Applying technology to promote local images and products.

This year's pear blossom season, Khau Trang village, Hong Thai commune (Na Hang), welcomed a very large number of visitors, many times higher than previous flower seasons. Mr. Dang Xuan Cuong, Head of the village, excitedly said: Preliminary statistics show that the number of visitors to the village is estimated at about 600 - 700 people/day, on weekends it is estimated that the number of visitors doubles, even triples, many times higher than previous pear blossom seasons.

Mr. Cuong boasted that to achieve that success, in addition to the propaganda and promotion work of the district and the province, the people of Khau Trang are also one of the extremely effective communication channels to bring the image of pear flowers far and wide. Instead of just knowing how to go to the fields to grow corn, rice, and dig wild bamboo shoots, the villagers have now mastered technology to develop the economy.

Ms. Dang Thi Nhung, Dao ethnic group, Khau Trang village, one of the experts in promoting local tourism on the digital technology platform of the village shared: In the past, to promote pear flowers, we could only take pictures and post them on social networks. But now, livestream helps us convey more realistic images and sounds. People can feel the beauty of pear flowers and the festival atmosphere right at home.

Smart agricultural model of the people of village 11, Kim Phu commune (Tuyen Quang city).

Ms. Nhung said: The "homegrown" livestream videos not only help promote the image of pear flowers in her hometown but also bring unexpected economic efficiency. Many tourists, after watching the livestream, decided to come to the place to admire the beauty of pear flowers, experience the festival, and stay in the locality.

Ms. Ton Nu Nam Phuong, a tourist from Hue city, excitedly said: "I learned about the pear flower festival through a livestream video on Facebook. The images of pure white pear flowers and traditional dances inspired me to come here. And I was not disappointed, the beauty here is even more wonderful than on the video".

The "muddy-handed" farmers in Yen Phu (Ham Yen) are now also mastering technology, effectively applying it to production and consumption activities. Mr. Nguyen Van The Anh, Minh Phu village 1, Yen Phu commune (Ham Yen) shared: The 4.0 industrial revolution has changed the habits of society, most people now shop online. Catching up with the trend, he also switched to online sales.

With the account Theanh22 on the tiktok channel, Mr. The Anh promotes, introduces, and sells his hometown tea products to consumers nationwide. Mr. The Anh said: Product quality and reputation are top priorities, so his sales channel has attracted thousands of followers and orders.

Comrade Nguyen Dai Thanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, Standing Agency of the Steering Committee of the National Target Program on New Rural Development, affirmed: Farmers are now very different from before, no longer "muddy feet, muddy hands" or "deep plowing, hoeing", they have quickly mastered technology, exploited and skillfully applied it to production activities, bringing high economic efficiency. And it is these digital farmers who are forming a smart village and commune community in the process of building new rural areas.

Challenges and solutions

Digital transformation is creating a revolution to improve production efficiency and reduce human labor, especially in the agricultural and rural areas, which are still considered a development gap. However, building smart villages and smart communes also poses many challenges. These include the difference in technology levels between regions, lack of synchronous technology infrastructure, lack of highly qualified human resources and cyber security issues, etc.

Comrade Trieu Van Lanh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hong Thai Commune (Na Hang) admitted: Digital technology is creating a clear change in the socio-economic development of the locality. However, there are still difficulties for Hong Thai to break through: The rugged terrain limits the development of information technology infrastructure, in addition, the awareness level and economic life of the people are not uniform, so investing in the development and application of information technology in a synchronous manner in production and daily life of the people will be difficult.

Not only Hong Thai, in rural communes, information technology infrastructure is developed but there is a lack of quality human resources. According to comrade Ha Xuan Khanh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Duc Ninh commune (Ham Yen), shared: Young labor force with knowledge and mastery of technology often do not stay in the countryside, the path they choose is to work in cities and industrial parks. Therefore, building smart villages or specifically developing smart agricultural models of the commune will be limited.

Comrade Nguyen Dai Thanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, said that to overcome these challenges, it is necessary to have the participation of the entire political system, the cooperation of the community and businesses. It is necessary to promote training, improve the technological level of rural people, build a synchronous information technology infrastructure, ensure network security. Building smart villages and smart communes is an important step in the process of building new rural areas. This is an opportunity for rural people to access the achievements of science and technology, improve the quality of life and contribute to building a modern and sustainable rural area.