Summary of the program “Supporting Farmers With VFC – Integration Fields”

Following the “Supporting Farmers” program, Vietnam Fumigation Joint Stock Company (VFC) launched the “Integration Fields” initiative with the aim of creating opportunities to change traditional cultivation practices; building farmer communities with more uniform production scales; and jointly enhancing the value of rice grains and farmers’ incomes, thereby contributing to the international competitiveness of Vietnamese rice. After one year of implementation, the program has achieved highly encouraging outcomes both technically and economically.

Today, under the trend of international integration, Vietnamese agriculture and farmers are facing many development opportunities, but also numerous difficulties and challenges that must be overcome. As living standards rise, Vietnamese rice must not only serve delicious daily meals for domestic consumers but also reach and satisfy international markets.

To achieve this goal, our rice production system must meet several key criteria: efficiency across all production stages; products that are safe for consumers; and production that ensures profitability throughout the entire supply chain “from field to table” for every household.

Accompanying farmers towards sustainable production values in line with integration trends, and promoting scientific, smart cultivation to achieve “Efficiency – Safety – Profitability” is the core objective of the “Supporting Farmers – Integration Fields” program implemented by VFC.

COfficially launched on 9 January 2021, the program aims to work hand in hand with farmers to build a green, sustainable and integration-ready agriculture. Many “integration fields” have been established based on the application of advanced scientific and technical cultivation practices.

The solutions applied originate from various advanced countries, using new-generation and naturally derived active ingredients, aiming to create safer and higher-quality agricultural products. By participating in the program, “integration farmers” are equipped with knowledge and skills to keep up with market information and the latest scientific and technical advances.

After nearly one year of implementation, on 26 November 2021, VFC held the online conference “Summary of the ‘Supporting Farmers with VFC – Integration Fields’ Program” in the context of an ongoing complex pandemic situation.

The conference was attended by leaders of PAN Group, VFC leadership, representatives of scientists from Can Tho University and the Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute, representatives from Dong Thap, Hau Giang and Soc Trang television stations, and partners such as Syngenta and Corteva. Notably, it also brought together 160 integration farmers and more than 1,000 farmers at various connection points.

The one-year summary showed that the program has generated substantial value for participating farmers. Specifically, yields and profits increased significantly compared with traditional practices, gradually helping to improve farmer incomes and livelihoods.

The number of spray applications was reduced—by at least one spray per crop—gradually limiting chemical inputs into the field, making production more environmentally friendly and safer for farmers, while improving the quality and safety of agricultural products. Integration farmers and neighboring growers gained access to extensive knowledge on production, presentation skills and practical agricultural services directly serving their production needs.

Thanks to close coordination with local television stations, the program has been widely disseminated, enabling farmers in many areas to access information in a timely manner. At the same time, active support from scientists and VFC’s partners has helped the program deliver practical meaning and tangible economic benefits to farmers in real production conditions.

Sharing at the event, Mr. Truong Cong Cu – General Director of VFC – said: “With more than 45 years of establishment and development, VFC is proud to be Viet Nam’s leading company in fumigation and pest control, and also one of the top distributors of plant protection products. Originating from our genuine dedication to agriculture, we are always committed to providing products and services of ‘true quality’ from our strategic partners, which are world-renowned corporations such as Syngenta and Corteva Agriscience.”

In 2021, VFC was proud to become an official member of PAN Group, one of Viet Nam’s leading agriculture and food corporations, whose aspiration is to elevate Vietnamese agriculture. VFC and PAN share the same vision and mission for the prosperity and sustainable development of national agriculture and farmers.

On its journey to realize this mission, “Integration Fields” is one of VFC’s most practical programs for farmers and for the aspiration of bringing Vietnamese rice to the world. Alongside the program, partners such as Syngenta Vietnam, Corteva Vietnam and the television stations of Dong Thap, Hau Giang and Soc Trang have closely coordinated and actively supported the initiative, helping to amplify its impact among farmers in the region. Through this, many advanced solutions applied on integration fields have become familiar to farmers and are now used with confidence.

“VFC is always for the farmers and thinks from the farmers’ perspective… We hope that the ‘Integration Fields’ program will continue to deliver even more concrete results in the time ahead. The support and companionship of integration farmers, valued partners, scientists and the media will be a powerful source of motivation and energy for VFC and the program,” Mr. Truong Cong Cu shared.

In her closing remarks, Ms. Nguyen Bach Tuyet – Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of VFC – stated that with the companionship of PAN Group, VFC will continue to implement and expand the program to bring even more benefits to farmers and to Vietnamese agriculture. Effective connection between VFC and farmers is one of the five key factors determining VFC’s sustainable development now and in the future.

Integration Fields Come to the Village
Integration Fields come home to the village,
Integration Fields return to every hamlet.
Farmers, eager and excited, join in together,
Changing household farming habits.
Modern production reaching farther into new markets,
Raising profits from every field and garden.
Safe products exported near and far,
Top-quality solutions leading the way.
Integration Farmers advance with depth and stability.
Composed by Integration Farmer Nguyễn Văn Sang (An Giang)