Quang Ninh: Science and technology create breakthroughs in green production and sustainable poverty reduction

With a vision of developing green agriculture based on science, technology and innovation (S&I), Quang Ninh is making strong changes from production to the market. Innovating production models and shifting to green, modern agriculture helps the locality increase the value of agricultural products, create sustainable livelihoods and promote real poverty reduction. Along with infrastructure investment, promoting digital transformation and product branding, Quang Ninh is gradually affirming its leading position in building smart, efficient and sustainable agriculture.

Breakthrough in green, modern agriculture and rural economic development

In recent years, Quang Ninh has identified the innovation of production models and the development of green, efficient, high-value agriculture as the strategic axis throughout the restructuring of the agricultural sector. This is not only a trend in line with the new development context, but also an important solution to improve growth quality, ensure sustainable livelihoods for people and promote comprehensive socio-economic development. The province firmly believes that science, technology and innovation must become the central driving force of production, life and sustainable poverty reduction.

Thanks to technological innovation, marine farming areas in Quang Ninh have developed strongly, contributing to improving people's lives.

Quang Ninh has widely deployed smart agriculture models, organic agriculture, and applied digital technology in production management and agricultural value chains. Greenhouse systems, automatic irrigation, environmental monitoring sensors, and digital management tools are increasingly applied, helping to reduce production costs, optimize resources, increase productivity, and ensure agricultural product quality. Many production areas have met VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards, thereby forming a sustainable value chain and expanding the consumer market.

Along with that, the province focuses on investing in infrastructure serving production, from intra-field traffic, irrigation, cold storage to agricultural logistics centers, creating a foundation for large-scale commodity production and enhancing the competitiveness of local products.

Along with technical innovation, Quang Ninh has promoted the building of typical agricultural product brands, implemented trade promotion, and expanded markets inside and outside the province. According to the leaders of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, Quang Ninh's agricultural sector has made remarkable changes in recent years, developing in the direction of ecological agriculture, modern countryside, and civilized farmers; at the same time closely linked with the goals of the national target program. Thanks to that, the whole sector has restructured in a modern direction, improving labor productivity and added value. The agricultural growth rate in the 2021-2025 period is estimated at 3.62%/year, a very remarkable figure in the context of the country's agricultural sector being affected by many unstable impacts from weather, markets, and production costs.

In the field of aquaculture, Quang Ninh is a pioneer in shifting from exploitation to sustainable aquaculture. In the period 2021-2025, aquaculture output will reach 450,000 tons, 1.5 times higher than the previous period, corresponding to a growth rate of 6.5%/year.

The province has completed a sustainable marine farming plan and established many high-tech marine farming cooperative models. Environmentally friendly floating materials have been widely used, contributing to reducing plastic waste at sea and ensuring safe farming.

With a long-term orientation, Quang Ninh aims to make aquaculture a key economic sector, building the province into a seafood center in the North with a modern marine farming system, deep processing and synchronous fishing logistics services.

In forestry, the province has planted about 5,000 hectares of new large timber forests, granted 30,800 hectares of FSC certification - an international standard for sustainable forest management; at the same time, maintaining the forest cover rate at 45%. One of the most outstanding marks is that Quang Ninh has completed the National Target Program on New Rural Development two years ahead of schedule at the time of assessment.

Applying science and technology to elevate OCOP, promote digital transformation and creative startups

On the basis of production development, Quang Ninh has paid special attention to the application of science and technology in enhancing product value, especially in the "One Commune One Product" (OCOP) program. Enterprises and cooperatives have boldly invested in modern processing lines, innovated packaging, smart labeling and implemented traceability. Many typical OCOP products continue to affirm their brands thanks to the application of technology. A typical example is Binh Lieu dong vermicelli, a national 5-star OCOP product that has made strong progress in applying innovative technology in production and packaging, helping to stabilize quality and expand the consumption market. The Ba Che golden flower tea product of Dap Thanh Forestry Trading Joint Stock Company also made its mark when investing in a freeze dryer to keep the flower shape intact and optimally preserve the essence, completely overcoming the limitations of previous manual drying technology.

In addition, Quang Ninh has 6 other national 5-star OCOP products, including Quy Hoa golden flower tea, two high-end ceramic products of Quang Vinh and three sets of Ha Long pearls. These products all apply advanced technology in cultivation, processing and finishing, bringing high quality, beautiful designs and great commercial value, competitive enough in domestic and international markets.

Along with innovating production techniques, Quang Ninh has also promoted digital transformation in product consumption. Many businesses, cooperatives and people have proactively participated in digital skills training courses, livestreamed sales, produced short videos and deployed business on social networks and e-commerce platforms. This opens up new sales channels, helping local agricultural products reach more consumers, increase value and reduce dependence on traditional traders.

At the policy level, Quang Ninh continues to improve its mechanism towards innovation, business friendliness, prioritizing open data and digital infrastructure, creating favorable conditions for the application of science and technology and innovation. The province develops "test spaces" (sandboxes) for AI, smart tourism, logistics, cultural and entertainment industries, while promoting regional connectivity and international cooperation.

For many consecutive years, Quang Ninh has held the top position in the country in terms of provincial competitiveness index (PCI), administrative reform, digital transformation (DTI) and local innovation index (PII), affirming its attractive investment environment and effective management quality.

Ba Che Golden Flower Tea - 5-star OCOP product brings high economic value.

At innovation forums, provincial leaders emphasized that the spirit of creative entrepreneurship is an important driving force to promote new growth, diversify economic models and nurture the aspirations of the young generation.

The province has launched the "Quang Ninh Creative Startup Campaign to 2030" with the message "10,000 businesses with publications on business and creative startups", and signed many cooperation programs to support startups, honor typical innovative businesses, and promote the connection between the government - businesses - experts - investors.

With strategic orientation, methodical approach and the support of the entire political system, Quang Ninh is gradually realizing the goal of building a green, modern, high-tech and highly competitive agriculture.

The application of science and technology in production, processing, preservation and consumption of products not only helps farmers increase their income but also contributes to protecting resources, preserving ecological landscapes and sustainably reducing poverty.

Quang Ninh is affirming its position as one of the leading localities in the country in smart agriculture and sustainable development, creating a solid foundation to build a rich and civilized province in the new period.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/quang-ninh-khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-tao-dot-pha-trong-san-xuat-xanh-va-giam-ngheo-ben-vung-197251127103143794.htm