Vietnamese agriculture is undergoing a strong transition, from production based on experience and manual labour toward production driven by technology and knowledge. In this process, the quality of human resources becomes the key factor determining the sector's competitiveness. Vocational agricultural training is thus no longer a side matter but a strategic pillar.
The State of the Agricultural Workforce
Vietnam's agricultural workforce is large but largely untrained formally, relying mainly on experience passed between generations. Ageing rural labour and young workers leaving agriculture pose challenges to succession and innovation. As technology penetrates production, the gap between workers' current skills and the demands of modern agriculture becomes ever clearer, a bottleneck that vocational training must address.
New Skill Needs in Modern Agriculture
High-tech agriculture demands a different set of skills. Workers need to master new tools and processes, from operating equipment to analysing data and management.
- Digital skills: sensors, drones, farm-management software.
- Advanced techniques: greenhouses, hydroponics, automated irrigation, precision agriculture.
- Knowledge of quality standards, food safety and traceability.
- Business management, market access and e-commerce skills.
Dual Training and Learning by Doing
A highly regarded model is dual training, combining theory at a training institution with hands-on practice at a business or farm. This gives learners direct exposure to real production and narrows the gap between training and job needs. Because agriculture is highly practical and season-dependent, effective programmes prioritise hands-on guidance in fields and barns rather than pure theory.
Technology Transfer and Extension
Beyond formal training, technology transfer and extension bridge scientific advances to farmers at large. Demonstration models, field schools, accessible technical materials and direct advice spread knowledge practically and sustainably. Effectiveness depends on content suited to learners' level and conditions, and on follow-up support to ensure successful application.
Investing in people yields the most sustainable returns; however advanced technology is, it only delivers value when capable people can operate and master it.
Toward a Sustainable Training Ecosystem
Developing high-quality agricultural human resources requires coordination among training institutions, businesses, scientific organisations and farmers themselves. Building a cohesive training ecosystem, with content continuously updated to real needs, is essential for Vietnamese agriculture to keep pace with modern trends. As a VUSTA institute, ASTRI treats training and technology transfer as core tasks, working with partners to build hands-on programmes and technical materials that lay the human foundation for a modern, sustainable agriculture.