Nghe An Agricultural Extension Center affirms its role in the province's agricultural sector

Replicating effective models

Building and expanding pilot models, chain production, creating quality products, bringing high economic value is one of the key tasks in agricultural extension work. In 2021, many effective models were deployed. Notably,Agricultural Extension Centerhas implemented 5 models from the National Agricultural Extension source, including 2 models in the field of aquaculture, 2 models in the field of crop cultivation, and 1 model of seafood preservation on fishing vessels.

Checking the mud-free eel farming model in Tan Son commune, Quynh Luu district. Photo: Nguyen Hai

The models were implemented on schedule, with quality, and met the set targets and requirements. In particular, through the implementation of the models, the production - processing - preservation chain of agricultural products has been well implemented, promoting the increase of the value of agricultural products.

Implementing the assigned plan of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Center has directed specialized departments and, at the same time, closely coordinated with local authorities and Agricultural Service Centers at district, town and city levels to effectively implement the following tasks:agricultural extension modelinto production practice, with a total of 25 models, reaching 100% of the plan. Of which, there are 11 types of crop models, 7 types of livestock models, 6 types of aquaculture models, 1 type of forestry model; in addition, there are 14 models implemented by the District, City, and Town Service Centers and 11 models directly implemented by the Agricultural Extension Center. The models are implemented on schedule and with quality, meeting the requirements set out in the program.

In conjunction with model building and transferring scientific and technical advances, the Agricultural Extension Center has focused on building and replicating high-tech application models and safe production following VietGAP to create quality, disease-free and food-safe products; thereby linking the product consumption chain, creating stable output for people.

Eel breeding model in Xuan Thanh commune (Yen Thanh). Photo: Xuan Hoang

In addition, focusing on the strengths of each locality, developing specialty products of each region, aiming to build local OCOP products is also emphasized by the Agricultural Extension Center in the work of building the Project, the annual Agricultural Extension program and the entire period of 2021-2025.

Focus on propaganda and training

To have effective, practical and highly widespread models, the Center must pay attention to propaganda and training work and regularly deploy it.

Farmers in the province apply scientific and technological advances in safe vegetable production. Photo: Xuan Hoang

In 2021, the Center organized 58 training courses on the rice land program according to Decree 35; 119 training courses for key village officials; organized 2 coursestrainingagricultural extension from the National Agricultural Extension source; organize 4 classes for provincial/district agricultural extension subjects; preside over and coordinate with units of Nghe An Fishing Port Management Board, Nghe An Fisheries Sub-Department to organize 15 training classes for fishermen in disadvantaged communes in coastal areas with the content: solutions to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing to remove the EC's yellow card; deploy 10 training classes for farmers in disadvantaged areas; monitor units of Agricultural Service Centers in districts, towns, and cities to deploy training resources, a total of 1,312 training classes for farmers...

It can be said that agricultural extension training and coaching has played a key role in improving the capacity of agricultural extension officers at all levels, equipping farmers with scientific and technical knowledge, production experience and farm management skills.

Through propaganda work, people's awareness and level of application of scientific and technological advances in production have been raised, while at the same time, the structure of crops and livestock has been gradually transformed to suit each production area for high economic efficiency, contributing to rapid increase in productivity, output and value of agricultural products. In 2021, information and propaganda work has always focused on innovation in both content and form.

Farmers in Quynh Thanh commune (Quynh Luu) invested in building cement tanks and canvas houses to raise shrimp. Photo: Thu Huyen

The Agricultural Extension Center has coordinated with the Radio and Television Station to broadcast 6 pages of reports; broadcast 6 pages of special topics; organize the implementation of the website, regularly update and post news and articles in a timely manner; updated and posted 125 news and articles, in addition to updating 130 pieces of information from Nghe An Newspaper, the National Agricultural Extension website, etc.

Notably, the Agricultural Extension Center also published 12 issues of the agricultural extension magazine with a total of 6,996 copies; including 112 articles providing information on effective models, production techniques and good production examples. The Center also coordinatedNghe An NewspaperImplement 12 propaganda pages with 26 scientific and technical propaganda contents in agricultural production and some outstanding models; implement 12 pages on the electronic newspaper to ensure progress and suitability with production seasons; coordinate with the representative of the permanent office of Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper in the North Central region located in Nghe An to provide agricultural officers in charge of 97 communes in 6 mountainous districts, with a total of 240 newspaper issues, including 5 combined newspaper issues, totaling 23,280; implement 9 pages of Nhip cau nha nong on the provincial Radio and Television Station...

Looking back at a year of agricultural extension activities, although there were difficulties and challenges affecting the progress of agricultural extension activities. However, the Center has proactively proposed solutions to respond to and overcome all difficulties and well implemented the assigned targets according to the plan, contributing to promoting the province's agricultural sector. In 2022, the Agricultural Extension Center will continue to focus on innovating the content and methods of operation from model building to information and propaganda activities to spread good practices, effective models, and expand production in a sustainable manner; Proactively linking "four houses", especially with business organizations and scientists inside and outside the province to quickly transfer scientific and technical advances, especially high-tech agricultural production, production associated with the chain, and increasing the value of goods. Accordingly, improve the quality and efficiency of agricultural extension activities, meet the requirements of production development, connection and transfer of scientific and technical advances in the province.

In addition to model building and information dissemination, the Center also focuses on linking and consulting agricultural services. During the year, it organized a study trip to learn about the linkage model and agricultural extension services in Hanoi; and organized a seminar on model orange gardens. Through this activity, it promoted and connected producers with businesses, aiming to find output solutions for agricultural products.