Transformation channels of scientific and technological information for farm households in provinces in the Northern midlands and mountainous areas of Vietnam

Scientific and technological information (STI) is a critical input for enhancing agricultural productivity and competitiveness, particularly for farm households in Vietnam's Northern Midlands and Mountainous Provinces (NMMP), a region where agriculture underpins most livelihoods but faces challenges from slowing productivity growth and the need for sustainable practices. Despite its importance, the application of S&T in this region often remains fragmented and suboptimal. This study aims to comprehensively identify the existing transformation channels of STI for farm households in the NMMP, analyze their functionality and effectiveness, and propose solutions to improve STI transfer and adoption, ultimately contributing to the sustainable development of the farm economy. Adopting a quantitative, descriptive survey research design, this study collected cross-sectional data in 2022 from 1,040 farm households across six purposively selected provinces in the NMMP: Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Bac Giang, Thai Nguyen, Son La, and Hoa Binh, representing diverse agro-ecological and socio-economic conditions. Data were gathered through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire covering socio-demographic characteristics, farm details, access to and use of STI channels, perceived effectiveness, challenges, and S&T adoption practices. Descriptive statistics were primarily used for analysis. The findings reveal that farm households access STIs through multiple channels. Formal channels include training and S&T transfer from the state agricultural extension system and specialized agencies (Sub-departments under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development), with about two-thirds of households attending training in the past three years. Enterprises supplying agricultural inputs also play a role, with nearly 40% of households participating in their training and product introduction workshops. However, participation in training by research institutes and universities was reportedly non-existent for the surveyed households in the past three years. Informal channels are highly significant. Farmer self-learning is prevalent, with over 60% accessing S&T knowledge via social media platforms like Zalo, Facebook, YouTube, and television programs. Peer-to-peer learning is crucial; successful pioneering farmers serve as important information hubs, and over 80% of households engaged in vegetable production reported introducing techniques to an average of nearly eight other households. Around 30% of households reported actively improving or self-researching S&T solutions, and 15% proactively contacted enterprises for technological solutions. Farmers generally rated official transfer channels as reasonable and fair due to regular organization. Training from enterprises was also seen as practical. Demonstration models were highly valued. However, issues identified include the theoretical nature of some public extension content, limited feedback mechanisms, and difficulties verifying the authenticity of online information. This study concludes that while diverse STI channels exist, enhancing their effectiveness requires innovation in state agricultural extension (content, methods, feedback), promoting community agricultural extension models involving enterprises, and establishing reliable, censored official social media channels for S&T information. Strengthening these information pathways is vital for the future sustainable development of the farm economy in the NMMP.