The farmers' right-hand man

In the journey of implementing the project to develop 1 million hectares of high-quality and low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030, in addition to farmers as the main force, cooperatives and a team of agricultural engineers have been playing the role of right-hand men of farmers. These assistants have brought knowledge and technology to farmers to reorganize production in a modern and sustainable direction.

Engineers on the fields

Vo Thanh Nghia, Deputy Director of the Provincial Agricultural Extension and Agricultural Services Center, instructs farmers in rice cultivation techniques in Tan Hung district

Every day, Huynh Hoang Dinh, Deputy Director of the Vinh Hung District Agricultural Extension and Agricultural Services Center, is present from early morning in the fields in Thai Tri commune - where a pilot model of the project is being implemented on an area of 10 hectares. The old motorbike and notebook have been with him through dozens of crop seasons.

"Now not only do I have to give instructions on fertilization and pest control, but I also have to inspire and persuade farmers to change their farming habits. Some households said that their ancestors did it for decades without any problems, but when we analyze the costs and effectiveness and cite evidence from specific models, they are willing to try it,” Huynh Hoang Dinh shared.

According to statistics from the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the province currently has about 150 district and commune-level agricultural engineers who are in charge of providing technical support to rice fields in the project. They are responsible for organizing training and guiding cultivation according to new techniques, supporting electronic diary, monitoring pests and diseases, and connecting with consuming enterprises.

Along with that, more than 2,700 farming households have been trained at least once on sustainable rice cultivation techniques and nearly 60% of the model area has applied at least 3 out of 5 techniques recommended by the relevant authorities.

According to the Deputy Director of the Provincial Center for Agricultural Extension and Agricultural Services - Vo Thanh Nghia, in any modern agricultural production model, agricultural engineers are an indispensable link. They not only transfer technology but also organize production, help farmers change their thinking, access the market and meet the requirements of the value chain. However, this force is lacking in quantity and weak in support mechanisms.

In the context of climate change, emission reduction requirements and pressure to integrate into the international market, sustainable rice production is a mandatory trend. However, for farmers - who are familiar with traditional farming methods - to successfully transform, they need technical guides. That is why agricultural engineers are considered an important link in the modern agricultural value chain.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong (Thanh Phuoc commune, Thanh Hoa district) shared: "Farming today is no longer just a matter for farmers, there must be engineers side by side every step. We really hope to have more engineers in communes and hamlets to support farmers in production techniques."

Cooperatives - the core of modern production organizations

Huong Trang Agricultural Service, Production and Trade Cooperative (Binh Hoa Trung commune, Moc Hoa district) regularly visits fields and provides technical advice on cultivation to members

If engineers are the technical guides, then cooperatives are the organizations that connect and create corridors for real changes to take place on the fields. Previously, many agricultural cooperatives existed mainly to qualify for loans or to buy and sell fertilizers, water pumps, etc. But now, under market pressure and the requirements of the project, cooperatives are transforming into real production organizations.

Agricultural Production Service and Trade Cooperative 4.0 (Thanh Phuoc commune, Thanh Hoa district) is a pioneer in change. In the 2024-2025 Winter-Spring crop, the cooperative produces 120 hectares of high-quality rice with the participation of 102 members. The cooperative schedules sowing and planting at the same time, coordinates with engineers to provide technical training, organizes mechanical harvesting, and signs contracts for members.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Agricultural Production Service Trade Cooperative 4.0 - Nguyen Van Lanh said: "Previously, the cooperative was only a supplier of materials, but now we do everything from the beginning to the end, from providing seeds, fertilizers, organizing sowing according to the schedule, providing technical advice, guiding the recording of production diaries to harvesting and guaranteeing the output of agricultural products."

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, by April 2025, 28 cooperatives had signed contracts to link consumption with enterprises, with a total area of nearly 1,900 hectares. Some typical cooperatives include Hung Tan Agricultural Cooperative, Go Gon Agricultural Cooperative (Tan Hung district); Cay Trom Agricultural Service Trade Cooperative (Vinh Hung district); Tan Binh Agricultural Service Cooperative (Tan Thanh district); Agricultural Production Service Trade Cooperative 4.0, Agricultural Cooperative Hamlet 1 Tan Tay (Thanh Hoa district); Dong Dung Cooperative (Kien Tuong town); etc, is implementing a closed chain from production to consumption, even preparing documents to build a rice brand.

Director of Dong Dung Cooperative (Tuyen Thanh commune, Kien Tuong town) - Nguyen Minh Tam commented: "Without a cooperative as a focal point, it is very difficult to deploy techniques simultaneously or negotiate with businesses. Besides, when participating in a cooperative, farmers can rest assured about the output of agricultural products, and will not be forced to lower prices by traders every harvest season".

Despite playing a key role, both agricultural engineers and cooperatives are facing challenges in terms of resources and support mechanisms. Currently, district-level agricultural engineers work under short-term contracts with average salaries, without field allowances.

Many cooperatives have difficulty accessing loans to invest in machinery, warehouses, digital recording systems and traceability. According to statistics, very few cooperatives have access to preferential loans to serve project. The majority of the rest still have to manage their own finances or depend on small, scattered support from the locality.

The project is not just an administrative plan but a new model of sustainable agricultural development. In which, organizing large-scale production, applying modern techniques, reducing emissions and linking consumption are mandatory requirements.

In this model, cooperatives and agricultural engineers play the role of "moving gears" between the parties, they connect farmers with policies, transfer science to the fields, create a bridge between the market and the raw material area. When the State requires the implementation of a growing area code, they are the ones who prepare the documents. When businesses need to control quality, they are the ones who monitor and report. When techniques change, they are the ones who communicate and guide.

The policy is correct but there needs to be people who implement it and always stay close to farmers, closely following the fields to achieve good results. Cooperatives and engineers are the ones who concretize big policies into small daily actions and that is what determines the success or failure of the project.

Therefore, cooperatives need to be supported like small businesses in agriculture: Having a loan mechanism, having specialized human resources, being able to apply digitalization, having a position in the value chain. Engineers need to be recognized as the force implementing policies, having allowances and a clear career development roadmap. Because without these effective assistants, any big policy is likely to fail./.

Reported by Staffs 

Translated by NT