The farmer's trusted companion

Actively transfer scientific and technological applications

For many people in Nam Anh commune (Nam Dan), participating in the model of "Exploiting and developing Nam Dan native rose genetic resources towards commodity production" implemented by the North Central Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology in coordination with local authorities, not only opens up new opportunities in production development, increasing income for people, but also contributes to increasing value, moving towards making "Nam Dan Rose" a key fruit tree product of the district.

A delegation from the North Central Institute of Science and Technology inspected the intensive farming model on an old garden of native Nam Dan rose varieties. Photo: CSCC

The research project on developing the native rose gene source of Nam Dan was carried out from 2019 to 2022 with a scale of 3 hectares, 20 households in Nam Anh commune participated. Currently, the certification dossier of 5 native rose trees of Nam Dan with high productivity and quality, characteristic of native varieties, qualified as mother trees to provide grafting eyes for propagation and built a mother tree garden to serve the propagation with a scale of 140 trees.

Hong Nam Anh (Nam Dan). Photo: Thanh Phuc

In addition, a new Nam Dan rose planting model was also built with a scale of 3 hectares; a comprehensive intensive farming model on an old garden with a scale of 1 hectare in 2 years for a yield of 24.85 to 26.79 tons/ha, economic efficiency increased by 45.32%.

The research project on developing the native rose gene source of Nam Dan was carried out from 2019 to 2022 with a scale of 3 hectares, 20 households in Nam Anh commune participated. Photo: CSCC

There are many plant varieties and technical advances created by the North Central Agricultural Science and Technology Institute that have high productivity, good quality, suitable for the socio-ecological conditions of the region and are highly appreciated by local farmers.

Typically, the Xa Doai orange trial production project in Nghe An has completed the disease-free propagation process in the greenhouse and the new planting process to prevent re-infection of orange trees, creating 10 S0 trees and 100 S1 trees kept in a 3-level greenhouse, this is a source of disease-free grafts of Xa Doai orange varieties to develop orange trees in the new stage.

In addition, the Institute has organized the construction of a 20-hectare integrated intensive farming model in Nam Thanh commune (Yen Thanh) and Nghi Lam commune (Nghi Loc); built a 10-hectare model applying high technology by drip irrigation humidity management and automatic fertilization on Xa Doai oranges. Currently, the plants are growing and developing well.

The Xa Doai orange trial production project in Nghe An has completed the process of disease-free propagation in greenhouses and the new planting process to prevent re-infection of orange trees. Photo: TC

The project "Research and application of technical advances in sustainable sweet potato production according to the value chain in the North Central region" has built a model of commercial sweet potato production in Nghe An and Ha Tinh, with a scale of 30 hectares, yielding 23 - 25 tons/ha, economic efficiency increased by 15 - 20% compared to mass planting...

Also in 2022, despite facing some difficulties due to unfavorable weather, some infrastructure such as the intra-field canal system, the Institute's experimental research area, uneven land; Investment funding has not fully met the needs of propagating and nurturing seedlings... but the North Central Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology has overcome difficulties to achieve many important results in implementing ministerial-level science and technology tasks with many important topics and projects.

Sweet potato production model according to value chain in Ha Tinh and Nghe An. Photo: CSCC

One example is the Project “Research on crop structure conversion on rice land that is often drought-prone in the North Central region”. Currently, it has tested and proposed suitable crop structures that are highly effective on rice land that is often drought-prone and at risk of water shortage in Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, and Quang Tri provinces.

At the same time, we will build demonstration models of crop conversion structures on inefficient rice land, at risk of water shortage and frequent drought, including models of rice, corn, and peanuts with high productivity and economic efficiency increased by 15-20% compared to previous crops.

Model of converting ineffective rice land to peanut cultivation in Do Luong - Nghe An. Photo: CSCC

The project "Research on selecting and creating drought-resistant green bean, black bean, and red bean varieties suitable for the Central provinces" in 2022 collected and evaluated 58 green bean lines/varieties, 20 black bean lines/varieties, and 20 red bean lines/varieties. The results showed that 22 green bean lines/varieties had high actual yield, reaching over 15 quintals/ha; 25 black bean lines/varieties had actual yield of over 12.0 quintals/ha; 15 red bean lines/varieties had actual yield of over 12.0 quintals/ha.

Some other topics also gave good results such as "Research on creating promising high-yield and drought-resistant peanut varieties", "Research on creating short-term, high-yield, good-quality rice lines that are resistant to bacterial leaf blight and rice blast for the provinces in the North Central region", "Research on creating sesame lines that are drought-resistant, resistant to yellow wilt, high-yield and high-quality"...

Mr. Pham Van Linh - Director of the North Central Agricultural Science and Technology Institute said: “With the motto of accompanying farmers in their development, the research tasks are always carried out by the Institute with the highest sense of responsibility. All are for the purpose of contributing to improving the lives of farmers. Every year, the Institute has provided hundreds of tons of various varieties, transferred new technical advances and trained to improve production skills for thousands of people in the North Central region”.

Focus on improving the quality of human resources

In addition to research work, the work of improving the capacity and qualifications of cadres and civil servants is also of great concern to the North Central Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology. Thereby, building a core team to meet the tasks of scientific research and technology transfer on crops and agricultural systems to serve the socio-economic development of the North Central region in line with the integration trend and the 4.0 era.

Currently, the unit has a total of 105 employees. Of which, there are 2 PhDs, 47 masters, 43 university graduates; 3 research departments, 3 affiliated centers with separate legal status, 1 general laboratory, 2 functional departments.

Staff of the North Central Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology test vegetable and flower varieties. Photo: KL

The Institute's leaders always pay attention to and create conditions for cadres and civil servants to regularly study and research to improve their capacity and qualifications, in order to meet the requirements of high-quality human resources to better serve the policy of restructuring the agricultural sector. In 2022, 3 officials of the Institute will continue to receive doctoral training in the country; 4 officials will be trained under the programs of VAAS and the Ministry; 2 officials will be sent to Korea for training; 3 officials will study intermediate political and administrative courses.

Many technical advances in plant varieties have been created and transferred to farmers by the North Central Agricultural Science and Technology Institute. Photo: KL

Thanks to the core team of highly trained and enthusiastic scientists, in 2022, the North Central Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology successfully completed the set targets and plans. During the year, the Institute was assigned to preside over 4 national science and technology tasks, 7 ministerial-level science and technology tasks, 4 provincial-level science and technology tasks, and 2 coordination tasks with a total budget from the state budget of 20,867,400 million VND.

The Institute has also established a research network and technology transfer in the field of crops for the North Central region, in accordance with the reality and objective requirements of production, so it has achieved many encouraging results in scientific research and transfer of technical advances.

The Central Laboratory of the North Central Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology is using and operating many modern machines. Photo: KL

Many technical advances in plant varieties, cultivation processes, and advanced technologies have been created and transferred to farmers, contributing to increasing productivity, output, and gradually improving the quality of crops. With such effective operations, the North Central Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology has become a trusted companion of farmers.