A conference on building high-tech agriculture in Viet Nam, organised by the Digital Agriculture Association (DAA), will be held in HCM City on Sunday.

At the conference, delegates will be hearing about successful experiences in high-tech applications in agriculture and build the value chain through the presentations of businesses, such as Seafood Co., Central Seafood Company, Hung Nhon JSC and Huy Long An-My Binh limited company.

These companies are pioneers in the application of advanced technology with production and management by shifting from traditional farming methods to agricultural enterprises to obtain high efficiency in poultry breeding and fruit growing for export purposes.

Central Seafood Company, in particular, has met the standard for high-tech business.

At present, the company has six shrimps breeding farms equipped with US technology, capable of breeding10-12 billion shrimps per year. The company can sell 1,000 tonnes of shrimp annually.

The event will also be an opportunity for the government, ministries and relevant agencies to hear opinions and proposals from businesses to implement timely support policies by working towards a new model of agriculture production.

Based on the foundation of high-tech applications in manufacturing and integration of value chain, DAA has proposed high-tech complexes. The complexes will consist of large-scale agricultural production, where businesses will closely work together to achieve production targets with high-yield and high-quality products, which are competitive both in domestic and international markets.

Nguyen Thi Lan Huong, vice president and general secretary of DAA Vietnam, said one of the most important tasks in the process of industrialisation and modernisation was to industrialise and modernise rural agriculture. Application of advanced technology should be promoted to meet standards of national and international activities in agricultural production. In addition, promoting people and businesses to create a high-tech agricultural production value chain was aimed at ensuring a healthy and prosperous life for the people and providing safe and clean food.

World Bank’s Vietnam Development Report 2016, “Transforming Vietnamese Agriculture: Gaining More from Less,” launched in September, details the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.

To remain competitive in the international market, the report said Viet Nam needed to improve supply, quality and food safety with added value. It outlines an agenda of short and longer-term strengthening of public and market institutions which will be needed to achieve the ambitious goals for Viet Nam’s agriculture and overall food system.

OusmaneDione, World Bank country director for Viet Nam, said, “’Business as usual’ is no longer an option for the sector. Growth has slowed down; it is vulnerable to climate hazards and leaves a large environment footprint. Change will help overcome these challenges, ensure the future of agricultural growth and better meet the expectations and aspirations of the people of Viet Nam.”

The report offers various policy recommendations to address the challenges. The government can deploy an effective combination of improved regulations, better incentives and streamlined services to stimulate and push for greener agriculture and a more effective food safety and consumer protection system.

It can help with policy instruments to better manage agriculture-related risks, as well as create and maintain a favourable enabling environment for agribusiness.

In a more flexible, market-driven and knowledge-based agriculture system, reducing direct state involvement will make modernisation of the Vietnamese agro-food system smoother.

Large scale fields developed in northern region

Northern provinces have built 895 large scale fields on more than 42,300ha for the Summer-Autumn crop, an increase of about 2,700ha year-on-year, according to the Department of Cultivation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Head of the Department Nguyen Hong Son said that after years of work, localities have gained experience to generate the best results.

Along with rice, the model has also been applied for corn and vegetables.

Businesses also participated in the production chain in localities such as Thanh Hoa, Thai Binh, Hanoi and Hai Duong, raising the efficiency of cultivation and rice production. The model has enhanced links between farmers and businesses and showed its sustainability.

Many cities and provinces have set up Steering Committees and devised policies to support the model, including Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Hanoi.

Aside from applying advanced technology and research in agriculture, the provinces have also looked to mechanisation to lower production costs and increase productivity.

Source: http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/