Application of high technology in agriculture is an inevitable direction to ensure high economic efficiency and sustainable development of the agricultural sector. For this field to develop commensurate with the potential and advantages of the locality, more breakthrough solutions and policies are required.

From this reality, the scientific conference "Application of high technology in agriculture" held on the morning of December 4 in Ba Ria - Vung Tau is an opportunity for experts - scientists - managers - businesses exchange, discuss and propose practical solutions to develop agriculture in a sustainable way.

The inevitable direction

Speaking at the seminar, Mr. Mai Thanh Quang, Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, said that investing in developing high-tech agriculture to increase productivity, quality, food safety, and hygiene. Improving the competitiveness of agricultural products and goods and using it effectively on agricultural land is an inevitable development step of the country's agricultural industry in general and of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province in particular.

Mr. Mai Thanh Quang, Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Ba Ria - Vung Tau

delivered the opening speech

According to Decision 575/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister, a number of hi-tech agricultural areas have been planned, focusing on the following objects: vegetables, flowers, coffee, tea, dragon fruit, dairy cows, cows meat, poultry, shrimp. In Decision 66/2015/QD-TTg dated December 25, 2015, the Prime Minister assigned the Provincial People's Committee to have the authority to recognize high-tech agricultural areas. By 2017, there was 1 recognized hi-tech agricultural area. In Ba Ria - Vung Tau, implementing Project 04-DA/TU dated July 28, 2017 of the Provincial Party Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau on developing high-tech agriculture until 2020, the province is building 2 agricultural zones and 7 hi-tech agricultural production zones.

As of November 2020, in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, there have been 62 high-tech crop production facilities, with a total area of ​​2,726 hectares, estimated to supply over 31,000 tons by 2020 to the market. products, the total value of high-tech horticultural products reached about VND 336 billion, accounting for 5.7% of the product value of the horticulture industry. The main responsive technologies such as: membrane house, net house, economical irrigation system, combined with automatic nutrient regulation, hydroponic technology, Aquaponic technology, monitoring technology to adjust temperature and humidity According to the sensor, using solar power…

At the Workshop, typical experts, scientists and businesses presented presentations on the application of high technology in agriculture with the following contents: Agricultural development towards high technology application in Vietnam. Vietnam and propose solutions to deploy applications in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province; Application of microbiological technology in aquaculture; Research on the use of specialized lighting in high-tech agriculture; Circular, Precision and 4.0 Aquaculture: Future and Sustainable Development Opportunities for Vietnam's Aquaculture Industry; sustainable smart agricultural ecosystem; biological products for sustainable agricultural production; preserving agricultural products by cold storage combined with electromagnetic fields; traceability technology.

Up to now, the country has had 2 hi-tech agricultural zones approved by the Prime Minister, including: Hau Giang Hi-tech Agricultural Park and Phu Yen Hi-Tech Agricultural Park; 3 localities including Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Lam Dong have developed a project to establish a high-tech zone to consider and organize the appraisal.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Duong Hoa Xo, Center for Biotechnology in Ho Chi Minh City, said that over the past time, Vietnam's agriculture has been constantly developing, gradually being modernized, applying technical advances to production.

However, the problem of developing high-tech agriculture in our country still has some limitations: production in agriculture is not synchronized, agricultural production value is not high, the connection between science and technology and production activities business is still problematic. Besides, Vietnam's agricultural production is also strongly affected by the challenges of external conditions, the models of high-tech application in agriculture are still small and unevenly distributed. The construction of high-tech agricultural zones often takes a long time due to delays related to planning, difficulties in compensation for site clearance and lack of investment capital.

Pointing out the causes of the above limitations, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Duong Hoa Xo stated: Due to the small production scale of farmers, it is difficult to apply high technology and there is no active participation of enterprises in the link between S&T research and transfer and application. . The link between the three scientists - businesses - farmers is weak and unsustainable, the number of enterprises in agriculture is small, mainly small and medium enterprises.

Proposing and suggesting many solutions

At the seminar, experts introduced many new solutions, which are promised to create a radical revolution in agricultural production. From the reality of developing high-tech agriculture in Ba Ria - Vung Tau, according to Assoc. Duong Hoa Xo to develop effective high-tech agriculture needs to rely on the province's agricultural advantages, associated with the cooperation of Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai as well as the huge market in Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh. The development of high-tech agriculture must be implemented in a synchronous and focused manner in each phase. Identify key products and accompanying markets, thereby attaching specific solutions.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Duong Hoa Xo said that it is necessary to quickly complete investment in hi-tech agricultural zones hosted by enterprises, this is the nucleus and focal point to promote the development of high-tech agriculture. Need the leading and leading participation of an applied research unit of the State investing in the Hi-Tech Park. And there are preferential policies for investment in high-tech agricultural zones.

NGND.GS.Dr. Nguyen Quang Thach, Chairman of the Scientific Council, Institute of Agricultural Biology, Vietnam Academy of Agriculture

NGND.GS.Dr. Nguyen Quang Thach, Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Agricultural Biology, Vietnam Academy of Agriculture emphasized that light is a decisive factor for the life, growth, development, and yield and quality of plants. plant. The research, manufacture and use of specialized lamps in high-tech agriculture is a new and promising direction that needs to be developed as an important solution in high-tech agriculture.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Ngoc Tuan, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, said that the current aquaculture system in our country is no longer suitable because it is still highly dependent on the weather, difficult to control and handle diseases. causing environmental pollution... Therefore, a revolutionary change is needed, moving from an open aquaculture system to low cost closed aquaculture.

MSc. Dang Hoang Anh Tuan, Institute of Technology Application

MSc. Dang Hoang Anh Tuan, Institute of Technology Application, Ministry of Science and Technology offers a solution in preserving agricultural products by cold storage combined with electric field. This solution will reduce the dehydration process of agricultural products by creating a close bond between water molecules and other components in the structure of agricultural products. Electric field effect of air holes on the surface of vegetables and fruits. is closed, so the evaporation of water from agricultural products is limited, helping vegetables, fruits, meat, fish maintain freshness ... This is considered an effective method of preserving agricultural products, ensuring safety and hygiene. food and suitable to the infrastructure conditions of Vietnam”.

Mr. Cao Nhat Anh Tu, Director of 4K Farm Co., Ltd

Mr. Cao Nhat Anh Tu, Director of 4K Farm Co., Ltd., City. Vung Tau said that one of the important factors to promote the application of high technology in agriculture is the need for close cooperation and linkage between businesses and farmers. Since then, forming concentrated commodity production areas associated with the processing industry, increasing the application of post-harvest science and technology to create new values ​​for agricultural products. From April 2020, with the 4K process (no pesticides, no growth agents, no preservatives, no GMOs), 4K Farm Co., Ltd. has cooperated with farmers in Phu My and Dat Do towns to grow vegetables according to high-tech direction. As a result, not only creating a link chain in sustainable product consumption, 4K Farm also implemented a total integration of the production management system including: electronic diary, product traceability, management quality and output.

“For the product traceability system, the QR code on the package will know clearly about the origin of the vegetable such as which greenhouse planted, the name of the farmer, the type of variety, the date of sowing, the date of harvest...and possibly directly to the place of production through the map and navigation system. With the application of CNC, 4K Farm has brought safe vegetable products according to 4k standards, thereby protecting public health," said Cao Nhat Anh Tu.

At the Workshop, many issues were also discussed, such as: How to connect businesses and farmers with institutions; management according to 4.0 technology in production, preservation, processing and consumption; traceability solutions…

Source: Science and Technology Communication Research and Development Center – Department of Technology Application and Development