultural products have appeared in major shopping centers globally, investment in this field currently accounts for only about 11% of total outstanding credit - less than half of the capital growth seen in real estate (25%).

The question is: why haven't we been able to invest heavily in technology to enhance the export value of agricultural products? The primary bottleneck lies in the lack of collateral among farmers and agricultural enterprises. Although the banking industry has made significant strides in national financial inclusion strategies to bring capital to the grassroots level, accessibility remains hindered by traditional mortgage regulations."

To address this issue, the State Bank of Viet Nam is focusing on improving payment services to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in supplying raw materials for export without over-relying on their own equity. We also need to encourage foreign investors to transfer capital directly to domestic enterprises for export production.

Furthermore, incentive policies for agriculture must be more specific and substantive, particularly in investing in the system of scientific research institutes and innovation hubs to avoid superficial mergers that erode research capacity. Training a high-quality workforce with practical knowledge to operate modern agriculture is also an urgent task.

Instead of over-focusing on real estate development to exploit land resources for short-term gains, we should direct resources toward the sustainable exploitation of our strengths in mineral resources, the marine economy, and high-tech agriculture.

Dr. Tran Cong Thang, Director General of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment: Moving beyond "Producing What We Have" to "Producing What the Market Needs"

"To ensure Vietnamese agricultural products can reach further and maintain a firm foothold in international markets, the sector faces an urgent demand: It must abandon spontaneous practices and undergo a powerful transformation from 'agricultural production thinking' to 'agricultural economic thinking.'

Currently, major import markets such as the EU and South Korea are erecting extremely stringent technical barriers. Agricultural products can only pass from one 'gateway' to the next if they strictly comply with quality regulations. If any standard is not met, the door to these markets will immediately close."

This forces producers and enterprises to pivot their approach. We can no longer afford the refrain of "producing what we have"; instead, we must "produce what the market needs." Every cultivation process must align with market signals, ensuring quality, food safety, and transparent traceability.

In the long run, agriculture must head toward green production and low emissions. Many businesses have now learned a hard-earned lesson: simply creating a product is not enough; that product must meet international standards.

The fragmentation in the linkage between farmers and enterprises remains a major bottleneck. Although Decree 98/2018/ND-CP on policies to encourage cooperation and linkages in the production and consumption of agricultural products was enacted, its practical implementation remains weak.

Practice has proven that wherever enterprises successfully lead by securing markets, mastering capital, and transferring technology, farmers place their full trust. When this linkage is strong, applying science and technology to the fields becomes seamless.

Parallel to corporate efforts, the State's "pathfinding" role is irreplaceable. Negotiations to remove technical barriers and trade promotion need further acceleration. The lesson from negotiating market access to Japan for Vietnamese mangoes, which took 12 years, is a prime example. By applying those lessons, subsequent products have seen negotiation times shortened to 3 - 5 years, creating significant export headroom.

To avoid dependence on market risks and increase surplus value, deep processing is the key. The sugar industry is a typical example. Overcoming a period of crisis, the industry flexibly utilized by-products to diversify the post-sugar product chain (such as ethanol and biomass power), thereby achieving autonomy and enhancing value.

This flexibility is also spreading strongly in the restructuring of crop patterns. From unproductive rice acreage, farmers have boldly transitioned to high-value specialized fruit zones like dragon fruit, pomelo, and durian.

Notably, the value of agricultural products is being elevated by a strong shift into processing rather than just raw exports. Durians now feature dried products and durian ice cream; coffee beans are being pushed toward roasting and instant processing. The pangasius industry continues to affirm its world-champion status with yields exceeding 300 tons/ha thanks to high-tech applications.

Furthermore, agricultural value lies not only in the final output but also in process optimization. A prime example is the Project for 1 Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice in the Mekong Delta. Not only does it help farmers cut input costs by up to 30%, but the project also aims to sell carbon credits and successfully position Viet Nam's "low-emission rice" brand internationally.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Ngoc Duc, Director of the Fintech Academy, Dai Nam University: Implementing applied technological solutions in agriculture and rural areas

"I believe that enhancing the technological foundation for rural areas and farmers is a central objective. This not only optimizes access to financial capital but also serves as the key to solving the export challenge.

In reality, the process of bringing Vietnamese agricultural products to international markets currently takes 5-8 years because we lack a transparent traceability system, leading to a lack of trust from partners. Upgrading technological infrastructure will fundamentally resolve this bottleneck, significantly shortening the time it takes for products to reach target markets."

Therefore, we recommend that relevant authorities create favorable conditions for enterprises to implement applied technological solutions in agriculture and rural areas. We stand ready to coordinate the deployment of digital literacy programs, especially in digital finance, to support and equip farmers with the necessary skills for global integration.

Regarding online credit and rapid disbursement, the biggest hurdle today stems from user psychology. Farmers do not yet fully trust financial technology (Fintech) solutions. This hesitation acts as one of the most significant barriers, preventing farmers from accessing flexible and convenient loan sources.

Ultimately, I expect that technological applications will fundamentally address supply-demand imbalances, thereby ending the recurring need for agricultural 'rescues' (such as jackfruit or watermelon). Through forecasting technology and supply chain management, we can minimize commercial risks, ensure stable outlets, and protect sustainable livelihoods for farmers.

Mr. Vu Thanh Thang, Chief AI Officer (CAIO) and Founder of SCS Cybersecurity Joint Stock Company: Leveraging technology to elevate the value of Vietnamese agricultural products

I have always been deeply concerned about agriculture - a pillar contributing approximately $70 billion to our export turnover. Historically, our agriculture has developed over thousands of years, yet it faces a major hurdle: cultivation remains primarily based on experience. To introduce science and technology to help farmers thrive, I believe the top priority is the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Today, farmers can utilize tools like ChatGPT to quickly and effectively resolve technical farming queries.

Furthermore, we can integrate Internet of Things (IoT) technology to optimize resource usage, such as water and fertilizers, ensuring precise dosages and timing based on accurate algorithms.

In practice, applying technology in agriculture today is much simpler than often perceived. While it may sound complex, many solutions can now be implemented easily at low cost with high efficiency, no longer expensive or inaccessible as in the past. Another particularly critical issue in agriculture, especially for exports, is traceability.

As noted, a common reality is that the first export shipment often meets high quality standards, but subsequent batches tend to fluctuate. The root cause lies in the lack of consistent processes and weak traceability throughout production.

To address this, blockchain technology can be applied to track and store data across the entire production chain, from farming to final products. By adopting this approach, two major goals can be achieved: first, standardizing processes to improve production efficiency; and second, enhancing product value and ensuring more consistent quality for export and consumption. This is how technology can be leveraged to elevate the value of Vietnamese agricultural products.