Science and technology: The nucleus of breakthrough development and poverty reduction in Lai Chau

In recent years, science, technology and innovation (S&I) have become key driving forces to promote positive changes in Lai Chau's socio-economic development. The application of technical advances to agricultural production, technological innovation in agricultural processing and intellectual property development have created remarkable changes, increased productivity, expanded livelihoods and contributed to sustainable poverty reduction.

Applying science and technology to increase productivity and expand commodity areas

Science, technology and innovation activities in Lai Chau are implemented synchronously with a focus on research, transfer and replication of models. Science and technology tasks are designed to closely follow the province's resolutions, local practical needs and requirements for technological innovation in the agriculture, forestry, processing industry and social sectors.

Thanks to systematic approaches to science and technology, many production models have increased productivity by over 30%, opening up new directions for development and bringing stable income to people. In the period of 2022-2024, the province has deployed 40 provincial-level science and technology tasks and coordinated the implementation of 5 national-level science and technology tasks, focusing on agriculture , processing technology, medicinal materials, environment and social security.

Farmers have been trained in seeding, investing in raw material areas, applying new techniques, harvesting, etc. to increase the quality and price of tea products.

In the agricultural sector, many new plant varieties and technical processes have been introduced into production and proven effective. The rice varieties Khau Luong Phung, Nep Tan Pom; yellow and white striped melon; black canarium and giổi trees for seeds; Hoang Sin Co; passion fruit; Trung Doan chili; bananas following VietGAP standards... all have higher yields and are better adapted to local conditions. Thanks to the application of technical advances in cultivation, the yield of many crops has increased by over 30% compared to mass production.

Along with that, topics such as "Research on technical solutions to improve productivity and quality of Cardamom in Lai Chau and some northern mountainous provinces" or "Research on scientific and technological solutions and production organization according to value chain to improve economic efficiency of green tea production in the Northern midland and mountainous region" have provided important scientific arguments for planning and production organization.

Lai Chau also promoted demonstration models and technical training. Nearly 1,800 people participated in training through 35 technical processes; nearly 50 demonstration models with more than 40 varieties of plants and animals were built on a scale of over 170 hectares. This is an important step to help transfer scientific knowledge from the laboratory to the farmers' fields, gradually changing production practices and expanding commodity areas.

In the field of medicinal herbs and forestry products, the project "Application of scientific and technological advances to build a model for planting and branding some rare medicinal herbs (Lai Chau ginseng, Seven-leafed flower) to create a medicinal herb production area in Lai Chau province" has contributed to the formation of a medicinal herb growing area with high economic value. The models of planting purple Morinda officinalis, Lai Chau trumpet orchid, golden orchid, purple orchid... continue to supplement local products, creating a competitive advantage for the locality.

The application of scientific and technological advances in mushroom cultivation is also maintained regularly. Techniques for cultivating oyster mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and cordyceps are widely transferred. The two topics "Research on perfecting the technique of propagating and cultivating red lingzhi mushrooms on tree trunks to serve the development of goods in Lai Chau province" and "Research on perfecting the technique of propagating and cultivating shiitake mushrooms on tree trunks to serve the development of goods in Lai Chau province" open up the direction for sustainable development of commodity agriculture, diversifying local products.

Social science and humanities topics such as compiling the Ha Nhi ethnic script, researching the current status of social security policies, employment, health insurance, unemployment insurance, hunger eradication and poverty reduction, etc. provide a scientific basis for the province to formulate policies, especially in ethnic minority areas.

In general, the application of science and technology has created a comprehensive shift in agricultural and forestry production, contributing to improving productivity, product quality and people's income, thereby promoting sustainable poverty reduction.

Technological innovation and branding of Lai Chau agricultural products

Along with the application of science and technology in production, Lai Chau has focused on technological innovation, a decisive factor in increasing the added value of key products, especially tea. The province has supported the implementation of three important projects: "Application and innovation of tea color separation technology lines", "Application and innovation of green tea processing technology lines" and "Application and innovation of high-quality Oolong tea processing and preservation technology of Tam Duong Tea Investment and Development Joint Stock Company".

Thanks to technological innovation, the quality of Lai Chau Oolong tea and green tea has been significantly improved; production costs have been reduced; food hygiene and safety have been ensured; and the environment of raw material areas such as water and soil have been better protected. More importantly, tea enterprises have improved their competitiveness, expanded their consumption markets, and created stable income for tea growers – the force that plays an important role in the province’s tea value chain.

Along with technological innovation, intellectual property activities have been strongly implemented to protect and enhance agricultural product brands. The province has guided 46 organizations and individuals to register for industrial property rights; to date, 29 trademarks have been granted, including common trademarks, certification trademarks and collective trademarks. This is a key factor in helping the province's key products, from tea, rice to medicinal herbs, improve their position in the market. Lai Chau also supports more than 150 OCOP products to participate in promotions at events inside and outside the province, contributing to bringing specialty products closer to consumers.

Ginseng provides sustainable livelihoods, helping growers increase income and improve their lives.

Notably, the successful organization of the Vietnam Innovation and Startup Festival 2022 and the Lai Chau Ginseng Fair 2022 has created an important boost for the province's innovation ecosystem. These events not only spread the spirit of creativity in the business community and youth, but also strongly promote the potential of endemic products such as Lai Chau Ginseng, opening up opportunities to attract investment and cooperate in production and business.

Activities of information and statistics on science and technology, inspection and technology assessment, traceability, quality measurement standards, etc. are implemented synchronously, contributing to improving product quality, increasing transparency and supporting businesses to meet market requirements.

Thanks to these comprehensive solutions, science, technology and innovation have become an important foundation for Lai Chau’s socio-economic development. The application of science in production, technological innovation in processing, intellectual property development and agricultural product branding have contributed to improving productivity, quality, expanding markets and promoting sustainable poverty reduction. This is also the basis for Lai Chau to continue to make strong breakthroughs in the new period.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/khoa-hoc-va-cong-nghe-hat-nhan-but-pha-phat-trien-va-giam-ngheo-o-lai-chau-197251126090903643.htm