Replicating agricultural extension models: Need for combined strength
Many successful agricultural extension models bring about applications, increase productivity and quality but are difficult to implement; the situation of "incubating" topics occurs in many localities.
Much success
In recent times, many agricultural extension models have been successfully implemented, helping localities exploit their strengths, move production towards commodities, bringing scientific and practical significance, helping people increase their income.
In Tu Liem district (Hanoi), in 2012, the district Agricultural Extension Center initially implemented a high-quality flower growing model (lilies, orchids, dwarf dahlias). The flower growing model in Tu Liem was born from the success of the Cat Tuong flower growing model in Tay Tuu commune in 2011 - 2012; the district Agricultural Extension Center continued to implement these 3 flower models in three other communes. Thanks to the transformation of the agricultural economic structure, from rice cultivation to flower and ornamental plant cultivation, it has brought high economic efficiency, and people's lives have been significantly improved.
Mr. Nguyen Cong Soai, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, said: Hanoi has the advantage of building a market-oriented agricultural sector with advantages in area, good product consumption market, and invested infrastructure. Hanoi's models of fishery and agricultural extension are also based on agricultural advantages, implemented synchronously and applied science and technology easily.
In Nghe An, in 2012, 6/6 fishery extension models were deployed, all of which brought good results in terms of both scientific and practical significance, helping fishermen and salt farmers increase their income. Some outstanding models include: Application of horizontal detectors on lead-seine vessels, giving an average income of 12 million/5 trips (20 days)/worker, an increase of 5-7 times compared to when the vessels were not equipped with machines; Cooperative groups and application of scientific and technological advances in clean salt production, giving a salt yield of 12-15 kg/m2/sun, increase 8 - 10 kg/m2/sunlight, white salt grains, larger and more even than those produced on unlined plots; Commercial sea bass farming, contributing to diversifying farming objects, especially effective in shrimp farming areas that are often affected by diseases.
Difficult to deploy widely
Many models have been successfully implemented, bringing economic efficiency, but have not been widely applied. Many investment models are fragmented, spread out, lacking market orientation to develop to a large-scale production of goods; meanwhile, product output is not stable. Therefore, after being replicated, many models have surplus agricultural products, "good harvest but low price". According to Mr. Nguyen Quy Linh, Deputy Director of Nghe An Agricultural Extension Center, the replication of models is still facing difficulties due to the lack of coordination between state management agencies and local authorities. Many projects and models have been completed, but local authorities have not proactively implemented the remaining stages. Meanwhile, the mentality of relying on and waiting for management agencies is still strong. Many people still think that if there is support capital, they will continue to invest, when the budget runs out, they will "entrust" the project to float. Therefore, many models that have not been applied in production have been forgotten, especially aquaculture models that require large amounts of capital... Households that were supported with capital, seeds, and techniques, after the program ended, did not continue to invest capital in production, so the program remained "stuck in place".
Mr. Nguyen Cong Soai said: Research, application and transfer of technical advances into production are not very effective. Agricultural products do not have product brands, investment promotion is ineffective, and investment in agricultural production development is not encouraged. Information and propaganda work, raising awareness about the implementation and replication of models is still limited, many party members have not promoted local internal strength and mobilized resources for rural development. In addition, forecasting work is still weak, not fully anticipating difficulties, so some tasks, goals and solutions are not appropriate.
Promote propaganda
Mr. Nguyen Quy Linh gave an example: In Nghe An, the peanut growing model using plastic bags has been effective, but some localities have applied it successfully, while others have not. That is entirely up to the locality, because the model has been applied in practice. Local authorities play an important role in promoting it so that people understand and do it. For fishery extension models, it is necessary to determine the real needs of the people, the economic efficiency of the model, predict the possibility of replicating the model, take some effective farming, exploitation and processing objects that have been tested to build models in some localities with high levels of education and access to science and technology to make a breakthrough.
The model of whiteleg shrimp farming in Quynh Minh commune, Quynh Luu, Nghe An is highly effective.
On the agricultural side, when building models, it is necessary to link with the market, the "four houses" (farmers, businesses, scientists, the state); respect and listen to people's opinions, meet people's real needs, pay attention to efficiency and practicality. When building and implementing models, it is necessary to choose the right subjects, which are households that are completely voluntary, have the need to apply new techniques to production, and are determined to become rich.
According to (Vietnam Fisheries) – LC
