The Mekong River Delta should increase the use of advanced technologiesas well as good agricultural practices (GAP) in fruit and vegetableproduction to enhance quality and safety, experts told a seminar held inTien Giang on June 16.
Despite its many achievements, theagricultural sector's development had been unsustainable due to thesmall scale production and lack of market information, Mai Thanh Phung,chief of the National Agriculture Extension Centre's permanent divisionin the south, said.
"With shrinking arable land and increasingpopulation, the application of new technologies in fruit and vegetableproduction is a must to raise productivity and quality," he warned.
Thiswould enable the region's fruits and vegetables gain wider acceptanceand improve their competitiveness in both domestic and internationalmarkets, he told a seminar organised by the centre, the Tien GiangDepartment of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Trade Promotionand Economic Development Joint Stock Company.
Tran Thi Ba of CanTho University said advanced technologies must be used in all stages ofthe value chain from production to consumption to add value to fruitsand vegetables.
Many new horticultural techniques like the use ofnetting and mulch for growing fruit and vegetables and seedlings havebeen developed, but their efficacy is modest compared to their highcosts, preventing companies from expanding their use, according to Ba.
Replyingto a question about how farmers with their limited resources can adoptnew technologies, Ba and Dr Duong Hoa Xo, director of the Ho Chi MinhCity Biotechnology Centre, said farmers could invest gradually based ontheir financial situation.
For instance, they could first investin drip irrigation and increase the use of bio-products instead ofchemical-based pesticides, Xo said.
Vietnam could learn advancedproduction technologies from other countries but use locally availableinputs to reduce costs, he said.
Phung said that with peoplebecoming increasingly concerned about food safety, farmers should paymore attention to producing safe vegetable by following VietGapstandards.
GAP is a collection of practices for on-farmproduction and post-production processes that safeguards the health ofboth producers and consumers, reduces environmental pollution, andresults in the production of safe and healthy foods as well as productswith easily traceable origins.
Phung said agriculturalauthorities should conduct awareness campaigns among farmers about theimportance of the application of GAP and advanced technologies.
Besides, they should raise awareness among consumers about consuming safe products with clear origins, he said.
TheGovernment should strengthen links between farmers and enterprises,with the latter ensuring there are outlets for all GAP-standard produce,the conference heard.
Delegates urged the sector to improvemarket forecast to grow crops that are in demand and strengthenpromotion to diversify export markets for Vietnamese fruits andvegetables.
Nguyen Van Truc, a chilli grower in Cho Gaodistrict's Binh Ninh commune, said local agencies should help farmersunderstand new technologies and apprise them about new strains of seedsto enable them to improve efficiency.
The Mekong Delta has246,000ha under vegetables and 288,000ha under fruits, accounting for 30percent and 34.6 percent of the country's total.-VNA
Despite its many achievements, theagricultural sector's development had been unsustainable due to thesmall scale production and lack of market information, Mai Thanh Phung,chief of the National Agriculture Extension Centre's permanent divisionin the south, said.
"With shrinking arable land and increasingpopulation, the application of new technologies in fruit and vegetableproduction is a must to raise productivity and quality," he warned.
Thiswould enable the region's fruits and vegetables gain wider acceptanceand improve their competitiveness in both domestic and internationalmarkets, he told a seminar organised by the centre, the Tien GiangDepartment of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Trade Promotionand Economic Development Joint Stock Company.
Tran Thi Ba of CanTho University said advanced technologies must be used in all stages ofthe value chain from production to consumption to add value to fruitsand vegetables.
Many new horticultural techniques like the use ofnetting and mulch for growing fruit and vegetables and seedlings havebeen developed, but their efficacy is modest compared to their highcosts, preventing companies from expanding their use, according to Ba.
Replyingto a question about how farmers with their limited resources can adoptnew technologies, Ba and Dr Duong Hoa Xo, director of the Ho Chi MinhCity Biotechnology Centre, said farmers could invest gradually based ontheir financial situation.
For instance, they could first investin drip irrigation and increase the use of bio-products instead ofchemical-based pesticides, Xo said.
Vietnam could learn advancedproduction technologies from other countries but use locally availableinputs to reduce costs, he said.
Phung said that with peoplebecoming increasingly concerned about food safety, farmers should paymore attention to producing safe vegetable by following VietGapstandards.
GAP is a collection of practices for on-farmproduction and post-production processes that safeguards the health ofboth producers and consumers, reduces environmental pollution, andresults in the production of safe and healthy foods as well as productswith easily traceable origins.
Phung said agriculturalauthorities should conduct awareness campaigns among farmers about theimportance of the application of GAP and advanced technologies.
Besides, they should raise awareness among consumers about consuming safe products with clear origins, he said.
TheGovernment should strengthen links between farmers and enterprises,with the latter ensuring there are outlets for all GAP-standard produce,the conference heard.
Delegates urged the sector to improvemarket forecast to grow crops that are in demand and strengthenpromotion to diversify export markets for Vietnamese fruits andvegetables.
Nguyen Van Truc, a chilli grower in Cho Gaodistrict's Binh Ninh commune, said local agencies should help farmersunderstand new technologies and apprise them about new strains of seedsto enable them to improve efficiency.
The Mekong Delta has246,000ha under vegetables and 288,000ha under fruits, accounting for 30percent and 34.6 percent of the country's total.-VNA
