Workshop highlights scientific-technological application in agriculture

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam speaks at the workshop. (Credit: VGP)

The workshop, which attracted over 500 delegates, was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat and Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan.

Speaking at the workshop, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said that scientific and technological development in agriculture should not only depend on the State’s investment, but bussinesses should also be attracted and encouraged to take part in studies, transfers and links with farmers.

Scientific research centres should not only pay attention to modern technologies and large-scale investment, but also focus on small-scale initiatives in scientific and technological applications, in order to increase productivity, reduce costs, improve agricultural products’ quality for the ongoing globalisation and integration, Deputy PM Dam said.

According to the MARD, the country now has 33,000 businesses operating in the agricultural field, of which 90% have capital below VND10 billion (US$470,000), thus the investment in scientific and technological renewals and studies accounts for small amount in the total turnover.

In addition, among 350 businesses with potential to become scientific and technologically orientated businesses, merely 28 (8%) are in agriculture with a low effectiveness and commercialisation rate, a limited number of scientific-application products and weak competitiveness in quality.

NDO