According to the Ministry of Information and Communications, Vietnam’s potential for digital transformation is huge. Technological infrastructure is developing both in width and depth, contributing to promoting socio-economic development and serving security and defense. Currently, Vietnam has about 70% of the population using mobile phones, of which 64% of subscribers have 3G and 4G connections, of which 4G networks have covered about 95% of communes across the country.

However, the technical infrastructure across the country is not synchronous, making it difficult to connect between ministries, departments and provinces and cities. The popularity of information technology (IT) and communication services is mainly concentrated in urban areas, even reaching saturation in many places. While, these services in rural areas, which account for more than 70% of the population, are low and poor

Based on these issues, in the consultation workshop on the draft of the project “Digital transformation in new rural construction (NTM), towards smart rural areas in the 2021-2025 period” on July 15, Mr. Nguyen Minh Tien. , Chief of the Central New Rural Coordinating Office said that this is “a space for the community to develop”.

Bringing colleges into agriculture in general, and building rural areas in particular, is the policy of the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development during the 10 years of implementing this national target program. However, many difficulties arise when implementing it, such as narrowing the gap in income and service enjoyment between rural and urban people, connecting agricultural product consumption, or ensuring food safety and hygiene. .

“It is necessary to promote the community in the construction of new rural areas to bring into full play the potentials of agriculture and rural areas. In the context that digital transformation is an inevitable trend worldwide, the application of digital technology, large database systems, artificial intelligence … are breakthrough solutions to be able to solve these problems. difficulties and bottlenecks in the process of building rural areas in Vietnam”, said Mr. Nguyen Minh Tien.

As a major policy, the promotion and application of IT in agriculture and rural construction is still limited, fragmented and heavily spontaneity of agencies, units or localities and enterprises. The proportion of online public services at level 4 in rural areas is still low (less than 10%). The most important factor is building a database system on population and land management.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Phong, Director of the Information Center for Agriculture and Rural Development, (Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development) suggested that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development consider including digital technology content in rural areas. become a key content, to focus on directing the implementation in the 2021-2025 period.

“College infrastructure will be essential infrastructure, including broadband connection infrastructure with fiber optic cable, coverage to the countryside, followed by 4G connection infrastructure, then 5G,” Mr. Phong shared.

On May 20, 2021, the Central NTM Coordination Office issued Official Letter No. 430/VPDP-KHTC&GS to the Steering Committees of the National Target Programs of the provinces and cities. Based on the opinions of 48/63 localities, the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development worked with the Department of Informatization (Ministry of Information and Communications) to develop a Draft Scheme.

With the goal of promoting the process of digitization and application of IT in the construction of new rural areas, in order to improve the efficiency of the management and administration of the national program on rural areas, improve the efficiency of agricultural production and business. People, cooperatives, enterprises, a project to develop four specific goals by 2025. Including: building a digital government, digital economy, digital society, and a set of national criteria for smart rural development. for the period 2026-2030 to submit to competent authorities for approval.

To achieve these goals, the Central NTM Coordination Office proposes a group of key solutions. First, develop the foundation for the college community. This process is mainly to raise the awareness and capacity of colleges for staff of the entire agricultural sector, NTM program staff and the community. Second, perfect policies and institutions. Third, develop digital infrastructure and digital data.

This is a measure that is particularly noted, when it comes to data standardization and building a synchronous and interoperable database system. On this basis, a big data platform (Big data) was formed to progress towards building a digital agricultural map.

With the total estimated capital to implement the program in the 2021-2025 period is 3,000 billion VND, there are 6 projects prioritized for implementation. These are: (1) Design and build the digital data management system of the NTM Program. (2) Online application for planning and reporting on implementation results of the NTM building program at all levels. (3) College application supports OCOP program. (4) Application of colleges to develop community tourism. (5) Pilot smart village/commune model in localities. (6) Training, training and capacity building for college management staff in the NTM program.

Concluding the workshop, Mr. Nguyen Minh Tien, Chief of the Central Office for Rural Development Coordination, emphasized that community college is an inevitable trend of society. “Construction in rural construction is a new project. In the process of implementation, we cannot avoid being surprised, but that does not stop us from bringing CDs into our lives. The way we approach the community will change people’s perception, as well as create a face of NTM in the future”.