Moc Chau, Vietnam: Vu Van Hieu, a 35-year-old farmer in Vietnam’s Moc Chau plateau, has drawn notice with a harvest that’s transforming local agriculture. From a 1,836 m² greenhouse, Hieu produced 18 tons of bell and Palermo peppers, earning VND 500 million (nearly USD 20,000) in three months. His achievement, driven by the “Smart Farming for the Future Generation” project, has boosted his family’s livelihood and set an example for farmers in Tan Lap town, proving that technology can tame the uncertainties of farming.
Hieu’s path began in Nam Dinh’s humid Red River Delta, but Moc Chau’s cooler climate and rich soil offered new prospects. Traditional farming, however, was fraught with risks. “It was a gamble,” Hieu told this correspondent, reflecting on his days growing tomatoes and cabbages. “Sometimes we’d have a great harvest but no market. Other times, pests or bad weather destroyed everything.” Climate change and volatile prices made every season unpredictable, pushing Hieu to seek a better way.
That opportunity arrived in 2022 with the smart farming project, funded by South Korea and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Hieu spotted its advanced greenhouses—unlike the basic ones he’d seen—and promptly signed up. These structures featured anti-insect nets, plastic curtains to shield against cold and rain, retractable shade nets, and sensors monitoring temperature and humidity. A drip irrigation system delivered water directly to plants, while multi-layered doors blocked pests, reducing pesticide use. The project also supplied high-quality seedlings and fertilisers tailored to nutrient needs.
Training proved the real catalyst. “They taught us everything—safe pesticides, managing temperature, humidity, light, ventilation, CO₂ levels, and irrigation,” Hieu said. This expertise transformed his 1,836 m² greenhouse into a powerhouse, yielding a pepper crop that caught the community’s eye. “Seeing the results, other farmers were inspired,” he noted. “They realised this was a viable way to improve their livelihoods.” The project further helped by enabling off-season production and linking farmers to stable markets through collective action and direct sales channels.
Hieu’s success spurred bigger plans. He expanded his operations with a 2,000 m² greenhouse for tomatoes and founded the Tan Lap High-Tech Cooperative, uniting eight households to share knowledge, resources, and market access. The cooperative is exploring e-commerce platforms and experiential agri-tourism, inviting visitors to explore Moc Chau’s farms. Hieu envisions Tan Lap as a smart agriculture hub, leveraging Moc Chau’s climate and soil to supply high-quality vegetables and fruits across Vietnam.
His ambitions extend to sustainability and jobs. “We want a profitable agricultural sector that provides good opportunities for young people and improves community lives,” Hieu said. His wife tends the greenhouses alongside him, while their two young daughters follow them on school-free days, showing early interest in farming. This family effort underscores the project’s broader impact: fostering a network of farmers and experts, with Hieu emerging as a local guide sharing his techniques.
The project’s support—tools, training, and connections—has positioned Hieu as a leader in Moc Chau’s farming community. His cooperative’s hunger for new knowledge mirrors his own drive, promising to maximise the region’s potential. By embracing smart farming, Hieu and his peers are revitalising rural Vietnam, offering a glimpse of agriculture’s tech-driven future. As his daughters trail him through the greenhouse, the next generation may well carry forward his vision.
Source: The FAO News And Media Office, Rome
– global bihari bureau
