Many barriers in applying high technology in agriculture

According to Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat, the application of high technology in agriculture still has many barriers, especially the need for huge capital to build infrastructure, invest in production, train human resources, and access to capital is also difficult. These are bottlenecks that need to be addressed.

Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat answers questions from National Assembly deputies. (Photo: THUY NGUYEN)

On the morning of June 7, during the question and answer session on a group of issues under the management of the Ministry of Science and Technology, many National Assembly deputies were interested in questioning the contents related to the application of high technology in agricultural production.

Removing bottlenecks for high-tech applications in agriculture

Questioning Minister Huynh Thanh Dat, delegate Phan Thi My Dung (Long An delegation) said that the application of high technology in agricultural production is very necessary to help farmers increase labor productivity. However, this activity has been limited in the past.

The delegates asked the Minister to propose solutions to promote the widespread application of high technology to help improve labor productivity and the lives of farmers. This was also a common concern of delegate Tran Thi Thu Hang (Dak Nong delegation).

Explaining this issue, Minister Huynh Thanh Dat stated that this is a major policy of the Party and State, so in recent times, the Ministry of Science and Technology has closely coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to deploy measures on science and technology and innovation to have the most effective application for agricultural development, especially high-tech agriculture.

*Delegate Phan Thi My Dung raised questions. (Photo: THUY NGUYEN)*

According to the Minister, Vietnam's agricultural, forestry and fishery export turnover in 2022 will reach 53.2 billion USD, partly contributed by high science and technology.

However, the Minister stated that there are many barriers to applying high technology in agriculture, especially the need for huge capital to build infrastructure, invest in production, train human resources, and access to capital is also difficult. These are bottlenecks that need to be addressed.

At the same time, this is a field with many potential risks but currently lacks preventive tools such as agricultural insurance and high-tech insurance investment funds. Therefore, in the coming time, the Ministry will continue to implement solutions to perfect mechanisms and policies to overcome difficulties and obstacles.

The Minister also requested that localities with high-tech agricultural zones be responsible for ensuring that these zones develop in the right direction and with the right goals.

In addition, it is necessary to synchronously and comprehensively deploy solutions to improve productivity and quality of agricultural products through scientific and technological support activities.

“The Ministry of Science and Technology is ready to deploy national-level scientific and technological tasks for this field, including a very suitable program, which is the national product program and high-tech development program,” said Minister Huynh Thanh Dat.

*Scene of the questioning session on the morning of June 7. (Photo: THUY NGUYEN)*

Further assessment of the effectiveness of implementing high-tech agricultural zones

Speaking at the meeting, delegate Tran Thi Thanh Huong (An Giang delegation) said that the development of high-tech agricultural zones is still slow, has not yet promoted the role of the core, spreading, and promoting the development of science and technology applications in agricultural production of the region and the whole region.

The delegates asked the Minister to further evaluate the progress and effectiveness of the implementation of high-tech agricultural zones in the Mekong Delta region; at the same time, propose solutions to help high-tech agricultural zones develop to their full potential, meet expectations and contribute to increasing the science and technology content in agricultural products.

Providing more information on this content, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that many localities are doing high-tech agriculture such as Da Lat, Lam Dong... When we build high-tech agriculture, we invest a lot in infrastructure; businesses invest mainly in science and technology incubators, places for producing seeds, crops, livestock or places for demonstrating science and technology... However, the National Assembly Chairman found that the effectiveness of the promotion is still low.

“Now we zone off high-tech agricultural zones, use state money to invest in infrastructure there, and call on businesses to invest there. Will it be effective? Or is there a difference of opinion about applying high-tech agriculture to planned areas that we do not call high-tech agricultural zones?”, the National Assembly Chairman further analyzed.

Responding to questions from delegates, Minister Huynh Thanh Dat stated that in order to effectively deploy high-tech agricultural zones, the Ministry will amend the Decree on high-tech zones to expand the scope of regulation to include high-tech agricultural zones, thereby having specific policies and mechanisms for this field.

In addition, relevant ministries and branches also closely coordinated in developing the decree. The Minister hopes that the decree will come into effect, contributing to the development of high-tech agricultural zones.

Need to unify the correct understanding of high-tech agricultural zones

Participating in explaining and clarifying the above content, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said that there is currently a confusion between high-tech agriculture and industrial zones. Most of us still plan and then call on businesses, investors, greenhouses, net houses, drip irrigation, plus a little automation...

The Minister believes that it is necessary to understand the true nature of the high-tech agricultural zone as a place to research, experiment and disseminate the latest achievements in agriculture. This is not a place for just production, production is only secondary. From the results of research and experimentation, the results are then brought to the agricultural area or transferred to farmers at each level.

*Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan explains and clarifies a number of issues raised by National Assembly deputies. (Photo: THUY NGUYEN)*

In addition, it is necessary to distinguish what high technology is. Minister Le Minh Hoan said that some countries use high-tech agriculture, which means any technology that is suitable for production capacity and production level at each time, creating optimal quality value to compete in the market and generate income for farmers.

The Minister stated that it is impossible to use the model of corporations such as TH or Loc Troi to apply high-tech agriculture to each rice-growing household in the Mekong Delta; similarly in the fields of livestock and aquaculture...

The Minister emphasized the need for a common consensus as above, from which we can determine the methods of cooperation, investment methods, governance, etc.

According to the Minister, up to now, there is one agricultural zone that has successfully applied high technology, the most true to its nature is the Ho Chi Minh City high-tech agricultural zone, researching, experimenting, spreading and training to receive achievements. The core of the high-tech agricultural zone must be from institutes, schools and businesses that are ready to receive results and transfer.

Regarding solutions in the coming time, Minister Le Minh Hoan suggested that institutes, schools, and centers transfer research results to farmers through their departments. The Ministry is ready to create incentives and open up the market for transferring research products.

According to Nhan Dan Newspaper

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