RiceMoRe launch: Pioneering digital transformation in Vietnam’s agriculture sector

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (October 3, 2024) – the Center for Digital Transformation and Agricultural Statistics (DTS) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) held a conference on Digital Transformation in Agriculture. Experts, government officials, and other stakeholders gathered to explore the future digital transformation of Vietnam’s agriculture sector. As part of the conference, a key highlight was the official launch of RiceMoRe, an innovative digital rice activity monitoring and reporting system.

In his opening remarks and presentation at the conference, Mr. Dang Duy Hien from DTS emphasized the importance of leveraging data platforms to enhance agricultural competitiveness. With more than 73% of the population accessing and using the internet , Vietnam ranks 63rd globally in digital transformation. As the third-largest e-commerce market in Southeast Asia, contributing 20% to national GDP, the country is well-positioned to capitalize on its growing digital economy. However, challenges like fragmented data management systems, underdeveloped IT infrastructure, and limited digital skills in rural areas remain obstacles to the adoption of digital tools in agriculture.

RiceMoRe is a digital rice activity monitoring and reporting system co-developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Department of Crop Production (DCP). By leveraging IRRI’s technical expertise and responding to DCP’s specific needs, the system was designed to align with Vietnam’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing the sustainability of its rice value chains. The launch of RiceMoRe represents a major step forward marking the effort of MARD in addressing these challenges. RiceMoRe demonstrates near-real-time tracking and streamlined reporting across multiple management levels. The system has been transferred to MARD and is currently under the management and operation of the DTS and DCP. RiceMoRe development began in 2018 and the system was improved and piloted from 2019 to 2024. RiceMoRe is a robust web and mobile application designed to be user-friendly while maintaining the existing reporting structure to avoid adding workloads for local officials. RiceMoRe supports aggregate observed data collection for national mitigation commitments, while the FarMoRe application assesses performance at the farm/field-level and supports monitoring progress of sustainable, and low emission projects.

RiceMoRe was officially launched with representatives from DTS, DCP,IRRI, and the New Zealand government, who were instrumental to the system’s development.

New Zealand Consul General Scott James expressed pride in New Zealand’s partnership with Vietnam and emphasized RiceMoRe’s role in advancing the efficiency and transparency of rice production management. Dr. Bjoern Ole Sander from IRRI echoed this sentiment, commending Vietnam’s leadership in digital agriculture and climate action, calling RiceMoRe a testament to the country’s forward-thinking approach.

The launch of RiceMoRe marks a significant milestone in the digitalization of Vietnam’s agriculture sector. With its ability to support near real-time rice management, RiceMoRe is currently being scaled nationwide. Continued collaboration between government bodies, private sector actors, and international partners will be essential in building a resilient and sustainable future for Vietnam’s agriculture.

This is a New Zealand Government-funded partnership with IRRI in support of the objectives of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases. This activity is also part of the CGIAR Initiatives on Asian Mega-Deltas and Low Emission Food Systems, and the Agroecological Transitions for Building Resilient and Inclusive Agriculture and Food Systems Program funded by IFAD and EU.