Application of digital economy in agricultural production

– Agricultural products produced by farmers in the province in order to reach consumers must go through many intermediary stages which increase its costs. Applying digital economy in agricultural production helps farmers no longer depend on traders and they can directly connect with consumers and build personal brands.

 While many farmers in the districts of Chi Lang and Huu Lung have difficulty in selling custard apple products, Mr. Quach Duong Duy from Chuc Quan village, Yen Vuong commune, Huu Lung district received 450 orders of custard apple in 1 day with the quantity of 2.2 tons through the e-commerce platform. Thanks to the initiative in consuming products on the e-commerce platform, instead of having to bring them to the market to sell, Mr. Duy waits for customers to order before proceeding to pick the fruit and pack it. Custard apples after being packed, will be picked up at home by Viettelpost staff and delivered them to consumers. In particular, he does not have to suffer from traders forcing prices, the price is always stable from 40,000 to 70,000 VND/kg.

Mr. Duy said: “Last July 2021, I opened a digital store and actively learned how to sell and promote my products on the e-commerce platform. At first, the number of orders was small because customers were worried that the long shipping process would not guarantee the quality. I have asked the shipping company and promptly  informed the customer. With the first orders I received many positive feedback from customers such as: fast shipping, custard apple’s quality, form and design were ensured. After that, they introduced to friends and relatives to sent as gifts, so the number of orders also increased.”

Vnpost staff guides people in Chi Lang commune, Chi Lang district to pack the products

Mr. Vy Van Dua, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Yen Son commune, Huu Lung district said: “Yen Son is a commune in zone 3 of Huu Lung district, the roads are not convenient, so farmers’ agricultural products face many difficulties. Recently, the business has supported people in the area to open more than 40 digital stores in 5 villages. Although it has just been deployed, 20 households have successfully sold goods on the e-commerce platform. In addition to Mr. Duy, who is a “super leader”, there is also 1 household selling nearly 100 orders in a day.”

In the past, farmers in the province were only used to taking care of crops and livestock, creating products and then selling them in the market in the traditional way, with little interest in improving product quality, researching market and consumer. In the current period, in order to create added value but not increase the area and output, farmers need to change their thinking. First of all, participating in the development of the digital economy. The purpose of implementing the digital economy is to help people change their buying and selling habits, thereby changing the way they think and act.

Mr. Nguyen Khac Lich, Director of the Department of Information and Communications said: Recently, the Department has implemented many activities to support people in the province to exchange, buy and sell conveniently on the e-commerce platform. These include: The Department is coordinating with the Headquarters of Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank and Vietnam Post Corporation to support people to open electronic payment accounts, withdraw and deposit money into their accounts in communes; directing Vnpost, Viettelpost to develop a plan to transport agricultural products to ensure no more than 72 hours for customers from outside the province and 24 hours for customers inside the province after packing. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Science and Technology are requested to study the ripening time, the process of harvesting, packing and preserving agricultural products to give instructions and recommendations to the people.

From July 20 to now, in 5 districts of Huu Lung, Chi Lang, Van Quan, Bac Son and Trang Dinh, more than 13,800 digital stores and 5,000 electronic payment accounts have been opened. The stores made over 4,000 transactions with a revenue of more than 700 million VND. Propaganda is carried out regularly through skits, guides and articles on the commune-level radio system, newspapers, central and local radio stations. Simultaneously, the Department of Information and Communications held 4 online conferences and many fact-checking sessions in districts and communes to grasp the implementation of digital economy development and promptly remove difficulties. Accordingly, from small details such as: it is necessary to use foam net to wrap each custard apple instead of old newspapers containing lead, which affects consumers’ health; The container needs to be durable, strong, and cheap, each custard apple needs to be in a separate box to ensure the design… are taken into account and a quick solution is found. Since then, hundreds of agricultural products of the province such as: custard apples, sausages, chilli bamboo shoots, syzygium nervosum buds, wild lemons, honey, anise, cinnamon, vermicelli, dried noodles… have been posted on e-commerce platforms.

The rapid deployment of the digital economy and its remarkable results has confirmed the determination of Lang Son province. In the future, the program will continue to be implemented in the remaining districts. From now until the end of the year is the time to harvest a variety of agricultural products. In the current situation of broken supply and demand chains, trading through e-commerce platforms are indispensable. Thereby, step by step change the buying, selling and production habits of people in the province.