High-tech agriculture in Ninh Thuan: [Final article] Turning the heatwave into an advantage

Recognizing high-tech agriculture as the "lifeline" for a region with harsh weather conditions, Ninh Thuan is determined to replicate successful models.

Seize the opportunity

Taking advantage of the increasingly expanding market for Vietnamese agricultural products, many high-tech and environmentally friendly organic farming models have generated significant value and high incomes. Production and business capabilities in the agricultural sector have also improved, and Vietnamese agricultural products have gradually asserted their position in the global market, present in over 185 countries and territories.

Applying high technology to grape cultivation requires significant investment but yields very high economic returns. Photo: MP

Furthermore, Vietnam has signed 16 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and other major trade agreements, opening doors for Vietnamese goods to enter many international markets. Simultaneously, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with its integrated technology and digitalization, presents an opportunity to accelerate the restructuring of the agricultural sector, especially high-tech agriculture with large-scale commercial production.

Accordingly, in the coming period, Ninh Thuan will promote and reorganize production according to linked chains, with businesses as the core of these linkages; encourage farmers, farms, and cooperatives in the area to apply high technology in production; apply technology to production management towards traceability, ensuring food safety, building brands, and developing markets.

“We have identified the development of high-tech agriculture and digital transformation in agriculture as the main and inevitable trend in the integration process. It is an effective solution in restructuring the agricultural sector. We place businesses at the center of innovation, building and implementing mechanisms and policies to encourage businesses to invest in research and development, apply science and technology to improve the efficiency of production and business operations, and build and develop brands,” shared Mr. Dang Kim Cuong, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ninh Thuan province.

Mr. Cuong believes that the harsh climate and year-round heat are advantages for Ninh Thuan's agricultural sector to develop in a high-tech direction. Ninh Thuan also has many advantages in transportation, connecting the consumption of goods; receiving and transferring scientific and technical advancements; and training and developing human resources…

High-tech melon farming in Ninh Thuan province yields an income of 1.2 billion VND/hectare/year. Photo: MP

“In particular, two sub-projects for developing irrigation and rural transportation serving Ninh Thuan's high-tech agricultural zone, such as the Thanh Son - Phuoc Nhon and Nhon Hai - Thanh Hai transportation routes, along with the Tan My, Song Cai, Song Than, and Kien Kien irrigation systems, which connect reservoirs, will be completed and put into use in the 2021-2025 period. This will solve the irrigation water shortage problem, creating an opportunity for Ninh Thuan's agricultural sector to develop,” Mr. Dang Kim Cuong, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ninh Thuan, illustrated.

Infrastructure investment

To achieve the above objective, Ninh Thuan has been focusing its resources and attracting investment to build infrastructure for high-tech agricultural zones; integrating the planning of high-tech agricultural zones and regions into the province's socio-economic development plan, in accordance with practical requirements and the development orientation of the sector.

Accordingly, Ninh Thuan will establish 1-2 high-tech agricultural zones in each district; select 3-5 zones with favorable conditions associated with the development of specific products to establish essential infrastructure investment projects; organizations and individuals investing in high-tech agricultural zones will enjoy the highest incentives as stipulated by land and construction laws for production and service facilities, as well as other incentives prescribed by the province.

The crops prioritized for development in Ninh Thuan's high-tech agricultural development roadmap are key, local crops such as grapes, apples, garlic, green asparagus, aloe vera, and some crops with potential for development according to market demand such as onions, garlic, tomatoes, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, cucumber, squash, flowers, and green pomelo.

The main livestock species "identified" in Ninh Thuan's high-tech agricultural development roadmap are cattle, goats, sheep, and chickens. Regarding pigs, Ninh Thuan only develops farms that meet the province's regulations for each stage, limiting the production of live pigs to no more than 65% of the total livestock and poultry meat production in the province. Ninh Thuan also prioritizes livestock facilities that apply automated control technology in livestock farming, waste treatment, water recycling; new generation microbial technology; and microbial products that meet international standards…

A model of high-tech grape cultivation at the Nha Ho Cotton and Agricultural Research Institute. Photo: MP

In the field of aquaculture, Ninh Thuan prioritizes tiger shrimp, whiteleg shrimp, and marine fish; prioritizes automated control technology in environmental management and animal care; synthetic biotechnology; new generation microbial technology; microbial products meeting international standards; and deep-sea aquaculture technology.

In the coming period, Ninh Thuan will focus on researching and applying hybrid vigor to create unique crop varieties with the potential to dominate the market, possessing superior characteristics and suitability to the province's ecological and soil conditions. Examples include grape, apple, green asparagus, cantaloupe, onion, and garlic varieties. Ninh Thuan will also simultaneously improve the quality of its native cattle, goat, sheep, and pig breeds. Research will also be conducted on the production of broodstock shrimp, marine fish, and other seafood specialties.

Mr. Dang Kim Cuong, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ninh Thuan: “In seed production, Ninh Thuan prioritizes synthetic biotechnology; molecular biotechnology; new generation microbial technology; high-quality tissue culture on an industrial scale; plant growth regulators; new generation aquatic hormones that meet international standards…”.

Source: https://nongsanviet.nongnghiep.vn/nong-nghiep-cong-nghe-cao-ninh-thuan-bai-cuoi-bien-nang-nong-thanh-loi-the-d381354.html