When farmers participate as scientists

The application of science and technology (S&T) is one of the key solutions to help develop production, contributing to solving many challenges in agricultural production. Therefore, Dong Nai farmers have promoted the advantages of an industrial province to promote the application of high S&T in production.

Farmers in Xuan Loc district introduce a homemade lawn mower that helps save labor. Photo: B.Nguyen

Thanks to the promotion of initiatives and useful solutions, farmers have liberated labor, reduced costs, improved productivity and product quality, and created added value in production. Farmers' Associations at all levels are very interested in supporting members and farmers to promote initiatives through many movements and competitions such as "Innovative Start-ups", "Technical Innovation for Farmers", etc.

Farmer inventor

From production practice, many farmers in the province have become inventors, creating many types of machinery and agricultural tools, and coming up with many initiatives and technical solutions to reduce costs and improve productivity and quality of agricultural products.

Typically, farmer Nguyen Cong Chinh (Xuan Phu commune, Xuan Loc district) successfully created a seed thinning machine that won first prize in the 2023 Dong Nai Province Excellent Farmer Competition for Applying Scientific and Technical Advances to Production. The seed thinning machine can sow all types of seeds of different sizes, on all types of terrain. With a 6-row thinning structure, this machine can sow more than 1 hectare per day, equivalent to about 10 manual laborers working in 2 days, with an accuracy rate of nearly 100%. This invention not only reduces sowing time, but also reduces labor costs by 1/3.

In recent times, farmers' associations at all levels have actively coordinated to build pilot models of applying science and technology in agricultural production such as safe, organic agricultural production models, circular agriculture models at the household, cooperative and cooperative scale to create modern agricultural production models with high economic value, reduce environmental pollution, and develop green and sustainable agriculture.

Farmer Tran Van Duc, Head of the Chinh Duc Durian Cooperative (Song Ray Commune, Cam My District) is known for his initiative to graft durian varieties with 3 roots and 1 shoot for high yield. Mr. Duc shared that with this initiative, growers need to choose durian seeds to plant in pots, wait for the tree to grow for about a year, then graft it with 2 Ri6 durian seedlings. Thanks to having 3 roots and 3 root systems that absorb fertilizer and water, the tree grows quickly and healthily, especially the tree is less likely to break in storms, reducing damage to the garden.

The initiative of using chlorine gas to treat bacteria in shrimp farming water by the group of farmers Nguyen Van Linh - Duong Thi Nuong (Phuoc An commune, Nhon Trach district) brings many benefits. The solution of using chlorine gas in water treatment instead of traditional chlorine powder helps reduce costs, gives higher efficiency, especially chlorine gas helps kill more bacteria, when released into the outside environment, chlorine gas evaporates faster than chlorine powder, the water source is used in a shorter time.

Unleashing farmers' creativity

In order to coordinate and support farmers in promoting creativity, innovation, and technical improvements, in the period of 2021-2025, the Provincial Farmers' Association and the Department of Science and Technology have closely and regularly coordinated in organizing and implementing scientific and technological activities; actively coordinated in propagating, guiding, organizing the transfer and application of science and technology in agricultural production. Farmers' associations at all levels also actively coordinated with sectors and enterprises to guide and support farmer members in promoting initiatives, technical improvements, and effectively applying farmers' initiatives, inventions, and useful innovations to production, business, and services.

Farmer Tran Van Duc, Head of the Chinh Duc Durian Cooperative (Song Ray Commune, Cam My District), introduces the innovative model of 3-tree-1-shoot durian for high productivity. Photo: BINH NGUYEN

Specifically, the Provincial Farmers' Association coordinates with the Department of Science and Technology to mobilize members and farmers to participate in the annual Contest of Excellent Farmers in Applying Scientific and Technical Advances to Agricultural Production in Dong Nai Province. The contest has achieved encouraging results for individual farmers who have solutions to apply scientific and technical advances to agricultural production. The contest has been effective in guiding and arousing the spirit of members and farmers to start a business and be creative in production and life. In 2024 alone, there will be 40 solutions and initiatives of members and farmers participating in the Contest of Excellent Farmers in Applying Scientific and Technical Advances to Agricultural Production.

In addition, many practical seminars and conferences have been organized to motivate and spread the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation to members and farmers in the province in innovative entrepreneurship activities.

Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Association Nguyen Huu Nguyen affirmed that in the coming time, the association will continue to innovate the method of organizing emulation movements launched by the association. In which, the key movement is to compete in good production and business, unite to help each other get rich and reduce poverty sustainably. Organize the establishment of good production and business farmer clubs; billionaire farmer clubs... Associations at all levels continue to promote propaganda and mobilize members and farmers to actively participate in innovation and apply scientific and technological advances in production and business activities. In particular, the focus is on organizing activities to support members and farmers to start creative businesses, helping farmers to start businesses successfully. Strengthen connection and investment promotion activities for highly feasible start-up ideas and projects; contribute to perfecting new production and business ideas and projects and finding investment opportunities for farmers.

Binh Nguyen

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/kinh-te/202506/khi-nong-dan-tham-gia-lam-nhakhoa-hoc-f63191d/