Time for Vietnam agriculture go hi-tech

Green products on display at the 2017 Growtech Vietnam Int’l Exhibition on Machineries and Technologies of Agriculture-Forestry-Fishery in Hà Nội. — VNS Photo Đoàn Tùng

HÀ NỘI — It’s time for the Vietnamese agro-forestry-fishery industry to promote the application of modern agricultural equipment and technologies to build a sustainable industry.

After more than 30 years of Đổi mới (Renewal Process), the Vietnamese agriculture sector has seen significant growth, said Phạm Đức Nghiệm, deputy head of the National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation Development under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

“However, it’s time for the agro-forestry-fishery industry to shift towards enhancing added value, developing sustainably and applying new technologies to boost productivity, quality and competitiveness,” Nghiêm said at the opening ceremony of the Việt Nam International Exhibition on Machineries & Technologies of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery (Growtech 2017) in Hà Nội on Thursday.

Growtech 2017, the first event of its kind in Việt Nam, was co-organised by the ministries of Science and Technology, Industry and Trade, and Agriculture and Rural Development.

Growtech 2017 attracted more than 100 companies from countries with developed agriculture sectors, such as Israel, the UK, China, Japan, South Korea, Italia, India and New Zealand, to showcase their latest equipment and technologies.

The three-day expo created opportunities for firms and farmers to observe new manufacturing technology and equipment in the agro-forestry-fishery industry all over the world. Vietnamese farmers can apply the technologies as they seek to build a sustainable industry that brings strong profits to Việt Nam.

Statistics showed that more than 57 per cent of the labour force working in the agriculture but creating only 20 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product.

This shows that the agriculture industry of Việt Nam is still fragile and vulnerable in the era of rapid international integration, besides facing the impacts of climate change, according to the expo’s organising board.

Experts said applying modern equipment and technologies was critical.

For example, the forestry industry of Việt Nam faces a number of challenges, such as low productivity, low forest quality, low competitiveness of forestry products and low income, according to the State Steering Committee on Forest Sustainable Development.

A representative from the steering committee said at the conference that applying high technologies would contribute to tackling these problems and promoting forestry protection and expansion.

Experts said the case of Israel illustrated that technological innovation could also help the agriculture industry overcome natural challenges.

During the expo, a number of agro technologies and pieces of equipment were introduced, such as hydroponics, urban farming, irrigation solutions, greenhouses, rice planting machines and a sowing robot that received significant attention.

Today, two more conferences will be held as part of Growtech 2017. The conferences will discuss the commercialisation of technology in the agriculture sector of Việt Nam and strategies to develop the processing and preservation of agriculture products.

In addition, ideas and solutions for smart agriculture will receive funding of US$75,000 at the expo, provided by the Việt Nam Climate Innovation Centre.

Statistics of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development showed that the agro, fishery and forestry export turnover reached $33.14 billion during January-November, representing a rise of 13.8 per cent over the same period last year.

The 11-month period export value exceeded 2016 full-year revenue of $32.1 billion, setting a new high and on track to reach $35-36 billion this year.