High-tech agricultural cooperation to support farmers and cooperatives

One of the commitments of the International Cooperation Department (MARD) is to strengthen collaboration between the government, ministries, localities, and farmers within the framework of the national development strategy, with a focus on technology, innovation, and delivering high added value.

Leveraging the strengths and development alignment between Vietnam and Japan will open new opportunities for bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Great potential for agricultural cooperatives

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Mong, Director of Sorimachi Vietnam Co., Ltd., stated that the application of high-tech software like FaceFarm and WACA presents a great opportunity for agricultural cooperatives in Vietnam, particularly in key projects related to sustainable development and low emissions under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

A successful example of technology application in agricultural production is the Chuc Son clean vegetable Cooperative. With 66 members and certified production areas meeting VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards, this cooperative has implemented FaceFarm to trace the origins of products from each producer and plot of land. The use of technology helps manage the entire production process, from planning and record-keeping to cost aggregation, traceability, area management, and from cultivation to harvest and consumption.

With support from the Department of Cooperative Economics & Rural Development, the National Agricultural Extension Center (MARD), and the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance, the FaceFarm software has helped the cooperative enhance economic efficiency and build consumer trust.

Additionally, the WACA agricultural cooperative accounting software allows cooperative leaders to promptly monitor financial conditions, including features like: managing capital contributions, supplying and using services, distributing profits to members, supporting tax declarations, and automatically generating financial reports.

Satellite data for precision agriculture monitoring

Sagri Company has piloted a model using satellite data and artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor alternate wetting and drying (AWD) farming practices in the Mekong Delta. In collaboration with Sorimachi Co., agricultural cooperatives, and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Kien Giang and Dong Thap, this innovation helps farmers save water, reduce irrigation costs, decrease labor, and ensure productivity.

The project currently under development includes technologies for monitoring the "alternate wetting and drying" (AWD) model, such as soil analysis based on satellite data, which provides clear visual images and data for identification. This helps make recommendations on the appropriate amount of fertilizer and allows farmers to monitor the condition of crops on the land. Additionally, water level control through satellite data analysis provides objective and reliable monitoring for farmers in the field.

By using satellite data and AI to track the water management status of rice fields applying the AWD technique to reduce methane emissions, this data serves as more reliable evidence compared to the current method (farmers' record-keeping).

The promotion of high-tech agricultural cooperation is part of the "Support for Expanding the Overseas Strategy of the Food Industry in 2024" project, developed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) and entrusted to ONE-VALUE Company to connect with Japanese business partners.

Several models of high-tech, sustainable applications compatible with Vietnam's agricultural production model were introduced at the Forum, including: a mobile phone-based smart irrigation solution developed by TIS Inc.; environmental control in Vietnam's horticultural systems by Wantanabe Pipe Co.; mushroom farming using greenhouse environmental monitoring systems by Hokken Co.; and automatic water level adjustment equipment developed by DENSO MANUFACTURING Vietnam Co., Ltd.