Motivation from a concern and encouragement…

(Baonghean) - Applying high technology to the development of organic and sustainable agriculture is identified as the policy for agricultural and rural development - one of the four pillars of Nghe An's economic structure in the period of 2015 - 2020, with a vision to 2030. In particular, the Party Committee and the provincial government advocate promoting practicality and connection between the State - scientists - farmers - consumers, thereby creating momentum for breakthroughs in sustainable development. That issue was clarified from the field survey in localities by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee on January 19...

Workers of An Ha Biological Joint Stock Company (Tan Ky) pack mushroom pots using an automatic bagging machine.

Encourage effective models

One of the high-tech agricultural development projects in the province that has been effectively implemented is the project "Building a model for producing seeds, cultivating, processing and consuming edible and medicinal mushrooms on an industrial scale" invested by An Ha Biological Joint Stock Company (located in Ky Tan commune, Tan Ky district) from the central budget approved under Decision No. 2573/QD-BKHCN dated November 24, 2010. With the implementation period from April 2013 to September 2015 in Tan Ky district, the project has so far successfully piloted and tested 8 mushroom varieties, of which the main mushroom varieties are wood ear, oyster mushroom and lingzhi mushroom.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong and the provincial delegation visited An Ha Biological Joint Stock Company when the Company's workers were packing mushroom culture pots on an automatic bagging line with a capacity of 800 - 1,000 bags/hour, significantly reducing time and increasing labor efficiency, demonstrating the effectiveness of applying science and technology in improving productivity and production quality. This is one of the stages that has been successfully mechanized and automated in the entire production process chain of this enterprise.

In 2014, the mushroom output of An Ha Biological Joint Stock Company reached 380,000 bags of various types of mushrooms, with a total output of 352 tons of fresh mushrooms, with a revenue of 5,320 million VND. This is not only a positive result for the development of local agriculture, creating stable jobs for people, but also opening up new directions for the restructuring of the agricultural sector. That is to create an environment for farmers to access modern machinery and technology such as boilers, steam chambers, cold rooms, etc., thereby gradually forming the mindset of agricultural production on an industrial scale, producing commercial goods and converting the model of production and trading at home from small scale to a model of satellite production households linked with businesses.

Thus, from a production model invested by enterprises, the power of science and technology has spread to the masses, creating a strong connection and gradually forming a high-value production and processing chain according to the goals and directions that Nghe An province sets for the modernization of agriculture, one of the main fronts of the provincial economy.

Technical staff discussed with teachers and students of Vietnam - Korea Industrial Technical Vocational College about food processing machine production.

Livestock and poultry farming - a traditional production sector in the agricultural sector has also undergone many changes towards modernization. Surveying the VietGAP-standard pig farm model of Mr. Dang Anh Tuan in Xuan Son commune, Do Luong district, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee was excited to hear the farm owner present the technology of using BALASA N01 as ecological bedding in pig farming, which has created a good growing environment, reduced digestive diseases for pigs, and solved the problem of environmental pollution - the biggest limitation of the livestock industry. Up to now, Mr. Tuan's farm with 300 sows has brought in a revenue of 16 billion VND/year, with an estimated net profit of about 1.5 billion VND...

Confiding to the provincial working delegation, Mr. Tuan said: “Learning and absorbing the technology of using biological bedding from farms in Can Tho, in 1994 I returned to Nghe An with the desire to get rich on my homeland, through the traditional and familiar profession. My concern at that time was: To be successful, to break through the old, it is necessary to have innovation. The future of the livestock industry is the environment, that is the most sustainable value, not only in terms of ecology but also the value that ensures economic benefits”; and he affirmed: “Science and technology may require more effort and investment at the beginning of building the model. But in the long run, it will bring great and sustainable economic efficiency. The selling price of pork from my farm is higher than the normal price, that is because we ensure the quality and safety of the product. Those things do not come naturally, they require the determination of the implementer, and above all, it is necessary to think and worry: what is good for consumers will be recognized by consumers, thereby bringing economic efficiency to producers”.

Directly surveying and visiting agricultural economic models applying scientific and technological advances at the grassroots level, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee discussed: "Agriculture has been, is and will remain one of the main fronts in economic development. But how to create a breakthrough in agriculture, bringing this traditional economic sector to catch up with the race of the integration period, that is the question posed to farmers. The answer is clear, we must further promote the application of science and technology in agricultural production, turning this traditional handicraft industry into a new type of "industry". New but old, meaning, still the same farmers, still the same plant and animal products but with new thinking, new ways of doing. Doing so will create new value, new position for agriculture in the market and in the process of industrialization and modernization of the country".

Concerns about bringing practice into research and training

At the model of processing animal feed from agricultural by-products in Thanh Ngoc commune (Thanh Chuong), through inspection and recording, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee continued to worry about how to replicate the model among the people. It is known that from the suggestion and direction of the comrade, through the role of the Department of Science and Technology, there was an agreement and signed a contract in principle with the Vietnam - Korea Industrial Technical Vocational College; accordingly, the school will integrate the production of food processing machines into the teaching and practice of students, providing machines at a lower price than the current selling price. In addition, the project "Processing animal feed from agricultural by-products, using digestive probiotics" has been implemented by Green Nghe An Company since 2013 at the model site of Thanh Ngoc commune, Thanh Chuong district.

Microbial yeast technology allows processing agricultural by-products such as cassava tubers and stems, corn into animal feed, reducing costs by up to 25%, bringing high economic efficiency to farmers. Not only ensuring nutritional content, this technology also allows preserving feed ingredients for a long time, minimizing waste in agricultural production. The highlight of the Project's success in terms of economic efficiency is the formation of a link with the Vietnam - Korea Industrial Technical Vocational College, producing machinery to serve farmers at low cost, encouraging people to apply science and technology in production.

Bringing science and technology to farmers is just the final step of the entire closed production process, not just stopping there, modernizing the production chain must originate from the first steps in research and training on science and technology associated with practice "going" from passion and the right orientation to meet the requirements of life. Master, excellent teacher Nguyen Duy Nam - Principal of Vietnam - Korea Industrial Technical Vocational College said: "Combining with businesses is like "one arrow hitting many targets".

The first goal is to bring economic benefits to businesses and consumers, because the cost of machinery and components will certainly be lower than that of imports from other localities, even from abroad. The second benefit, for the school, is not a matter of profit but the practical experience brought to the teaching staff as well as the students. Because, with the specific training field of the school, practice and understanding the actual needs and production methods in businesses play an extremely important role. Finally, I believe that with a team of highly qualified lecturers and a system of modern machinery and equipment, the Vietnam - Korea Industrial Technical Vocational College is fully capable of meeting the needs set by businesses, becoming an advantage of our province in attracting investment, creating a breakthrough in economic development".

Thus, it can be seen that science and technology are catalysts that accelerate all stages of the economic development process in general and agricultural development in particular. From scientists to farmers, the presence of science and technology allows to reduce input requirements and duplicate output efficiency, creating momentum for breakthrough development. To do this, it is necessary to create a link: between scientific theory and practical needs and conditions; between researchers and practitioners. The bridge connecting those factors is the orientation, facilitation and management of the State, as concluded by comrade Nguyen Xuan Duong through a field survey and work on the application of scientific and technological advances in agriculture with the Department of Science and Technology: “Science without practicality is not true science. Because the purpose of science is to serve and improve the quality of life. Science and technology are the strength and driving force of the economy in general and agriculture in particular. But it is the practicality and feasibility that create the vitality and spread of science and technology. Further promoting the function and role of the bridge of the governing bodies so that scientists and farmers can approach and join hands to move forward, that is the solution for science and technology to truly enter life”.

Thuc Anh - Thanh Duy