Are you thinking, "Vietnamese agriculture still relies on intuition and experience, doesn't it?"
In fact, Vietnam's agricultural field is now changing rapidly. We have entered an era in which satellite data captured from space is used to grasp the state of rice paddies in real time and even to predict yields.
This article explains the current state of precision agriculture (precision farming) in Vietnam and how satellite data is being used. Agriculture-related readers and food importers, too, should be able to see business opportunities emerge.
What Precision Agriculture Is: Its Definition and Background in Vietnam
Precision agriculture is a method of using ICT and sensor technology to grasp "differences within each field" and carry out optimal agricultural management. The basic idea is to vary the amount and type of fertilizer and pesticide by location, rather than applying them uniformly.
Vietnam, where agriculture accounts for about 14% of GDP (2023), holds major export products such as agricultural power. It exports rice, coffee, Cashew nuts while improving the efficiency of agricultural production had long been a challenge.
In recent years, the government-led "Agricultural Digitalization Strategy 2030" has been promoted, accelerating the introduction of precision agriculture. At its core is the use of satellite data.
VNSC and Vietnam's Satellite Program
VNSC (Vietnam National Space Center) is an institution under Vietnam's Ministry of Science and Technology. Centered on the Earth-observation satellite "VNREDSat-1C" launched in 2021, it is advancing applied research for the agricultural field.
| Satellite name | Launch year | Resolution | Main use |
|---|---|---|---|
| VNREDSat-1 | 2013 | 2.5m | National-land monitoring and disaster response |
| VNREDSat-1C | 2021 | 1.5m | Agriculture and environmental monitoring |
| LOTUSat-1 | 2024 (planned) | 1.0m | SAR and night-time observation |
VNREDSat-1C is equipped with visible-light and near-infrared sensors, allowing the calculation of the vegetation index (NDVI). This makes it possible to grasp the growth status of crops quantitatively.
Technical cooperation with JAXA (the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) is also ongoing, making it a development worth noting from the standpoint of cooperation with Japan as well.
The Reality of Cropping Analysis Using Satellite Data
Cropping analysis using satellite data can mainly grasp three things.
1. Grasping cropped area
By analyzing NDVI (the normalized difference vegetation index) over time, you can grasp spatially which fields are growing what. In the Mekong Delta, this data is used to create distribution maps of cropping seasons (early, main, and late).
2. Determining the growth stage
Technology to determine the growth stage from planting to harvest using satellite imagery is also being put to practical use. It is reported that the growth stage of major crops can be distinguished with about 80% accuracy.
3. Detecting disease risk
A sharp drop in NDVI is a sign of pest or disease outbreaks or flood damage. A major advantage is being able to detect abnormalities 1 to 2 weeks earlier than on-site inspection.
In An Giang and Kien Giang provinces, efforts have begun in which the provincial agriculture department uses this data to issue early warnings to farmers.
The Mechanism and Accuracy of Yield-Prediction Models
Yield prediction is a particularly high-profile field even within precision agriculture. For food importers, it is information that directly affects the accuracy of procurement planning.
The yield-prediction models whose practical use is advancing in Vietnam now mainly combine the following elements.
| Input data | Data source | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| NDVI time series | Satellite imagery | High |
| Precipitation data | Weather satellites and ground observation | High |
| Temperature and sunshine hours | Weather stations | Medium |
| Soil moisture | SAR satellites and sensors | Medium |
| Past yield records | Agricultural statistics | Low |
A rice yield-prediction model jointly developed by Can Tho University and VNSC is reported to have achieved 89% prediction accuracy about 6 weeks before harvest. This greatly contributes to agricultural policymaking and to forecasts of export volumes.
Japanese private companies have also entered the field, and a demonstration experiment of a yield-insurance service using satellite data is under way in Binh Duong province. Mechanisms that make it easier for farmers to prepare for climate risk are coming into place.
Cooperation with Japan and Business Opportunities
Vietnam's precision agriculture offers no small number of business opportunities for Japanese companies.
At present, there are three main fields in which Japan is cooperating with Vietnam.
Providing satellite-data analysis technology
Agricultural monitoring services using JAXA's "ASNARO" series and private satellite-data platforms are being trial-introduced in several provinces.
Exporting smart-agriculture equipment
Smart tractors and drone sprayers from Yanmar and Kubota are beginning to spread among large-scale farmers in the Mekong Delta. The automatic-driving function with GPS guidance is winning support from young farmers.
Stabilizing agricultural-product procurement
By using yield-prediction data, importers can plan procurement volumes and prices with high accuracy months in advance. Since 2025, B2B cooperation in this field has been increasing.
Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture has set a goal of introducing precision agriculture in 60% of major rice-producing areas by 2030, so there is plenty of room for growth as a market.
Challenges and the outlook ahead
There are still several barriers to the spread of precision agriculture.
The greatest challenge is "spreading it to small-scale farmers." The average farm size in Vietnam is very small, about 0.6 ha, and the reality is that it is difficult for each to introduce an expensive system individually.
To address this, the government is promoting agricultural cooperatives a shared-use model through them. A scheme in which a single satellite-data analysis platform is shared among 100 or more households is a realistic solution to the cost problem.
The internet environment in rural areas is also improving. The 4G penetration rate reached about 72% even in rural areas as of 2025, and the number of farmers able to receive data via smartphone is surging.
Over the next five years, a hybrid model combining satellite data with on-site sensors is expected to become mainstream. With improved AI image-analysis accuracy added in, the accuracy of yield prediction should rise further.
Summary
Vietnam's precision agriculture is evolving rapidly, with VNSC's satellite data as its axis.
- Cropping analysis can determine the growth stage with over 80% accuracy
- Yield prediction has achieved 89% accuracy 6 weeks before harvest
- Cooperation with Japan in technology, equipment, and data is beginning in various areas
From "intuition" to "data." This shift is a trend that neither agriculture-related parties nor food importers can ignore. Everyone involved with Vietnamese agriculture has reached a time to watch developments in satellite data closely.
At VN AGRI, we share the latest information on Vietnamese agriculture.
