HÀ NỘI — Around 30,000 farmers across nine provinces in the country will get support from Google over the next three years to learn to use the internet for their work.

Google announced this support initiative today during the launch workshop of a project aimed at enhancing the computer and smartphone skills of Việt Nam Farmers’ Union staffers.

Google will help the union train 500 staffers and 40 trainers, who will then go on to teach 10,000 farmers through offline sessions. This activity is expected to benefit another 20,000 farmers through online training programmes.

The nine provinces include Lai Châu, Bắc Giang, Nam Định, Nghệ An, Lâm Đồng, Bình Phước, Đồng Tháp, Tiền Giang and Bạc Liêu.

The company believes that IT can help solve some of the greatest and most complex challenges, including improving economic efficiency in agricultural production, Google’s representative said, adding that it would make a difference to a sector threatened by urbanisation and climate change.

Nitin Gajria, Google’s country manager for Việt Nam, said the company hopes farmers will be able to improve cultivation and farming techniques, increase productivity, and access useful information in their daily lives through the internet.

Lại Xuân Môn, chairman of Việt Nam Farmers’ Union, appreciated Google’s support and said the initiative is practical and meaningful. It will contribute towards accelerating the use of scientific and advanced technology in agricultural production and business, and help in the agricultural sector restructuring, Môn added. — VNS