Ninh Binh applies hi-tech to create breakthroughs in agriculture

The COVID-19 pandemic and the African swine fever have caused great losses to the province's agricultural sector. Specifically, the added value of agro-forestry-fishery production in the 2016-2020 period reached only 2.02 percent. However, the production value was 138.4 million VND per hectare, 8.4 million VND higher than the set target figure.

The result was attributed to the application of science and technology, especially hi-tech, in agricultural production. This is seen as a key solution to increase productivity, value and income. 

Ninh Binh is now home to one company (Dong Giao Foodstuff JSC) which is recognised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for its hi-tech agricultural production. In addition, 30 local enterprises are applying hi-tech in agricultural production, harvesting, preservation and processing with a combined area of 700 hectares.

Advanced technologies have been applied in all fields from plantation, livestock, fishery to forestry. The percentage of agricultural production area applying water-saving irrigation technology has increased from 24.6 percent in 2017 to 34.6 percent in 2020. The proportion of agro-forestry-aquatic products produced under good agricultural practices (GAP) or equivalent standards has increased from 3.4 percent in 2017 to 10.3 percent in 2020.

Mechanisation and automation have been implemented in agricultural production like pre-planting, irrigation, fertilizer, and harvesting.

 The formation of concentrated and large-scale agricultural production zones, applying high technologies in the districts of Nho Quan, Yen Khanh, Kim Son and Hoa Lu and Tam Diep city. 

The husbandry sector also applied hi-tech in taking care, managing livestock herds. This has gradually created conditions for the livestock sector to develop sustainably. The output of livestock products saw an increase ranging from 10 - 15 percent from the figure of 2015.

The application of hi-tech can be also seen in aquaculture. The coastal district of Kim Son has widely implemented biotech and VietGap standards in white-leg shrimp farming.

In addition, Kim Son also builds production - consumption linkages between Ninh Binh and other neigbouring localities in supplying baby oysters and crabs for farming.

In order to continue promoting fast and sustainable economic development, the 22nd Provincial Party Congress defined assisting production zones, applying digital and advanced technologies in line with geographical and administrative features of each ecological sub-regions, serving tourism's growth.

The province will also provide training courses for farmers, contributing to the implementation of digital transformation in the agriculture sector towards a smart and modern agriculture.

Stepping up the application of hi-tech in agricultural production is considered as an important solution to restructure the province's agriculture sector, thus promoting the modernisation and sustainable development of agriculture and rural areas.

Translated by Nguyen Thuy