AI to fuel development of modern agriculture: workshop
Artificial intelligence (AI) has an important role to play in the development of modern and sustainable agriculture as it will help with farm automation and optimisation, from weather forecasting, plant and livestock health monitoring to product quality improvement, heard a workshop in Hanoi on March 23.
The workshop on AI application to agriculture on March 23. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Artificial intelligence(AI) has an important role to play in the development of modern and sustainableagriculture as it will help with farm automation and optimisation, from weatherforecasting, plant and livestock health monitoring to product qualityimprovement, heard a workshop in Hanoi on March 23.
Ho Xuan Hung, Chairman of theGeneral Council of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, said AI-basedequipment and machinery are becoming popular in the technology era, includingin agriculture.
He noted AI can help improve crop productivity;control pests, diseases, and cultivation conditions; and promote theperformance of farming-related tasks across food supply chains. Farmers aroundthe globe are applying AI to minimise impacts of chemical use on theenvironment. Advances in the manufacturing of AI-controlled robots are also helpingfarmers use less land and manpower while still boosting production.
In Vietnam, AI application to agricultureis still new but grabbing attention from the Government and businesses due to itsadvantages over traditional farming method, Hung went on.
Echoing the view, Tran Quy, Director of the Vietnam Institute of DigitalEconomy Development, said the importance of AI to the development of modernagriculture is undeniable, adding that AI can help farmers increaseproductivity, reduce production costs, improve product quality, ensure foodsafety, and forecast and reduce climate and disease risks, which also meansless fertiliser, pesticide and negative impacts on the environment.
However, he also pointed out a challenge to AI application to agriculture inVietnam - the high prices for both hardware and software of AI systems. Besides,farmers also needs training to use new technology while relevant parties, includingtechnology producers, the Government, and agriculture organisations, need tocooperate in developing suitable AI applications meeting farmers’ conditionsand demand in the market.
Noting some bottlenecks in digital transformation in agriculture, Nguyen QuocToan, Director of the Centre for Informatics and Statistics at the Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural Development, said the awareness of and regulations ondigital transformation in agriculture remain limited. Without regulationspaving the way, all non-compulsory applications will not be used widely inreality.
To boost digital transformation in general and AI application to agriculture inparticular, he held that it is necessary to raise farmers and businesses’awareness, issue guidance on digital production processes, develop digitalinfrastructure, enhance cyber security, and build the sector’s database./.
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The workshop on AI application to agriculture on March 23. (Photo: VNA) 
