Vietnam: Science and technology contribute over 30% of added value in agriculture

The information was shared by Mr. Nguyen Mai Duong, Director of the Department of Technology Application and Development, Ministry of Science and Technology, at the “Technology Forum for Agriculture and Rural Development” held on October 1. The forum is part of the event Techconnect and Innovation Vietnam 2024 – Techconnect and Innovation Vietnam 2024.

Mr. Duong informed that in the past 10 years, science and technology have contributed significantly to the development of Vietnamese agriculture, with more than 30% of added value in production and 38% in the field of plant varieties, pets. Thanks to the application of advanced technology, Vietnam’s rice productivity is 1.5 times higher than Thailand’s. Vietnamese coffee ranks second in the world in terms of productivity, only after Brazil. Pangasius reached a productivity of 500 tons/ha, the highest level in the world, while white-legged shrimp farming technology helped increase output to more than 40 tons/ha, while reducing production costs by 30-35% compared to previous years. old method.

Further illustrating the results, Mr. Nguyen Huu Ninh, Deputy Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that by 2023, the contribution rate of agriculture to national GDP will be 14, 6%. “Science and technology – innovation – digital transformation are the overarching factors and main driving forces,” he said.

In the field of post-harvest, Mr. Pham Anh Tuan, Director of the Institute of Agricultural Mechanics and Post-harvest Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that scientific applications help post-harvest preservation technology gradually. reaching an advanced level compared to other countries in the region and the world, helping to improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector. Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable output currently reaches about 30 million tons/year, export turnover will reach 5.69 billion USD in 2023, an increase of 70% compared to the previous year.

Modern technologies help prolong preservation time, products create added value of over 20%, quality has outstanding advantages compared to traditional methods, achieving quality equivalent to imported but still saving money. Save time and investment costs.

“Vietnam’s level of post-harvest preservation and processing technology is constantly improving, reaching an average level compared to the world,” he said. To improve competitiveness, Mr. Tuan said that Vietnam needs to focus on investing in research and innovation, creating a favorable environment, appropriate mechanisms and policies for scientists to maximize their abilities. , quickly access and apply advanced technologies, contributing to improving the value of agricultural products.

According to Mr. Le Minh Linh, Deputy Director of the National Agricultural Extension Center, from 2020 to 2023, the agricultural sector will apply 233 new technical advances through VietGAP, biosafety, disease safety… processes to help Increase productivity and production efficiency by an average of 15%, reduce production costs, and improve product quality.

He recommended that research units, organizations, and scientific managers pay attention, allocate resources for scientific and technological research activities in agriculture, and regularly update technical advances. The application of technology needs to go hand in hand with promoting ecological agriculture models, modernizing rural areas and developing new distribution channels to connect supply and demand.

Techconnect and Innovation Vietnam 2024 is held for 2 days September 30 – October 1. This is an annual event hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The event becomes a forum for businesses and experts to discuss and share information with policy makers, promote application, technology transfer, and product commercialization.