Technological application crucial to agriculture

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Technological application and improved management are necessary to ensure high economic efficiency and sustainable development of agriculture amidst widespread global integration and changing climate. 

Experts have said automatic and semi-automatic technologies used in agriculture have contributed to increasing output and ensuring food safety. 

Information technology is instrumental in overseeing, directing and forecasting agro-forestry-fisheries production while biotechnology helps choose high-yield varieties and breeding animals. 

Technological advances are being adopted to grow flowers, vegetables and raise fowl, cattle and aquatic products in Lam Dong, Kien Giang, Bac Ninh, Vinh Phuc, Ha Nam and Nghe An. 

Vietnam is now home to 35 high-tech agricultural areas and five high-tech intensive farming areas for shrimp, flowers and rice which have been recognised in Kien Giang, Lam Dong, Phu Yen and An Giang provinces. 

There are 12 high-tech cultivation enterprises, 19 others in aquaculture and nine in animal husbandry that use modern technology nationwide. 

The Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association’s Digital Agriculture Association (DAA) called for building a sustainable, stable and effective master plan for key agricultural products, from planning to policies, incentives and trade promotion. 

Luong Van Tu, Chairman of the Vietnam Coffee - Cocoa Association, said to increase the value of coffee beans, firms must invest in roasted, ground and instant coffee and other processed products, so they need mid and long-term credits at reasonable rates. 

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong suggested offering incentives for imported technologies, improving technological expertise at home and facilitating the transfer and purchase of patents. 

He urged facilitating agricultural firms’ access to loans, developing start-ups and building high-tech incubators, targeting young people and individual business households to inspire their start-up spirit. 

To master technological advances, he stressed the need to improve skills of technical and governance staff, tertiary education and vocational training quality.