Within the framework of the project ‘Developing Core Skills for Agricultural Labor in the Context of Digital Transformation in Vietnam,’ carried out by various domestic and international partners, the Health and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (HAPRI) affiliated with the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) and the Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA) are the main partners.
The project is funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and managed by the John Dillon Fellowship program at the University of New England (UNE, Australia). The project’s goal is to develop a framework for agricultural labor capacity and core skills, identify gaps and deficiencies in capacity and core skills for labor; provide information and feasible pathways to enhance the capacity and core skills of mango farmers in the context of digital transformation in Vietnam to serve the future export of Vietnamese mangoes.
Within the scope of the project, HAPRI and VNUA conducted in-depth interviews with mango export businesses in Son La and the Mekong Delta regarding export conditions for mangoes. Additionally, the Institute organized group discussions among stakeholders in the mango export chain about the challenges faced during production in general and the digital transformation in agriculture in particular.
Recently, from March 2 to March 4, 2023, VNUA conducted a field survey on the cultivation practices and awareness of digital transformation in the field of mango growing and selling among farming households in Son La province. A representative from HAPRI, Mr. Vu Ngoc Tan, was present to assist the team in finalizing the questionnaire and learning from the experience to organize a survey in the Mekong Delta. Following this survey, HAPRI will conduct a survey of mango farmers for export in Dong Thap. The survey is expected to begin at the end of March. Concurrently, VNUA will proceed with data entry, cleaning, and analysis of the survey results in Son La. The findings from both locations will be presented in the project’s final report.
During the days spent in Son La province, the team sequentially conducted exchanges and surveys with mango farmers in the districts of Mai Son and Yen Chau. With the support of local officials and village leaders at the research sites, representatives of farming households growing and selling mangoes in the communes of Hat Lot and Chieng Mung of Mai Son district and the communes of Chieng Hac and Sap Vat of Yen Chau district were surveyed.
The survey team at Yen Tien village, Hat Lot commune, Mai Son district,
Son La province
The survey team at Na Cang village, Hat Lot commune, Mai Son district,
Son La province
A mango orchard in Hat Lot commune, Mai Son district
The survey team at the headquarters of the People’s Committee of Chieng Mung commune, Mai Son district, Son La province
MSc. Vu Ngoc Tan (HAPRI) participated in interviewing mango farming laborers in
Son La
The survey team at the Xuan Tien cooperative, Sap Vat commune, Yen Chau district
During the working sessions, the survey team shared and listened to the desires of the mango growers and sellers regarding the difficulties in cultivation, as well as in using technological devices during the digital transformation process. The research team also highly appreciated the cooperation and assistance of the authorities and people of Son La province in successfully completing this survey phase.
In addition, the team visited Dong Giao Foodstuff Export Joint Stock Company (DOVECO) – Son La Branch. DOVECO is a leading brand in the field of fruit and vegetable production and export, not only in the domestic market but also internationally.
The survey team visited the Doveco Son La factory