Science and technology are the foundation for the development of modern agriculture.

AN GIANG An Giang identifies science and technology as a solid foundation for green, high-quality, low-emission agriculture, creating momentum for sustainable development in the new era.

Creating new momentum for agriculture

On the journey of renewing the growth model, An Giang has identified science and technology as an important pillar in the socio -economic development strategy. With the vision of "agriculture is the foundation, farmers are the subject, rural areas are the driving force", the province has concretized it with many practical action programs, applying science and technology, innovation and digital transformation in each production sector, especially agriculture.

An Giang farmers apply science and technology to production, taking advantage of agricultural by-products to produce edible and medicinal mushrooms with high economic value. Photo: Trung Chanh.

Mr. Vo Minh Trung, Director of the Department of Science and Technology of An Giang province, said that in the period of 2020 - 2025, the province has deployed 210 science and technology tasks at all levels, including 6 national tasks, 94 provincial tasks and 110 grassroots tasks. The agricultural sector alone accounts for 99 tasks, clearly reflecting the province's priority orientation: taking scientific research as the foundation to innovate production methods, improve productivity, quality and value of agricultural products.

The topics focus on many practical research directions such as breeding high-quality rice varieties, aquatic varieties adaptable to climate change, preserving medicinal plant genetic resources in the Bay Nui region, researching biosafety cultivation and livestock processes, applying biotechnology and IoT in farming... Most of the topics after acceptance are transferred to businesses, cooperatives and farmers to implement in practice, contributing to the formation of an innovative ecosystem in the agricultural sector.

Along with research activities, An Giang focuses on promoting technological innovation in enterprises. In the period of 2020 - 2025, the province has supported 8 technological innovation projects with a total budget of more than 19 billion VND, helping local enterprises invest in new equipment, improve production processes and enhance competitiveness.

Building green knowledge agriculture

Director of the Department of Science and Technology of An Giang province, Vo Minh Trung, affirmed that the research results applied in practice have contributed to improving productivity and quality of agricultural products, reducing emissions and building green knowledge agriculture. In particular, projects to create short-term rice varieties that are salt-tolerant, lodging-resistant and resistant to pests and diseases have helped increase productivity and quality of rice and adapt to climate change. In addition, high-tech aquaculture research, especially with pangasius and brackish water shrimp, has helped standardize processes, minimize pollution and increase the value of export products.

In the field of cultivation, IPHM (Integrated Plant Health Management), Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), precision fertilization, and biological pest management have been implemented on tens of thousands of hectares of rice. As a result, irrigation water volume has been reduced by 25-30%, fertilizer and pesticide costs have been reduced by 15-20%, while productivity remains stable, rice grain quality is more uniform and safer.

In particular, the “smart field” model in many localities is built based on scientific research results, where farmers use water level sensors, field surveillance cameras, digital agricultural extension software to monitor pests and diseases and provide real-time technical advice.

In livestock farming, scientific topics on biosecurity, cold barns, multi-layer disinfection processes, and software-based herd data management have contributed significantly to the recovery of the livestock industry after the pandemic. Some farms have successfully applied waste treatment technology using microbial products, turning livestock by-products into organic fertilizer, contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating new sources of income.

In the aquaculture sector, An Giang has promoted research on pangasius and shrimp farming models using water circulation, applying oxygen-pH-temperature sensors, electronic diaries, automatic feeding combined with surveillance cameras. These applications have helped increase the survival rate of fish and shrimp larvae, reduce the feed conversion ratio (FCR), and ensure traceability for export to demanding markets.

Residents of Rach Gia ward, An Giang province use smartphones to trace the origin of OCOP-standard rice. Photo: Trung Chanh.

Science and technology can only fully develop their value when combined with digital transformation. The entire province has now built an agricultural database, issued growing area codes, and applied an electronic traceability system for many key products such as rice, mango, and seafood. Farmers have been trained to use electronic diaries, update weather, hydrological, and pest data to proactively produce. Hundreds of OCOP products and rural specialties have been put on e-commerce platforms, helping farmers access open markets, reduce intermediaries, and increase income.

According to the orientation for the period 2025 - 2030, An Giang promotes communication to implement Resolution 57-NQ/TW on science and technology development, innovation, and national digital transformation. Prioritize resources for research, especially in high-tech agriculture, biotechnology, medicinal materials, and AI. Develop digital infrastructure and open databases for the agricultural sector. Strengthen regional linkages, develop green agricultural value chains, and target the carbon credit market.

Farmers in An Giang today use smartphones and digital data to manage their fields, which is a shift from traditional agriculture to smart agriculture. With the spirit of innovation, creativity and a desire for development, An Giang is determined to turn science and technology and digital transformation into a solid foundation for modern, green and sustainable agriculture.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-la-nen-tang-phat-trien-nong-nghiep-hien-dai-d783877.html