High-tech orchid production in Yên Sở Commune, Hoài Đức District is a boon for farmers. Photo courtesy of the Hà Nội Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội has developed its high-tech agricultural sector in recent years, with the cultivation, husbandry and aquaculture industries all reaping the rewards. 

The members of Vĩnh Thượng Agricultural Cooperative, in Sơn Công Commune, Ứng Hòa District, planted 5ha of safe vegetables four years ago.

Thanks to the successful use of high-tech farming practices, the co-operative has expanded its production area to 27ha.

Its vegetable production area has been certified as safe by the city Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The co-operative has successfully built a model to grow greenhouse vegetables with a scale of 5,000m2 that was designed synchronously and modernly with a full range of water rigs, automatic misting and biological fertilisers, without pesticides.

On average, it provides more than 10 tonnes of vegetables to the city market per day.

The high-tech melon growing model of Bùi Văn Chung's family in Hồng Quang Commune, Ứng Hòa District, is also highly appreciated by local authorities and residents.

He farms cantaloupe on an area of 6,200sq.m that uses a drip irrigation system and the whole process from planting to harvesting is managed and monitored by smartphones.

He said that the temperature and light control system has ensured the best conditions for the plants.

Thanks to the use of technology, Chung's cantaloupe is sold locally and exported.

Ngọc Linh Hòa Lạc high-tech agricultural ecological area in Hà Nội's Tiến Xuân Commune, Thạch Thất District, produces safe vegetables. Photo courtesy of Hà Nội Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Tạ Văn Tường said that the city has many farmers, businesses and co-operatives that have been investing in high-tech agriculture and are constantly looking for new technologies to use.

The city is home to 164 high-tech agricultural production models, of which 109 relate to crop production, 40 to livestock, and 15 to aquaculture, according to the department.

The value of high-tech agricultural products currently accounts for about 32 per cent of the city's total agricultural production value.

The high-tech agricultural production models, although small-scale, have high economic efficiency and are consistent with the reality of farming in the city, including using greenhouses with temperature and light control systems, using Israeli irrigation technology, probiotics, and high-quality varieties, and applying organic farming processes.

A highlight in husbandry was the installing of cages equipped with cooling mist systems, and automatic troughs for cows, pig and chickens, while in aquaculture the use of water fans and biological products in water resource treatment has been a revelation, according to Tường.

He said using technology in agriculture has increased product value, ensured food safety, and brought higher incomes to farmers.

Although the city has achieved positive results, the scale of high-tech agricultural production was still not commensurate with its potential, according to the Director of the city Agricultural Extension Centre Vũ Thị Hương.

She said applying high-tech equipment to farming has given a new impetus to the city's agricultural sector, however, the application was also facing challenges.

According to Hương, expanding high-tech agricultural models requires large-scale investment in infrastructure and technology.

Additionally, high-tech enterprises and farmers need to be more closely connected.

Tạ Văn Tường said the city's agriculture department should continue supporting localities and farmers to use technology to increase productivity and quality in the product preservation, processing and consumption steps.

The department will also open technological training courses to improve the skills of farmers.

It will continue researching and innovating technology, propose supportive policies on investment capital, complete the planning of concentrated high-tech agricultural areas, and develop agricultural production to suit the conditions of each region, said Tường. VNS