VIETNAM HAS IDENTIFIED THE DEVELOPMENT OF HI-TECH AGRICULTURE AS THE SECTOR’S DEVELOPMENT ORIENTATION IN THE COMING YEARS. HOWEVER, IT IS SAID THAT FARMERS HAVE NOT GRASPED THIS CONCEPT FULLY AND CORRECTLY. CAN YOU COMMENT?

Although the term “hi-tech agriculture” has been around for quite a long time, it seems that there is still confusion about what it means. Most people generally understand that it means a technology-based farming method, which sounds pretty sensible, but is actually insufficient.

Yes it can be said that term has only beenunderstood properly by policy makers and researchers, while most farmers have a limited

understanding that also limits their ability to fully tap the potential for hi-tech agriculture.

Many farmers think that when they grow flowers in a glass house they are engaging in hi-tech agriculture. Actually, hi-tech agriculture involves a lot more, from the production of quality seedlings and plant varieties, cultivation technology, automation, IT application, biotechnology, organic farming and development of human skills to get

high-yielding, good quality produce.

THE AGRICULTURAL METHODS OF ISRAEL, SINGAPORE AND JAPAN ARE WELCOMED AND APPLAUDED IN VIET NAM. MANY LEADING FARMING TECHNOLOGY |COMPANIES HAVE BEEN INVESTING AND TRANSFERRING TECHNOLOGY TO VIETNAM. HOWEVER, EXPERTS SAY WE SHOULD NOT MECHANICALLY APPLY MODELS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES HERE. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION?

It would be absurd to mechanically apply farming models of a country with cutting-edge production technologies to another country’s agriculture sector characterised by use of outdated cultivationmethods and scattered production.

In developed countries with advanced agriculture sectors, technology is applied synchronously on a large-scale basis with evenly- developed infrastructure and highly skilled labour.

Conversely, in Vietnam, a country with erratic climate, uneven terrain, scattered production and incomplete distribution system, hi-tech agriculture can only be developed in places that meet certain infrastructure requirements and technicaldemands.

Generally speaking, the technology chosen for farming must suit the particular characteristics of each country and territory, like climate, infrastructure, market orientation and socio- economic situation. For example, in areas prone to drought and salinity, it is necessary to use biotechnology to generate drought-resistant and salinity-resistant seedlings.

Vietnam needs to quickly research more and invest in technology that suits the country’s different cultivation conditions. If we receive technologies from foreign countries without proper adjustments, hi-tech agriculture will definitely become a private operation zone for large enterprises.

RECENTLY, IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE MEDIA, NGUYEN HUU THAI HOA, VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE VNPT STRATEGIC ADVISORY COUNCIL, SAID THAT IN SMART AGRICULTURE, THE DECISIVE FACTOR IS |NOT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BUT |PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION?

I agree. As I mentioned earlier, the success of applying technology in agricultural production depends mostly on the actual conditions of land, climate and production methods. There is no denying that in order to develop technology-based agriculture, we need to develop an infrastructure network that requires IT professionals,

However, that is not the decisive element.

SOME EXPERTS HAVE SAID THAT |HUMAN RESOURCES ARE THE BIGGEST |CONSTRAINT FOR BUSINESSES WHEN INVESTING IN HI-TECH AGRICULTURE BECAUSE IT REQUIRES SKILLED WORKERS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN |97 PER CENT OF CURRENT AGRICULTURAL |WORKERS ARE UNTRAINED. HOW CAN |WE TACKLE THIS PROBLEM?

It is true that the lack of skilled labour is a bottleneck for hi-tech agriculture development.

For example, there are tech-nicians or engineers who have spent their entire life research-|ing and grasping traditional |farming methods and not con-|versant with advanced technologies, far less applying it in production.

The solutions to this problem include improving the staff |qualifications at research institutes, socialising the research |system on hi-tech agriculture |and renewing management |mechanisms of the research |system.

Besides, it is also necessary to strengthen the effectiveness of the agricultural extension system and introduce new technology or information on farming methods to farmers.