On February 16-17, 2023, the HAPRI Institute conducted two group discussions in Cao Lanh district and city, Dong Thap, to serve the project “Developing core capabilities and skills for agricultural labor in the context of digital transformation in Vietnam.”
The project is part of a series of activities by the institute aimed at promoting digital transformation in agriculture and healthcare in Vietnam.
MSc. Vu Ngoc Tan, a research specialist at the HAPRI Institute and a key member of the project, met with
Mr. Nguyen Khac My, leader of the Agricultural Service Center (ASC) of Cao Lanh district;
Mr. Le Chi Hieu, leader of the ASC of Cao Lanh city;
Nguyen Van Mach (Vice President of Minh Tam Club);
Mr. Vo Tan Bao (Director of Tinh Thoi Agricultural Service Cooperative),
and representatives of farmers and the Farmers’ Association at My Xuong Cooperative in Cao Lanh district and Tinh Thoi Cooperative in Cao Lanh city. The meeting aimed to understand the current production status, the linkage situation among stakeholders in the mango export chain, and each stakeholder’s awareness of digital transformation at the local level.
Currently, My Xuong and Tinh Thoi cooperatives are two key mango-producing areas in Dong Thap. The three main types of mangoes cultivated include Chu mango, Hoa Loc mango, and green-skinned statue mango, with Chu mango accounting for the majority of the total production. The two cooperatives are currently piloting electronic diaries to serve farm management and traceability. Additionally, My Xuong Cooperative is experimenting with an automatic sprinkler system, and Tinh Thoi Cooperative is starting to apply organic production methods, aiming to improve soil and product quality, gradually reducing chemical fertilizers, increasing organic fertilizers, and using alternative types of medicines to chemical pesticides.
To connect stakeholders in the chain, the People’s Committee of Cao Lanh city regularly organizes annual consumption linkage conferences. At these conferences, businesses will sign minutes and linkage contracts with cooperatives regarding the guaranteed area for the main crops of the year. Furthermore, households will independently link with traders and businesses for the remaining minor crops. The linkage form for these crops usually relies on reputation and price negotiation according to market fluctuations. Besides the large market of China, Dong Thap’s mangoes are also exported to markets in South Korea, Russia, Japan, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
The most challenging factor for mango farmers is the unstable output and fluctuating prices. For the Chinese market, the closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted farmers’ outputs. For more demanding markets, ensuring pesticide residue compliance is the most critical factor affecting exports. Ensuring pesticide residue compliance remains a significant challenge for Dong Thap’s mango farmers due to the lack of a unified cultivation process, non-compliance by many farmers, and the small scale of cultivation areas.
Weather is the most crucial factor affecting the productivity of mango farmers. Unpredictable rain and dew during the flowering period, resulting in a low fruit-setting rate, are also reasons why farmers face difficulties in fulfilling their production commitments to businesses. Additionally, the high cost of raw materials after the pandemic and war has increased production costs, affecting farmers’ profits. Farmer representatives reported that the quality of materials is unstable due to the occurrence of adulteration and mixing with low-quality products, affecting the effectiveness of plant protection drugs.
During the meeting, local officials and workers involved in mango export in Dong Thap demonstrated their awareness of the role of digital transformation in enhancing the value of mangoes. However, the application of digital transformation still faces many challenges as most mango farmers are elderly and limited in using information technology.
Farmers drying mango covering bags
Farmers employing laborers to wrap the mangoes
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