Advanced technology remains key factor for boosting agricultural production

Leading agricultural operators display their products in an exhibition area on the sidelines of the Vietnam Agriculture Symposium 2018 – PHOTO: THUY DUNG

HANOI – Hi-tech agriculture is considered key to the development of the agricultural sector and to increasing competitiveness in the international integration process, heard attendees at Vietnam Agriculture Symposium 2018, held on November 27 in Hanoi.

The event was aimed at reviewing the 10-year adoption of the Party Central Committee’s Resolution No.26-NQ/TW, dated August 5, 2008, on agriculture, farmers and rural areas.

Do Van Vinh, currently working at the Medicine Genetic Institute, said scientific and technological breakthroughs will help shape the future of the global economy, including the agricultural industry.

In Vietnam, farming land has been gradually converted to make room for urban projects and industrial zones. The reduction in farmland is also attributed to rising sea levels triggered by climate change.

Thus, according to Vinh, the application of advanced technology to agricultural production is essential as is promoting production under a value chain model and securing the connection with the global market.

Echoing this viewpoint, Pham S, vice chairman of the Lam Dong provincial government, noted that the Central Highlands province also identified hi-tech agriculture as being key to local socioeconomic growth.

As a result, the province will continue to reap positive economic results this year, with gross regional domestic product rising by 8.5%, the State budget collection reaching some US$300 million, and export turnover hitting an estimated US$661 million.

In addition, Hiroshi Matsuuram, first Secretary of the Embassy of Japan to Vietnam, remarked that hi-tech applications remained the decisive factor for ensuring sustainable agriculture in the future and meeting the market demand in terms of both quality and product yield.

The Japanese Embassy representative added that agricultural supporting equipment would enable inexperienced workers to carry out precise acts in agricultural production. Moreover, access to a database summarizing the knowledge and experience of experts in agricultural production would create much more favorable conditions for agricultural startup founders.

Based on the successful application of advanced technology to agriculture, the Organic Agricultural Economics Institute studied and applied the value chain model to the farm produce sector, helping promote local farm produce to the world.

Further, the institute chose Tay Ninh Province to operate a hi-tech fruit and vegetable processing plant, named Tanifood, on a trial basis. The plant was equipped with advanced production machinery imported from Germany, Sweden, Italy and Japan.

In addition, participants also discussed ways to raise incomes for farmers.

Dang Kim Son, an expert with qualifications in agriculture and rural development policies, shared three solutions to help farmers raise their incomes to match those earned in urban areas, based on international experience.

In particular, the competent authorities should support farmers to enhance their farming scales and make plans to offer various nonagricultural jobs to farmers or agricultural workers. In addition, industrial development should be conducted in rural regions so that farmers do not have to leave their hometowns for urban areas in the hope of making higher income.