Evaluating 3 years of implementation of coordination program between the Viet Nam Farmer Association and the Department of Science and Technology of the Southern provinces and cities.

Deputy Minister addressed at the seminar

        The seminar attracted attention of 200 delegates who are scientists, and managers, and the Farmers Association in the Southern provinces. Specially, the seminar was lived on DN2 channel of Dong Nai Radio and Television Station, which created convenient conditions for farmers to follow. Particularly, over 4,000 farmer households at 146 wards and villages in the province attended an online exchange with scientists and managers at the seminar.

        For the purpose of applying scientific advances in production to enhance the efficiency and the competitive capacity of Vietnam agricultural products, the Viet Nam Farmer Association and the Department of Science and Technology have signed an agreement on a coordination program for the 2005-2010 period. Through the review report of Vietnam Farmers Association Central and 20 speeches of the Department of Science and Technology and Farmer Associations in the Southern provinces and cities, the seminar evaluated the results gained during 3 years of implementation of the program for the 2005-2007 period. At the same time, it pointed out the difficulties in reality so that mechanism and policies as well as solutions to complete the models were proposed, aiming at boosting the application of Science and Technology in agriculture. Addressing at the seminar, Deputy Minister Le Dinh Tien highly appreciated the achievements of 3-year implementation of the program and hoped that there would be stronger coordination next years, contributing to industrialize and modernize agriculture and rural areas.

The Seminar view

        Thanks to being lived on Dong Nai Radio and Television Station, the seminar received many questions from farmers and associations’members within and outside the province. The problems getting special attention of farmers were the output of agricultural products, the curb of material price hike, the development of post-harvest preservation and processing technologies; and enhancing the skills of associations’ members and farmers. In production reality and their real life, farmers also placed a number of “orders” with scientists. The farmers were provided necessary information via this direct exchange.

        The seminar was successful with the message “If there is no close coordination between farmers and scientists – enterprises and State, it is difficult for domestic goods to compete with others even at home”.

        Reported by Huong Sen, Translated by THKC