Transfer of scientific and technological advances in agriculture: The “Key” to sustainable development

(GLO)- Transfer of scientific and technological advances is considered the "key" to developing sustainable agricultural production.

Clearly identifying that, in recent years, the Gia Lai Provincial Agricultural Extension Center and localities have built hundreds of high-quality crop and livestock models to help people access new production processes to improve productivity and product quality, thereby promoting the development of the agricultural sector towards large-scale concentrated commodities, meeting the needs of domestic and export markets.

Changing production thinking

Mr. Tran Binh Minh - former Director of the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center - informed: After liberation, Gia Lai's agricultural sector was still very backward. People produced according to the traditional method of slash-and-burn, plowing, and pruning with crops such as upland rice, corn, cassava, and sweet potatoes, mainly for self-sufficiency, especially in ethnic minority areas.

Around 1990, the State began investing in building models to transfer technical advances in coffee and pepper cultivation (Chu Se), raising super-lean pigs (Pleiku City, Ia Grai, Chu Pah, Dak Doa), rice (Ayun Pa), corn, cashew, sugarcane (Kong Chro, Phu Thien)... to help people access and put into mass production. Since then, models and training courses on transferring scientific and technical advances into production have been maintained to this day, contributing to changing farmers' production thinking.

High-quality rice growing model in Glar commune, Dak Doa district. Photo: ND

“After more than 30 years of transferring scientific and technological advances into agricultural production, many models of growing coffee, pepper, fruit trees, rice, livestock and poultry have brought high economic value and efficiency.

This achievement is greatly contributed by agricultural extension officers who are not afraid of difficulties in remote areas to build models of cultivation and animal husbandry, and guide people in production to bring high economic efficiency. This is the "key" for Gia Lai's agricultural sector to develop stably as it is today" - Mr. Minh assessed.

According to information from the provincial Agricultural Extension Center, after more than 30 years of transferring scientific and technical advances, bringing high-quality plant and animal varieties into production; at the same time, mechanizing production, applying advanced irrigation technology, saving water has contributed to reducing costs and increasing production value.

In addition, the Center also participates in projects to support farmers in agricultural development such as: agricultural diversification, water-saving irrigation on coffee trees, sustainable agricultural transformation... Since then, many regions and areas in the province have switched to concentrated agricultural production, forming specialized areas for high-quality crops associated with processing.

Mr. Luong Van Suc (village 3, Ia Nhin commune, Chu Pah district) shared: “I have 4 hectares of TRS1 coffee intercropped with 500 durian trees. In 2023, I will participate in the smart coffee farming model implemented by the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center in coordination with other units.

I was guided by the staff of the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center on the technical process and participated in training courses on smart coffee cultivation techniques. Through that, I reduced the amount of fertilizer, irrigation water and many other costs. In 2024, I harvested 16 tons of coffee beans and 20 tons of durian. Thanks to favorable prices, I earned more than 2 billion VND, much higher than before."

Mr. Luong Van Suc takes care of durian intercropped in a coffee garden in a climate change adaptation model. Photo: ND

According to Mr. Vo Van Tan - Director of Chu Pah District Agricultural Service Center: In recent years, the Center has implemented many models of transferring scientific and technical advances in communes and towns.

In addition, every year, the District People's Committee also spends about 1 billion VND to build high-tech agricultural models such as growing melons in greenhouses, water-saving irrigation on fruit trees, and supporting high-quality coffee and durian varieties for local producers.

This is a breakthrough to help people change their awareness, gradually build the Chu Pah agricultural product brand in the domestic and export markets, opening up a direction for sustainable agricultural development.

Mr. Luu Hoai Hung - Director of Chu Prong District Agricultural Service Center shared: In the period of 2013-2023, from many different sources of support, the Center has implemented 23 models of transferring technical advances to people; opened 48 training classes on cultivation and animal husbandry for people in communes and towns to apply. Up to now, many models are still maintained and replicated, which is a solid direction in current agricultural production.

“Bridge” for sustainable agricultural development

Identifying the transfer of scientific and technical advances to local producers as the “key” to improving the productivity and value of local crops and livestock, in recent years, from support sources from the Central Government, the province and socialized capital, the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center has coordinated with localities to build agricultural extension models so that people can see the economic efficiency and gradually replicate them.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung - Vice Chairman of Dak Doa District People's Committee - informed: The district has strengths in agricultural development. In recent years, the district has focused on implementing many agricultural extension programs and projects. Many models have brought high economic efficiency such as: demonstrating wet rice; supporting phosphate fertilizer and lime to wash acidity in the fields; cultivating Litsea, coffee, forest trees, growing organic vegetables; crossbreeding and improving cattle herds, fattening beef cattle... Thanks to that, the agricultural sector has made great strides in development.

High-yield corn growing model in Chu Prong district in 2024. Photo: ND

Agricultural export enterprises are also not left out when building a team of agricultural extension workers in localities to guide people to produce according to export standards. In particular, Vinh Hiep Company Limited (Pleiku City) built a community agricultural extension team in the districts of Dak Doa, Chu Prong, Chu Se, Ia Grai, Chu Pah, Duc Co... to guide the technical process for farmers and cooperatives to jointly produce coffee according to the 4C and Organic standard value chain.

This approach helps farmers reduce investment costs and increase profits per unit of land area. These community agricultural extension groups have become a “bridge” between farmers, cooperatives and businesses to jointly build sustainable coffee growing areas.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Luu Trung Nghia - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment - said: After a period of transferring technical advances to people and businesses, the province's agricultural extension activities have made great strides. Many new varieties of plants and livestock with high productivity and quality have been put into mass production, contributing to improving the value and quality of local agricultural products.

In addition, guiding people on the process of fertilizing, using pesticides, applying synchronous mechanization in production, preservation technology, production according to VietGAP, GlobalGAP, organic standards... through models and "hands-on" training courses has changed people's awareness, forming organizations linking production with product consumption suitable for each region and locality.

“In the coming time, the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center needs to continue to build models of transferring scientific and technical advances, applying high technology that can be easily replicated. Synchronously transferring comprehensive technical advances, mechanization, promoting links between people, businesses, and scientists in the "4-house" linkage contributes to promoting agricultural production towards high-quality goods and agricultural products associated with traceability, bringing the highest economic efficiency" - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment added.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/chuyen-giao-tien-bo-khoa-hoc-ky-thuat-trong-nong-nghiep-chia-khoa-phat-trien-ben-vung-post320758.html