Workshop talks Vietnam-US ties in IT application in agriculture

A workshop discussing Vietnam-US cooperation in information technology (IT) application in agriculture took place in Ho Chi Minh City on October 20.

Illustrative Image (Pho to: Thai Thien).

Speaking at the event, deputy head of the management board for HCM City Hi-tech Agricultural Park Tu Minh Thien said Vietnam only uses IT to improve output, track sources of origin, and access the market and value chains. Meanwhile, countries worldwide are adopting technological advances to access financial services, manage land and risks, and support small-scale farming households.

He added that the Hi-tech Agricultural Park and Quang Trung Hi-tech Park in Ho Chi Minh City are stepping up initiatives and measures to help farmers access value chains more effectively, including the US-based Silicon Valley forum.

As the agricultural hub of the country, the Mekong Delta has applied IT in building databases, maps of epidemics forecast and tra fish farming.

The Can Tho city’s chapter of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry is building an e-commerce model and a logistics centre for key exports, and connecting with start-up programmes in localities, especially those in regards to technology.

Experts said though only 1 percent of the US population relies on agriculture, their farm produce are enough for domestic market and even for export thanks to technological application, adding that IT applications in agriculture are becoming popular investment deals in Silicon Valley.

They shared the view that agricultural ties between Vietnam and the US remain modest due to the fact that Vietnam mostly uses technologies from Israel, the Netherlands, Japan, Taiwan (China).

Head of the International Relations at the Silicon Valley Forum Klaus Wehage said that Vietnamese firms should adopt technologies to cut workforce and costs in the future.

The event was hosted by the Vietnam Information Technology Outsourcing Alliance.

(Source: NDO)