Training agricultural workers in the digital age

The Mekong Delta (Mekong Delta) is strongly transforming the agricultural economy. On the fields, drones appear, and in factories, automation lines are installed. Along with that, the concept of "agricultural labor" (LĐNN) has also changed. Reporters exchanged with Master Nguyen Thanh Hai, Rector of An Giang Vocational College (AGVC) about the problem of training human resources for the new agriculture.

Sir, how has the current foreign labor force changed and how is AGVC preparing human resources?

- LĐNN is no longer just a person directly engaged in cultivation, animal husbandry or harvesting. Behind an agricultural product is a system of mechanization, automation, electricity - electronics, sensors, drones, processing, cold storage, quality control and logistics. Therefore, vocational education not only trains more LĐ for NN but must improve technical qualifications so that learners can participate more deeply in the agricultural product value chain. AGVC promotes training industries such as Mechatronics, Automation, Industrial Electricity, drone technology to serve mechanization, supervision, control and automation of production. In the post-harvest stage, Mechanics, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineering contribute to operating processing lines, cold storage and agricultural product preservation. AGVC does not follow trends, as soon as new technology appears, new industries are opened. It is important to integrate new technologies and capabilities into existing occupations, creating a solid foundation for learners to continue to update when technology changes.

How to make young people no longer think "learning agriculture is hard"?

- First of all, it is necessary to change the image of jobs in agriculture. If only introducing the image of manual labor in the fields, it will be very difficult to attract a young generation growing up with technology, AI and automation. Therefore, AGVC offers a new perspective with images of drones, robots, sensors... which will lead them to have a different perspective. AGVC does not mobilize young people to "return to agriculture" in the old way, but shows that many modern technical professions can develop right on the agricultural economy of An Giang and the Mekong Delta.

Electromechanics students can work at rice and seafood processing plants; Industrial Electricity students operate and maintain electrical systems and engines; Refrigeration Engineering students participate in cold storage systems, post-harvest preservation; people with drone capabilities provide technical services for production. At that time, the question is no longer "Is learning agriculture hard?" but "What technology can be applied to create higher value from the homeland's agriculture?".

How does AGVC link training with businesses (DN) to ensure output?

- "Department" is not only about introducing jobs but first of all about learners' abilities suitable for the technology businesses use. AGVC coordinates and links with agricultural product processing businesses through internships, visits, training..., helping students access the production environment and practical equipment. The school also promotes the "Vocational Advisory Council" model, for businesses to participate from identifying skill needs, contributing to programs, organizing practices to evaluating and feedback on learner quality. This is a way to narrow the gap between training and practical technology, and at the same time update programs faster. But AGVC's ultimate goal is not only to provide labor for businesses. With a technical foundation and understanding of market needs, learners can start a business, provide equipment, automation services, quality testing, classification, and packaging of agricultural products.

Modern agriculture cannot lack production land, but it will increasingly need more people who know how to bring technology in to make each unit of land, each raw material and each hour of labor create more value. The Mekong Delta not only needs more farmers but also needs a force with technological skills to improve productivity, quality and value of agricultural products. Therefore, vocational education must train both vocational capacity, digital capacity, green skills and meet that adaptability.

Thank you, sir!

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