As climate change intensifies and the cycle of “bumper crop, price fall” persists, Vietnamese agriculture is approaching a critical crossroads: shift toward an economic mindset or remain trapped in the pursuit of output. In an interview with The Saigon Times, economist Le Ba Chi Nhan said smart farming is not about buying drones or sensors but about transforming data governance and consolidating farmland. He noted that the real challenge is enabling technology to thrive amid fragmented production and disconnected digital data. Smart agriculture needs more than modern equipment The Saigon Times: Agriculture has been a key pillar of Vietnam’s economy, especially during financial crises and the pandemic. As climate change makes productivity more unstable, what do you see as the sector’s most critical survival factor today? Le Ba Chi Nhan: It is the shift from “agricultural production” to an “agricultural economics mindset.” This is no longer a choice but a matter of survival for Vietnam. For decades, agriculture has played a vital role in ensuring food security, creating livelihoods for tens of millions of workers, and serving as a pillar of the economy during crises, from global financial downturns to the pandemic. Climate change is fundamentally altering the rules of […]