Problems associated with transfer of high-tech applications need to be
solved to help promote the growth of the HCM City High-Tech Agricultural
Park (HHAP), heard a seminar held in HCM City on August 15.
“Policies which attract agricultural and rural investors, especially
in high-tech agriculture cultivation, must be completed, along with
adjustment of policies of agricultural production co-operation,” said
Nguyen Hai An, director of the Park’s Incubation Centre.
Dr. Nguyen Tan Binh and Dr. Huynh Thanh Dien, lecturers of Van Hien
University, pointed out that transferring high-tech application faces
hindrances, including the inability of farmers to use new technology,
limited capital, and small land plots unsuited for high-tech
applications.
“Enterprises are participating in
high-tech agricultural research but they are not directly taking part in
real production,” Binh said.
To solve the problem,
he suggested that public-private partnerships be established in
high-tech agricultural research and development.
“Local authorities should promote research trends and develop
agriculture as well as invite enterprises to take part from the very
beginning. The work should not be done only by research institutes and
universities,” Dien said.
He also emphasises the
important role of farmers in transferring new plantation technology and
asked that they be trained often.
From now to 2020,
the HHAP will include four regions, with the first the current location
of 88ha in Pham Van Coi commune, Cu Chi District, which is focused on
plantations.
Another 200ha will specialise in fresh
pet-fish research, and 90ha will be allotted for marine research in Can
Gio. The fourth will be in Binh Chanh District and will specialise in
animal-feed research.
The park, which was set up in
2004, has gained achievements but it has been limited because of
haphazard investment and a poor support system that could attract
enterprises. In addition, products have not been very popular with
customers.
There are 29 high-tech agriculture parks in the country.-VNA