Agricultural extension associated with science and technology and product consumption

(Baonghean) -In 2016, despite many difficulties due to harsh weather conditions, agricultural extension activities achieved remarkable results. Entering 2017, the second year of implementing the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress and the Resolution of the 18th Provincial Party Congress, the sector advocated implementing effective solutions to contribute significantly to the development of agricultural production in the province, realizing the goal of restructuring the sector.

The high-income squash growing model has been implemented in many localities. Photo: Document

Green squash is a crop that has been grown by people in Tuong Duong district for a long time. Mr. Quang Van Quy - Head of the Agricultural Extension Station of Tuong Duong district said: Previously, about 40 hectares of green squash were grown in the district. However, people mainly planted them using traditional methods, without fertilizing, preventing pests and diseases, and the care process did not follow technical procedures, so there were limitations in productivity and quality, with an average yield of 18 tons/ha.

The model of "Safe vegetable production (green squash) following VietGAP" in Luu Thong village - Luu Kien commune and Na Tong village - Tam Thai commune was deployed on a scale of 3 hectares by the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center in coordination with the station since April 2016. In addition to mainly using local green squash varieties (Mong squash), there are also green squash varieties (Golden Swallow), F1 hybrid pumpkin and NV 86 squash (iron squash).

Participating in the model, 18 households were selected to participate in technical training. During the implementation process, the staff in charge of the model regularly followed the base to direct and provide technical guidance to farmers participating in the model on how to plant, care for, fertilize, prevent diseases, and use quality plant protection drugs to ensure technical requirements. Thanks to that, despite many difficulties due to the harsh weather of the spring crop in 2016, the planting stage, the squash flowering and fruiting encountered prolonged heat, greatly affecting the yield and output of the squash, but the actual yield still reached 25 tons/ha, the net profit earned per hectare reached over 106 million VND, 45 million VND/ha higher than the control.

The successful model has given farmers a new perspective on growing squash using new techniques, gradually increasing productivity, increasing acreage, creating local jobs, increasing income, gradually raising people's awareness of using fertilizers according to VietGAP standards, and applying new technical processes in production.

Dairy farming in Thai Hoa town. Photo: Chau Lan

In 2016, despite facing many difficulties and challenges in agricultural production, our province's agricultural extension activities continued to achieve remarkable results, contributing to the successful implementation of the project to restructure the agricultural sector towards increasing added value, sustainable development and the program of building new rural areas.

Director of the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, Mr. Nguyen Quy Linh said: The whole province has built 70 demonstration models, achieving 100% of the assigned plan, on schedule, requirements and quality. Many models of new plant and animal varieties have been recognized by localities, highly appreciated for their effectiveness and widely accepted and replicated by the people.

Typical examples include the model of growing super sweet organic melons in Nghi Loc district; the model of raising broiler chickens according to VietGap in Anh Son district; the model of growing turmeric under the forest canopy in Hoang Mai town; raising tilapia and grass carp in cages in Quy Chau district... At the same time, training courses have been organized to improve the capacity of agricultural extension staff. In addition to directing the organization of 1,000 training courses for farmers, the Agricultural Extension Center has also mobilized resources from localities and enterprises to test, hold seminars and organize hundreds of training courses to transfer a number of new varieties of plants, animals and fertilizers for application in production.

2017 is the second year of implementing the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress and the Resolution of the 18th Provincial Party Congress. The Provincial Agricultural Extension Department focuses on and prioritizes the construction and development of large-scale agricultural extension models (farms, family farms) linking the planning of specialized production areas with commodity production, preservation, processing and consumption of products, meeting the domestic and export markets.

Invest heavily in science and technology and scientific and technological advances in all stages of the production process. Assess market demand to select new techniques, suitable crops and livestock, and guarantee output products for farmers to promote efficiency and replicate the model. Innovate methods and diversify the content and forms of training for farmers and vocational training for rural workers. In particular, proactively link up with "four houses", especially with business organizations and scientists inside and outside the province, to quickly transfer scientific and technological advances, meeting the requirements of replicating the model and developing farmers' production.

Phu Huong - Cao Tuan