Hà Nội aims to develop smart agriculture

HÀ NỘI — The capital city has implemented many high-tech agricultural production models, however, in order to move towards smart agriculture, the city will have to pay more attention to promoting the application of science and technology as well as training high-quality labour resources.

Clean vegetable production in the Ngọc Linh Hòa Lạc high-tech agro-ecological zone, at Tiến Xuân Commune, Thạch Thất District, Hà Nội. — Photo courtesy of Hà Nội Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

“Developing smart agriculture is a trend for agricultural production around the world and in Việt Nam, including Hà Nội,” said Deputy Director of the Hà Nội Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Tạ Văn Tường.

The city currently has 164 hi-tech agricultural production models, including 105 involved in crop production, 39 in livestock, 15 in fisheries and one model combining cultivation and husbandry.

The value of hi-tech agricultural products currently accounts for about 35 per cent of the total value of agricultural production in the city.

Modern technology and equipment in the management of agricultural production to help reduce labour, increase quality and output of agricultural products is considered the most important factor, according to the deputy director.

“We can confirm that high-tech agricultural models are increasingly blooming and bringing efficiency to the city's agriculture,” he said.

The city's agriculture sector has promoted the application of scientific advances to agricultural production, including technology of greenhouses with an automated watering system (in the field of planting), cooling system to help stabilise temperature and humidity, automatic feeding lines, artificial insemination (breeding), using biological products and automatic oxygen generator (aqua-culture).

Hà Nội has promoted the deployment of high-tech agricultural models with smart devices, especially farms growing clean vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants. in most districts, including Mê Linh, Gia Lâm, Thường Tín, Đông Anh, Thanh Oai and Đan Phượng.

Trần Duy Qúy, Chairman of the Việt Nam Association of Rural Development Sciences, said that developing smart agriculture and applying advanced science and technology to production was very important.

"With a densely populated city like Hà Nội, the application of science and technology in production will help transform traditional agriculture to smart agriculture, thereby increasing incomes for farmers," he said.

“Additionally, it helps solve problems of land shortage, improve the living environment, and reduce pollution.”

Đào Thế Anh, Deputy Director of the Việt Nam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said that the city needed to promote training human resources, especially high-quality human resources.

In order to create conditions for the development of smart agriculture, Tường said that the agricultural department would continue to advise the city authorities to issue policies that are suitable for production practices and mobilise capital resources to implement the smart agricultural revolution.

The city would form a network of businesses and investment services for smart agriculture and rural areas, consider to join the international smart urban network, and promote cooperation between the agricultural industry and information technology for research and innovation in the field of smart agriculture, Tường said.