Application of high technology - the driving force to increase product value

Recently, agricultural production in Son La province has undergone an opaque transformation. Enterprises, cooperatives, and farmers have proactively invested and boldly applied new scientific, technical, and technological advances in production. Many high-tech agricultural models have been successful and bring high economic value.

Farmers in the Moc Chau district invest in anti-hail nets for plum trees.

Typical models include growing plums, early-ripening longans, and safe off-season vegetables; caring for fruit trees, tea, and coffee according to VietGAP, GlobalGAP, and organic standards; growing custard apples, strawberries in greenhouses, etc. These models have generated incomes ranging from several hundred million to billions of VND/ha/year, increasing earnings and improving the lives of farmers.

In addition, many cooperatives and households also apply modern techniques such as pruning, fruit bagging, investing in drip irrigation systems, automatic water-saving irrigation, applying sensor technology to monitor humidity and soil nutrition, etc. Thanks to the above application, the quality of agricultural products is increasingly improved, meeting the strict requirements of domestic and international markets.

Restructuring agriculture in a modern direction

Implementing the goals of the Resolution of the 15th Provincial Party Congress of Son La, term 2020 - 2025, the province has promoted the restructuring of the agricultural sector in a practical and effective direction, exploiting and maximizing the potential and advantages of each area.

The province has planned and built large-scale concentrated agricultural production areas associated with product processing and consumption. High-tech agricultural production areas are clearly taking shape in districts such as fruit areas in Mai Son, Moc Chau, and Yen Chau; tea areas in Bac Yen, and Phu Yen; coffee regions in Son La, and Mai Son, etc.

The mango growing area of Mai Son district is a high-tech agricultural area in recognition.

Through linking production according to the value chain and forming cooperative groups and new cooperatives, Son La agricultural products not only increase in output but also increase added value. From there, farmers not only produce but also participate deeply in the stages of preliminary processing, preservation, processing, and consumption of products.

In particular, Son La province has focused on attracting investment in high-tech agriculture, creating favorable conditions for large enterprises to invest in large-scale, modern agricultural production and processing projects, and expanding the domestic and foreign product consumption market.

Creating a breakthrough in sustainable development

Promoting the application of high technology in agriculture not only creates a breakthrough in productivity and product quality but also rapidly shifts from traditional agriculture based on exploiting natural resources on a small scale to modern agriculture, large-scale and sustainable commodity production.

At the same time, high-tech agricultural production also contributes to job creation, increasing income for rural people and promoting socio-economic development in localities. Clean agricultural products that are safe for consumers' health are gradually dominating the domestic market and reaching many countries around the world, such as China, Japan, Korea, Australia, the EU, etc.

Up to now, Son La province has had over 300 growing area codes determined to key fruit trees, more than 200 processing and packaging facilities qualified for export, and over 90 safe food supply chains confirmed. Many OCOP products achieve 3 to 5 stars. This is evidence of the effectiveness of applying high technology in agricultural production.

Towards a sustainable future

Promoting the achieved results, in the coming time, Son La province will continue to focus on developing agriculture in the direction of applying high technology, clean agriculture, and organic agriculture associated with digital transformation in the production, processing, and consumption of products. At the same time, strengthen research, application of science and technology, and training high-quality human resources for the agricultural sector.

The province will also strengthen the construction and development of Son La agricultural product brands, expand consumption markets, and promote e-commerce towards sustainable exports. In addition, support policies on capital, science, technology, land, etc. will continue to encourage businesses, cooperatives, and farmers to forcibly invest in developing high-tech agricultural production.

With specific orientations and solutions, along with the synchronous participation of the entire political system and the consensus of the people, Son La is gradually affirming its role as a high-tech agricultural center of the Northwest region, making a crucial contribution to the cause of sustainable agricultural development of the country.

Quoc Tuan

Translated by Tuan Minh Dang