Building a model high-tech agricultural center in Son La province

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien and various agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development held an official meeting with the Vietnam National University of Agriculture on August 1. Participants of the meeting discussed the project for a model demonstration center and high agricultural technology transfer in Son La province.

According to Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan, Director of the Vietnam National University of Agriculture, the University has cooperated closely with Son La province to implement numerous projects and programs such as cooperative economic development, animal feed models, tea tree development planning, policy development, etc.

"These activities aim to improve the competitiveness index of Son La province, transforming it into a center for agricultural development and deep processing in Northwestern Vietnam", emphasized Ms. Lan.

Son La province recently held an agricultural development conference for five Northwestern provinces. Accordingly, several conference participants have suggested the Vietnam National University of Agriculture research and construct a pilot high-tech agricultural center located in the Moc Chau district.

Moc Chau is widely considered the gateway of Son La province, where the soil and climatic conditions are suitable for the development of livestock and fruit tree production. The district is also home to many large agricultural production businesses such as TH, Vinamilk, etc.

Subsequently, the Vietnam National University of Agriculture has coordinated to train and deploy technology transfer to Son La province. Additionally, the University has provided the province with elite trees and developed a variety of orchid species.

"With its outstanding advantages, the Vietnam National University of Agriculture has the capacity to implement the project for a high-tech agricultural center in Son La province. In addition to guidance from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the government of Son La province, we believe that breakthrough ideas are required to implement this project", added Ms. Lan.

There are currently twenty-two high-tech agricultural zones in Vietnam. However, according to Mr. Phung Duc Tien, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, the majority of these projects have not been developed to their full potential. As a result, farmers and businesses are reluctant to seek their assistance when there is a need for seeds or technology transfer.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that the Vietnam National University of Agriculture is the most suitable organization for the development of a high-tech agricultural center thanks to its sizeable staff of scientists with access to modern technologies. Furthermore, the University can utilize its high-quality human resources, which consist of recent and upcoming graduates.

According to the Deputy Minister, the high-tech agricultural center in Son La province should be separated into three regions. Namely, there will be a core area, home to start-up ideas and research; an application area to replicate ideas; a large-scale production area that enlists the assistance of local businesses and cooperatives.

"The project must provide results that can be applied to practice. It is necessary to build this center as a model for other provinces and cities to follow", emphasized the Deputy Minister.

Accordingly, the Vietnam National University of Agriculture proposed to separate the high-tech agricultural center in Son La province into eight modules. Each module within the center will be responsible for the development of livestock production, crop production, smart agriculture, and forecasting market information.

Additionally, the University proposed to offer services in combination with the development of infrastructure and technology that target a variety of subjects including people and businesses. These services will generate additional revenue for the center, allowing for sustainable development.

Mr. Le Van Duc, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production, recommended the Vietnam National University of Agriculture integrate the development of the project with major strategies previously established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the local government.

According to Mr. Duc, Son La province has multiple advantages in terms of land area, including a specialized fruit production area. However, the province faces challenges in terms of environmental treatment and human resource development. As a result, the attraction of talents to Son La province needs to be thoroughly strategized.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, Deputy Director of the Department of Plant Protection, emphasized that Son La is a major fruit tree production province. However, the on-site phytosanitary treatment for export commodities is limited. Consequently, the University should focus on researching highly practical solutions for the province such as raising natural enemies and pest control agents to support fruit and vegetable production areas.

Mr. Nguyen Van Long, Director of the Department of Animal Health, voiced his concerns regarding funding for the project implementation. He suggested the University consider mobilizing investments from potential and enthusiastic investors.

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien reaffirmed his determination to build a high-tech agricultural center in Son La province. Accordingly, he requested the Vietnam National University of Agriculture to finalize the draft project including the detailed legal basis and reasons for selecting Son La as the project site. 

Additionally, the Deputy Minister suggested the project drafting team to study international experiences from neighboring countries, or countries that share similarities with Vietnam. Based on models that have been put into operation in Europe and Asia, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development requested the University to develop a complete project with a detailed schedule, budget, and suggestions for the implementation.

In addition to balancing the internal needs, he encouraged relevant units under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to carefully study the challenges within the agricultural sector, thereby providing consultations to develop the project in accordance with global trends in the next fifteen to twenty years. Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien concluded that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will organize workshops and invite relevant agencies from Son La province.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan committed to building a high-tech agricultural center in Son La province as directed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Additionally, the implementation process will be divided into several stages to match the planning of local government.