Technology crucial to high-value agriculture development

The application of science and technology will be a key solution to help the agricultural sector develop green and high-value products in the time to come, according to Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong.

The industrial revolution 4.0 presents a chance for countries to boost hi-tech agriculture

The implementation, however, requires strong efforts from both the government and enterprises, Cuong said during a recent sideline conference of the GMS Business Summit. 

Cuong highlighted the important role of agriculture in economic growth and sustainable development of GMS nations, particularly Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. The sector provides livelihoods for the regional citizens, particularly the low-income groups. 

Cuong underlined the export capability and competitiveness of GMS agricultural products thanks to the region’s favorable geographic location as a gateway to the Asia – Pacific region and the world. 

In the coming time, agriculture will continue being an important sector to ensure food security, promote poverty reduction and hunger eradication, and serve as important support for other economic sectors, Cuong affirmed. 

The fourth industrial revolution presents an opportunity for the GMS nations to boost hi-tech agriculture, in terms of artificial intellectual to reduce labor force and biotechnology to create high-yield varieties, among others, he said.  

Technology application in agriculture produce has helped halved the poverty rate in GMS nations over the past years, thanks to increased productivity and income for farmers. 

He called on the GMS nations to develop a cross-border agriculture value chain with application of technology while exchanging information and cooperating closely together in building strategies and making planning for regional agriculture development. 

Focus should be placed on developing logistics to support agriculture and managing cross-border agricultural products’ quality. 

The GMS nations should also strengthen technology application in managing natural resources, natural disasters, and the use of Mekong water resources for agriculture. 

Participants suggested the regional countries build a policy framework to facilitate participation of private sector in ensuring food security in particular and contributing to the regional economic growth in general. 

They also attached significance to direct linkage between farmers and traders help farmers produce their products in line with the standards while increasing farmers’ income. 

Ngo Minh Hai, Chairman of the TH True Milk, said his group works directly with households and cooperatives to ensure they grow grasses and cows in line with the company’s requirement in terms of production procedure and products quality. 

They provide training courses and technical assistance for involved farmers, thus introducing them to technologies applied in their farming, while giving them sustainable livelihoods and incomes. 

Dang Hoang Giang, President of the Vietnam Cashew Association (VINACASS) underlined the factor of technology application in increasing the value of agricultural products in general and cashew nuts in particular. 

He also stressed the need for developing large-scale fields and specialized crops to ensure efficient application of technology in production and processing. 

Ousmane Dione, Country Director of the World Bank in Vietnam, affirmed that the agricultural sector continues to be the key factor for economic growth and sustainable development of the GMS nations. 

The regional nations need to ensure the sector will be competitive, adaptive to climate change, and integrate into the regional and global supply chains. 

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Vietnam’s agriculture sector posted an export turnover of US$8.7 billion in the first quarter of this year, up 9.6 percent against the same period last year.

Farm products contributed $4.6 billion to the total turnover, a 9 percent year-on-year increase, while seafood and forestry products made up $1.7 billion and $2 billion, up 11.5 percent and 6.6 percent, respectively.

MARD targeted a GDP growth and export turnover of 3.05 percent and $40.5 billion this year.