HÀ NỘI — The agricultural sector must continue to develop digital infrastructure, ensuring that applications for farmers are simple and easy to understand, said Deputy Prime Minister Trần Lưu Quang at a specialised conference on promoting digitalisation in the area on Tuesday.

The hybrid event was co-organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), National Committee for Digital Transformation, and Ministry of Information and Communications.

In his remarks, Quang, who is also Vice Chairman of the national committee, noted that leading IT companies should play a pivotal role in this process based on necessary information and data provided by the sector.

He went on tasking the farming sector with collaborating with the Ministry of Public Security to expedite the registration of fishing vessels, aiding efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Lê Minh Hoan said the ministry has worked with other ministries and industries to integrate digital technology into agriculture, such as the remote sensing technology and digital platforms for product traceability.

Nguyễn Hoài Nam, Deputy Secretary General of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said digital transformation could help fishery enterprises reduce costs by between 7 per cent and 25 per cent.

Nguyễn Quốc Toàn, Director of the MARD’s Centre for Agricultural Digital Transformation and Statistics, emphasised the need to digitise data by enhancing digital platforms, applications, and large data systems within the sector. This would enable seamless connectivity and data sharing with the national database and data centre in a unified and harmonious manner.

However, as heard at the function, the digitisation process now faces numerous challenges, including limited awareness and skills in digital technology application, and insufficient coordination and linkage among stakeholders such as State management agencies, scientists, agribusinesses, tech companies, cooperatives, and farmers.

Dương Trọng Hải, a representative from the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), suggested making investment in leading agricultural enterprises that are ready for digitalisation. In turn, they will guide cooperatives and farmers, thereby creating a digital marketplace. – VNS