Delegation of Vietnam Farmers' Association working at Wageningen University Experimental Center, Netherlands

Speaking to the delegation of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Association, a representative of the Experimental Center of Wageningen University in the Netherlands said: 25 years ago, the Center was privatized and became a research and implementation site of Wageningen University. With an area of ​​20 hectares, the Center focuses on researching plant protection solutions for 4 types of fruit including apples, pears, cherries, and ribes rubrum.

Currently, there are 4 large companies that own and manage this Experimental Center. Besides, the Center has hundreds of other companies and businesses participating in ordering and testing.

The delegation of the Vietnam Farmers' Union led by Vice President of the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union Bui Thi Thom visited and worked with the Experimental Center of Wageningen University, Netherlands.

The Center operates with funding from the Government and companies and businesses that pay for these studies. When farmers request research topics, the company will consult and propose to the Government to request the Center to research on that topic. Farmers will contribute a portion of the cost to pay for the Center's research.

Members of the Dutch Fruit and Vegetable Association will pay 300 EUR/year to the Experimental Center of Wageningen University in the Netherlands to carry out research.

On the same day, June 11, the delegation of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Association had a working session with RMA Company, Netherlands. RMA Company has 40 years of experience in providing irrigation and fertilizer management technologies through sensor systems. Currently, RMA Company is cooperating with the Experimental Center of Wageningen University, Netherlands to test a new model of irrigation management combined with disease management on apple trees.

Accordingly, RMA Company is the project participant, coordinating with the Irrigation Management System Testing Center and the weather forecasting station to predict plant diseases: Sensor-based irrigation management technology.

Sharing with the delegation of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Association, Mr. Peter Raatjes - Director of RMA Company said: He himself was a farmer before. Therefore, Mr. Peter Raatjes and the company always want the technology to be suitable and friendly to farmers. Farmers can apply it to any irrigation method; analyze data of each area on the farm to manage the appropriate root system.

Accordingly, the company's technologies are tested in practice, combined with training for farmers to apply the technology.

Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union Bui Thi Thom (far right) and the Central Committee of the Farmers' Union delegation visited agricultural models applying technology in the Netherlands.

"With 40 years of experience, we are experts in turning complex sensor data into practical and easy-to-understand farming advice. Our sensor technology is user-friendly. Every day, we help farmers use technology to achieve high yields. We are delighted to do this both in the Netherlands and in many other countries around the world. We are constantly developing to provide new technology that is truly effective and efficient," said Peter Raatjes, Director of RMA.

Mr. Peter Raatjes introduced irrigation management technology to the delegation of the Vietnam Farmers’ Association. Accordingly, the Company uses soil moisture sensors to use water efficiently. Soil moisture sensors measure the amount of water absorbed daily from different soil layers. This information determines the appropriate time to irrigate with the appropriate amount of water.

Growing crops using RMA irrigation management ensures high and profitable yields and by not using more water than necessary RMA irrigation management contributes to sustainable agriculture.

In addition to data from soil moisture sensors, RMA irrigation management also uses other data such as satellite imagery, soil scans, climate data and weather forecasts to provide irrigation advice. The technology helps to collect all this data to provide practical irrigation advice. This advice helps growers make the right, efficient irrigation decisions every day. Watering too much, too early or too late is a thing of the past for Dutch farmers.

Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union Bui Thi Thom (far right) and the Central Committee of the Farmers' Union delegation visited agricultural models applying technology in the Netherlands.

With RMA irrigation management, sensors will measure the amount of moisture in the soil at different soil layers and will help advise when to irrigate the plants in each area of ​​the farm with the appropriate amount of water, to meet the irrigation needs of the plants. The information is transmitted through a mobile phone application.

In addition to soil moisture sensors, RMA can also install a weather station to measure current crop transpiration and rainfall data. This provides an even more complete picture of how much water the crop can use.

On behalf of the Central delegation of the Vietnam Farmers' Union, Vice President Bui Thi Thom sincerely thanked the leaders of the Wageningen University Experimental Center, Netherlands and RMA Company for the useful information shared.

Vice President of the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union Bui Thi Thom and the Central Union delegation exchanged with the Experimental Center of Wageningen University, Netherlands.

Vice President of the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union Bui Thi Thom said: In recent years, the Party, State and Government of Vietnam have issued many policies and guidelines to encourage farmers to apply technology in agricultural production. In fact, many Vietnamese farmers have applied high technology in agricultural production, bringing great value. Besides the positive results achieved, the awareness of Vietnamese farmers about applying technology is still low, investment in equipment and systems of high-tech agricultural application models still faces many limitations.

Through visiting and learning about the model in the Netherlands, the delegation of the Vietnam Farmers' Association found that the technology shared by the Experimental Center of Wageningen University, Netherlands and RMA Company is very practical, attractive, effective, and can be applied in Vietnam.

As a socio-political organization of the peasant class, the Vietnam Farmers' Union will focus on promoting propaganda, mobilizing, and supporting farmer members to invest in and apply high technology in agricultural production.

"The fact that farmers can see and hear the results of the pilot model of high-tech application will be very effective in the Association's propaganda work. The Vietnam Farmers' Association hopes that the Netherlands will support the construction of pilot models in Vietnam so that farmers have the opportunity to learn and raise awareness about technology application in agriculture," said Vice President of the Vietnam Farmers' Association Bui Thi Thom.

Source: https://danviet.vn/doan-cong-tac-hoi-nong-dan-viet-nam-lam-viec-tai-trung-tam-thuc-nghiem-dai-hoc-wageningen-ha-lan-20240614194340445.htm