Vietnam masters backbone technologies for agriculture

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), in the agricultural sector, science and technology contributes over 30 percent of the added value in agricultural production, and 38 percent of the added value in the production of plant varieties and livestock. Thanks to the application of science and technology, the productivity of some livestock and crops in Vietnam is high compared with that achieved in other countries in the region and the world.

Domestic enterprises have designed and manufactured many machines and equipment for agricultural production - photo: Quynh Nga

Particularly, in the field of preservation and processing of agricultural products, Vietnam has mastered drying technology to preserve agricultural products, thereby reducing losses to less than 10 percent with vegetables and fruits, while dried rice can be preserved for up to 12 months; applied high-tech in processing to create added value products from seafood waste.

The application of scientific research results and technology transfer has contributed to reasonable adjustment of aquaculture structure. In the field of cultivation, the high-tech agricultural program has focused on applying new technologies (automatic technology, semi-automatic technology, biotechnology, information technology) to major plants and animals.

In the field of animal husbandry and veterinary, nearly 60 technical advances in livestock breeds with good productivity and quality have been recognized; and Vietnam has also mastered many technologies to serve the breeding of livestock, and conserve, develop local livestock breeds.

In the field of agricultural machinery, research institutes under the Ministry of Industry and Trade have successfully manufactured many products to serve farming, harvesting, preserving and processing agricultural and fishery products, and implemented investment projects to produce valuable equipment for agriculture and processing industry. Some products have been exported to a number of countries in the region and the world; for example, the project “Research on synchronous machinery and equipment used in high-tech agricultural production, using renewable energy from agricultural by-products contributing to environmental protection and development of green, clean, and sustainable energy sources” conducted by Assoc. Prof., Dr. Nguyen Dinh Tung from the Research Institute of Agricultural Machinery (RIAM).

Other projects include the “Research, design and manufacture of equipment line systems for factories that treat household waste into high-quality organic nutrients to serve green agricultural production,” “Research, design and manufacture of energy efficient and environmentally friendly synchronous equipment line system for industrial-scale corn seed processing” of the RIAM, or the project “Research and application of rotary freeze-dryer for drying paddy” implemented by Dr. Dinh Van Nhuong, from Sao Do University, and more.

Science and technology is playing an increasingly important role in improving the productivity and quality of Vietnamese agricultural products and is a lever for these products to reach international markets.