Lam Dong agricultural extension shifts from technical support to value creation

Beyond helping farmers get better at crop production

The National Agricultural Extension Center recently organized a training program in Lam Vien ward (Da Lat City, Lam Dong). The goal is to strengthen the capacity of provincial- and commune-level agricultural extension officials and community extension workers in safe passion fruit production, complying with quality standards and adapting to climate change.

The program is part of activities supporting the implementation of Government Resolution No. 36/2026/NQ-CP on “simplifying administrative procedures for growing area and packing facility codes serving agricultural product consumption and export.”

The program goes beyond providing additional technical knowledge to agricultural extension personnel. It also calls for a change in approach as agriculture becomes increasingly closely linked to standards, traceability and markets.

“Agricultural extension services need to change in the new context. Instead of simply helping farmers grow crops and raise livestock more effectively, agricultural extension should help reorganize agricultural production to create income, jobs and product value. Only when farmers produce in a more systematic, professional and smart way can agriculture change,” former National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Le Minh Hoan said.

This perspective shows that agricultural extension's role can no longer stop at providing technical guidance. Extension officials must understand the entire journey of a product, from planting and cultivation to harvesting, preliminary processing, storage and marketing.

A productive orchard does not necessarily generate sustainable value if its products fail to meet market requirements, cannot be traced to their origin, or lack reliable market linkages. Conversely, when producers know how to organize raw material areas, comply with production protocols, control quality and connect with businesses, the value of their agricultural products increases.

The training content for this program is thus designed to connect production techniques with requirements beyond the farm. Trainees are provided with knowledge of safe passion fruit production, quality standards and climate change adaptation, while also receiving guidance on applying these practices in the field, from planting and cultivation to harvesting, preliminary processing, storage and market linkages.

Incorporating requirements for traceability, growing area codes and packing facility codes into agricultural extension activities also gives grassroots officials additional tools to guide producers throughout the production process.

Accompanying farmers throughout the production process

The agricultural extension system must stay close to the grassroots level and become more deeply involved in agricultural value chains so it can implement the new regulations effectively. According to Le Quoc Thanh, Director of the National Agricultural Extension Center, extension workers must accompany farmers directly in the fields, shifting from a mindset of transferring technical knowledge to one focused on agricultural economics and participation at every stage of production.

Agricultural extension personnel therefore need a professional skillset, including market knowledge, networking capabilities, plus the ability to connect with farmers and organize support so they can participate in collective economic models.

The passion fruit sector makes this requirement particularly clear. Crops not only need to be cultivated using proper techniques to achieve high yields, but the entire production process must also be geared toward producing goods that meet market requirements.

From the growing area and cultivation practices to harvesting, preliminary processing, storage, packaging and marketing, all stages require linkages. When these stages are connected, farmers can better control product quality, businesses can secure stable sources of raw materials, and markets have a basis for monitoring the origin of agricultural products.

According to Vu Dinh Cuong, Deputy Director of the Lam Dong Department of Agriculture and Environment, updating regulations on growing area and packing facility codes and linking them with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the production, harvesting, preliminary processing, packaging and storage of agricultural exports is highly practical as market requirements become increasingly strict.

“Growing area code issuance should not be viewed simply as a procedure for serving exports. Behind each code is an entire production process that needs to be properly maintained,” said Deputy Director Cuong.

The National Agricultural Extension Center considers support for growing area codes crucial. It should be incorporated into agricultural extension activities, linking the establishment, registration, management and maintenance of codes with production processes and market requirements.

As part of the program, trainees visit a safe passion fruit production model operated by Tran Van Tan in Hoan Kiem 3 village (Nam Ha Lam Ha commune, Lam Dong province). The farm follows VietGAP-oriented production practices, with expected yields of 100 tons from 8,000 square meters across three harvests.

Tan's passion fruit is grown on agricultural plastic mulch, helping reduce fungal diseases and weeds. He also uses drip irrigation to deliver water and nutrients, reducing labor requirements. The plants receive optimized nutrient levels in accordance with the production protocol.