Promoting the application of science and technology in agricultural and rural development

In her opening speech, Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union Bui Thi Thom affirmed: Science and technology always have a very important position and role in the development of our country; including the development of agriculture, farmers and rural areas, especially in the current period. Over the past many years, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union and the Ministry of Science and Technology have periodically signed programs to coordinate scientific and technological activities, actively directing the vertical sectors of the two sides in 63 provinces and cities to coordinate implementation. Program of coordination of activities No. 07, period 2021 - 2025 is a testament to the effective coordination between the two sides.

Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union Bui Thi Thom said that the coordination program sets out a number of main goals, including: Further improving the effectiveness of information and propaganda activities; mobilizing members and farmers nationwide to actively apply scientific and technological advances to improve the efficiency of production, business and service activities; developing family economy and collective economy, contributing to the implementation of "Developing concentrated, large-scale and modern commodity agriculture, applying new technology, high added value; restructuring agriculture, developing rural economy associated with building new rural areas, towards ecological agricultural models, modern rural areas, civilized farmers" in the spirit of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress.

After more than two years of implementation, the Association at all levels from the central to the grassroots level has coordinated to organize more than 75,000 propaganda sessions for more than 3 million members and farmers; organized 96 training courses on the content of "Raising awareness, knowledge and skills on circular agricultural production at the scale of households, farms, cooperative economic groups and cooperatives" for 5,400 farmer members in 24 provinces and cities.

The two sides actively cooperate to support farmers in promoting technical innovation initiatives through the "Farmers' Technical Innovation" contest; build and effectively implement 3 models of applying science and technology in circular agricultural production, at the scale of households, farms, and cooperatives in Bac Giang and Nam Dinh...

At the workshop, there were 8 presentations by delegates assessing the achievements, shortcomings, limitations and proposing solutions for the Vietnam Farmers' Union and the Ministry of Science and Technology to coordinate more effectively in the coming time. Most opinions highly appreciated the contents and activities proposed in the coordination program as practical, appropriate, and timely to meet the current needs of science and technology in agricultural production, rural economic development and new rural construction for farmer members.

In his closing speech, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Hoang Giang highly appreciated the results achieved in the program of coordination of activities between the two units in the period of 2021 - 2025. The Farmers' Association of 63 provinces and cities has had coordination programs with the Departments of Science and Technology with many innovative, practical and effective activities.

Through the cooperation program, it has helped raise awareness of farmer members about the position and importance of science and technology. Farmers have changed their production mindset from small-scale production to the application of science and technology, investing in modern technology in production and processing to bring high economic value. In addition to professional activities, the two sides have coordinated to organize competitions on farmers' scientific and technological initiatives, attracting a large number of farmer members to participate.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Hoang Giang also acknowledged the coordination in building and expanding pilot models of applying science and technology; proposed that the two sides agree to further strengthen information, propaganda and mobilization work in the coming time to encourage members and farmers to actively apply scientific and technological advances to improve the efficiency of production and business activities; organize training courses to raise awareness for officials, members and farmers about the position and importance of science and technology.

The two sides also need to promote the development, application and replication of models of scientific and technological application in safe agricultural production, organic agriculture, ecological agriculture, etc.; effectively implement the tasks and contents of the Program "Supporting the application and transfer of scientific and technological advances to serve the socio-economic development of rural, mountainous and ethnic minority areas in the period of 2021-2025" of the Prime Minister.

“The active and effective implementation of the coordination program has helped the Vietnam Farmers' Union at all levels and the Ministry of Science and Technology have more theoretical, scientific and practical bases to promptly advise the Party and State on policies and strategies for agricultural, farmer and rural development,” Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Hoang Giang emphasized.