Why does a Director of the Ministry of Science and Technology affirm the role of technology and innovation in...

The Forum on Technology in Agriculture and Rural Development took place in Hanoi on October 1. This activity is part of the event "Techconnect and Innovation VietNam 2024" organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology in coordination with the Hanoi People's Committee.

Speaking at the opening of the Forum, Mr. Nguyen Mai Duong, Director of the Department of Technology Development and Innovation, Ministry of Science and Technology, said that over the past 10 years, Vietnamese agriculture has achieved great achievements, science and technology has contributed over 30% of added value in agricultural production, 38% in the production of plant and animal breeds...

Mr. Nguyen Mai Duong, Director of the Department of Technology Development and Innovation, Ministry of Science and Technology

Thanks to the application of science and technology, the productivity of some livestock and crops in Vietnam is high compared to other countries in the region and the world. Rice productivity is the highest in ASEAN countries (1.5 times higher than Thailand), coffee productivity ranks second in the world (after Brazil), pepper productivity ranks first in the world, rubber ranks second in the world (after India), tra fish with a productivity of 500 tons/ha is also the highest in the world; forest productivity reaches an average of 20m3/ha/year, in many places reaching 40m3/ha/year; white-leg shrimp farming technology reaches over 40 tons/ha, 40 times higher than mass production, production costs are reduced by 30-35% compared to the old process.

"In the current context, the agricultural sector is facing difficulties and challenges from the impact of rising input material prices and food prices due to supply chain disruptions; potential outbreaks of diseases in humans, crops and livestock; changes in demand and consumption patterns, especially in the domestic market, requiring appropriate transformations in production organization and restructuring of distribution channels, connecting supply and demand; increasingly clear and extreme climate change, unpredictable natural disasters, drought and saltwater intrusion are always potential risks...", said Mr. Nguyen Mai Duong.

The Director of the Department of Technology Development and Innovation, Ministry of Science and Technology also said that in order to turn challenges into opportunities, the agricultural sector has put forward many strategic directions, policies and solutions so that agriculture remains the "pillar" of the economy, in which the development of science and technology and innovation is always considered the spearhead, the key to success, creating the foundation for agricultural development associated with the construction of new rural areas in the direction of ecological agriculture, modern rural areas and civilized farmers.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Anh Tuan, Director of the Institute of Agricultural Mechanics and Post-Harvest Technology.

At the forum, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Anh Tuan, Director of the Institute of Agricultural Mechanics and Post-Harvest Technology, shared that Vietnam's agricultural products are mainly exported in raw form, the variety of processed products is not diverse; deeply processed products with high added value still account for a low proportion (10-40% depending on the industry), the quality of processed products is not high, competitiveness is low, value is low, export prices are often 10-15% lower than world market prices of the same type.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Pham Anh Tuan, the development of science and technology in the field of post-harvest preservation and processing will contribute to changing production methods and levels.

To promote scientific research and innovation in general and in the field of post-harvest preservation and processing in particular, it is necessary to focus resources (human and material resources) in each stage to enhance research capacity for public science and technology organizations in the context of enhancing autonomy and salary reform; creating an ecological environment from Basic Research, Applied Research and Application Deployment (Institutes/Schools/Enterprises)... In particular, mechanisms and policies need to be removed, innovated and synchronized to encourage and motivate scientists.

Source: https://danviet.vn/tai-sao-mot-cuc-truong-cua-bo-khcn-lai-khang-dinh-vai-tro-cua-cong-nghe-doi-moi-sang-tao-trong-20241001180855593.htm