HANOI, Vietnam (August 8, 2025) - To enhance agricultural productivity and economic returns, the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection (PPPD) in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) convened a technical workshop focusing on fertilizer efficiency. This event, part of the "Fertilize Right" project, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), signals the move towards data-driven farming in Vietnam.

Precision agriculture: a path to higher returns

The workshop brought together a diverse group of representatives from government departments, research institutes, universities, and international organizations to discuss a suite of topics surrounding digital tools. These tools such as the Soil Nutrient Map, Rice Crop Manager, e-Extension Lúa Việt, and EasyFarm - are designed to optimize resource allocation and improve farmer profitability.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Clemen Gehlhar, a representative of the USDA, stated the project's objectives to improve soil health and increase farmer incomes by providing practical guidance and promoting the adoption of advanced technologies. She highlighted that e-extension is critical for scaling these innovations, ensuring they reach the maximum number of farmers. E-extension is a web-based platform for rice nutrient management, designed to complement tools like the Rice Crop Manager.

Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Jongsoo Shin, IRRI's Representative for Asia, stressed the importance of site-specific application, underscoring that tailored approaches provide far more value than a general plan.  He argued that this tailored approach provides significantly more value than a one-size-fits-all model, noting that Vietnam's robust agricultural sector presents a fertile ground for such research.

Digital toolkit for modern farming

Dr. Nguyen Van Hung, IRRI’s lead for mechanization and postharvest research and the project leader of FerRight Vietnam, presented the digital tools supporting the "Fertilize Right" project. Dr. Hung introduced the 'Lúa Việt' e-extension (https://irice.org/) designed to empower farmers in rice production. The platform includes sections on:

• Thematic agricultural extension knowledge: Guidelines on key practices such as the One Million Hectare Program and integrated pest management
• FAQs: Commonly required information for rice production
• References: Featuring scientific publications and technical guidelines
• A Zalo-based Chatbot: An AIforum -integrated with an artificial intelligence forum that provides real-time problem-solving support
• Technical instruction videos: a YouTube channel providing tutorials on rice cultivation technologies.  
• EasyFarm: A matchmaking tool connecting farmers with other value chain stakeholders  
• Soil Nutrient Map: A precision agriculture tool that provides data on soil properties to optimize nutrient management https://gis.luagao.org
• Rice Crop Manager (RCM) Vietnam: A site-specific nutrient management tool that promises to enhance nutrient use efficiency, leading to higher yields and reduced input costs https://webapps.irri.org/vn/rcm-rebuild/

Next steps

Following the presentations, Dr. Hung and participants discussed the next phase of the project: piloting the tools under the One-Million-Hectare Program and building an integrated AI-Rice platform.

To persuade farmers to change practices, focus on profitability using a two-phase strategy through an open forum. First, create zone-specific recommendations for similar soil types, then develop site-specific plans for large farms. For lasting impact, refine distribution methods, create scaling-up plans, address land and financial barriers, and encourage cooperation among stakeholders.