Dong Nai province promotes the agricultural extension
(VAN) Despite being an industrial province, Dong Nai is one of the top agricultural developers, with the
A conference to look back a year of agricultural extension services and to put forward directions and duties for 2022 was held on December 30 in Rach Gia city (Kien Giang province) with the participation of local agricultural extension officers, leaders of the offices of agriculture and rural development, enterprises and 25 farmers with outstanding agricultural extension models.
Implementing 23 agricultural extension programs and projects
Nguyen Van Hien, Deputy Director of Kien Giang's Agricultural Extension Center said the center has deployed 23 programs and projects with 58 demonstration models in 2021. The total capital for these projects was nearly VND19.3 billion.
Agricultural extension officers are training farmers on plant disease control. Photo: Trung Chanh.
Specifically, the center deployed the farming models of rice-shrimp, rice-fish and pineapple-shrimp combinations on more than 10,000 hectares along with 116 livestock production and 24 aquaculture farming areas as well as 3 vocational classes for rural workers. In addition, 15 farming establishments received advices and assistance from the center to gain VietGAP, GlobalGAP and organic certifications for the five farm produce including rice, pineapple, shrimp, durian and mangosteen. In addition, it also helped develop QR code application in electronic traceability system for 10 VietGAP-certificated production chains.
Technological application in rice production combined with large-scale field projects could reduce the amount of seed, input material, lower production costs and bring profits ranging between VND2.7 million and VND4.4 million per hectare.
The integrated farming models such as rice-shrimp and rice-fish cultivation systems not only brought high profits but also could be adaptable to climate change.Photo: Trung Chanh.
Besides, there were many other effective farming models such as pear-shaped melon/lotus and rice rotation; crop cultivation on the edge of shrimp ponds and indoor mushroom growing which met the standards of VietGAP. These models helped increase the local farmers' income, making use of agriculture by-products, reducing negative impacts on environment and creating jobs during leisure after harvest time.
Aquaculture models including rice-fish/shrimp combinations or shrimp-pineapple farming system were just as effective.
Linking production and consumption
According to Nguyen Van Hien, Deputy Director of Kien Giang's Agricultural Extension Center, the projects and program implemented by the center were always accompanied by input material, processing enterprises and cooperatives including Loc Troi Group Joint Stock Company, Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company, Xuan Phuong Company Limited, Nguyen Kim Cuong Company Limited, An Giang Import-Export Company, Tan Hoa cooperative, Xuan Thanh rice mill factory along with traders.
Kien Giang's agricultural extension projects were always accompanied by input material and processing enterprises. Photo: Trung Chanh.
The agricultural extension models and projects implemented in Kien Giang in 2021 have been in line with the province's orientations as well as associated with its agricultural restructuring plan.
With the rice farming models under the center's projects, the local farmers could earn profits between VND14 million and VND21 million per hectare.
Apart from that, the livestock breeding models had high survival rates, bringing profits to breeders. The animals chosen to raise in these models adapted well to local conditions, contributing to food safety and hygiene for consumers.
The integrated aquaculture systems have contributed to the sustainable development of Kien Giang agriculture, taking advantage of the province's strengths and being part of its plan for promoting organic farming and adding value to farm products. Kien Giang have been pushing up building brands for several key agriculture produce such as organic shrimp and rice, giant river prawn raised in the Upper U Minh region.
The models of saltwater and blackish-water aquaculture which used HDPE net and industrial feed as an alternative to fishmeal promoted the advantages of the province and increased the locals' income.
Twenty-five farmers with the outstanding farming model attended the conferene. Photo: Trung Chanh.
The integrated aquaculture systems have contributed to the sustainable development of Kien Giang agriculture, taking advantage of the province's strengths and being part of its plan for promoting organic farming and adding value to farm products. Kien Giang have been pushing up building brands for several key agriculture produce such as organic shrimp and rice, giant river prawn raised in the Upper U Minh region.
The models of saltwater and blackish-water aquaculture which used HDPE net and industrial feed as an alternative to fishmeal promoted the advantages of the province and increased the locals' income.
Quang Trong Thao, Deputy Director of Kien Giang's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development addressed the conference. Photo: Trung Chanh.
"Today agriculture has been shifting from agricultural production to agricultural economy, switching from conventional commodity production to responsible commodity production. Thus, agricultural extension sector must be changed accordingly. When talking about agricultural extension we must think of the establishment of green agricultural value chains rather than the development of farming models and technical transfers," said Quang Trong Thao, Deputy Director of Kien Giang's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Author: D.T.Chanh
Translated by Mai Tham
