Technology adds value to farm produce

Localities nationwide are strongly developing scientific and technological (sci-tech) application in agricultural production to improve productivity and product quality.

High-tech agricultural production in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai

Sci-tech application promotion

According to the Lao Cai Province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the province has 1,230 hectares of high-tech agricultural production, including 282ha of vegetables, 105ha of flowers, 176ha of herbs, 124ha of temperate fruit trees, 60ha of rice seedlings and 483ha of tea, yielding an average income of VND230 million per hectare.

Many localities have acknowledged that sci-tech application especially high technology application plays a very important role in increasing productivity and quality of farm produce and developing sustainable and climate-smart agriculture.

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology’s 2017 data, machines and equipment used in agricultural production soared 1.5-2 percent in value compared to 2016, with agricultural mechanization continuing to grow. Some 105 technologies were transferred, while 85 sci-tech application models and 50 production chain models of enterprise-farmer connectivity were built last year.

The Prime Minister has approved plans for 22 high-tech agricultural zones. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has recognized 35 high-tech agricultural enterprises, while three high-tech agricultural zones have been certified. These include a shrimp farming area in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang’s Kien Luong District, the Thai Phien flower production area in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, and a seafood breeding production area in Xuan Hai Commune of the southern central province of Phu Yen’s Song Cau Town.

Policies

Vietnam has become a major exporter of agricultural products with many items yielding more than US$1 billion each. However, Vietnam’s agricultural development remains incommensurate with its potential. The government has adopted many policies to facilitate sci-tech application in agricultural development. Particularly, the Prime Minister instructed the State Bank of Vietnam to provide VND100-trillion in preferential credit for high-tech and clean agriculture development. Meanwhile, Government Decree 98/2018/ND-CP encourages cooperation and connectivity in farm production and sales. In connectivity projects, the state funds 30 percent of machinery/equipment and infrastructure construction costs and up to 40 percent of technology transfer and application.

The Ministry of Science and Technology is promoting the demonstration and connection of technology supply and demand in localities and paving the way for enterprises to benefit from technological innovation policies. Sci-tech activities in the agricultural sector are being restructured to facilitate research, transfer and application of high technology and clean agriculture development, with priority given to rice, edible mushrooms, medicinal herbs, coffee, catfish, shrimp and ginseng.

Sci-tech contributes more than 30 and 38 percent to the added value of agricultural production and production of seeds and animal breeds, respectively.