OVs give advice to HCM Citys hi-tech agriculture development

Illustrative photo (Source: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City - Nearly 100 overseas Vietnamese (OV) experts, intellectuals and entrepreneurs in agriculture have given advice to Ho Chi Minh City in developing hi-tech farming during a conference in the city on October 19.

Duong Hoa Xo, Vice Director of the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, underscored a small number of agricultural firms, especially those investing in hi-tech agriculture, in the city.

He held that hi-tech agricultural enterprises should become a motivation force in the formation of production chain.

Although agriculture accounts for only 1 percent of the city’s GDP, the sector has received due attention from the municipal leaders. HCM City aims to build an innovative and modern co-operative production model by 2020 with priority to infrastructure and science and technology application.

Vice President and General Secretary of the Overseas Vietnamese Entrepreneurs’ Association Peter Hong, a Vietnamese Australian owning a hi-tech agricultural firm in the city, said that Vietnam is an agricultural country, but it is difficult to find a source of clean agricultural product supply here.

He suggested learning Australia’s experience in forming specialised centres for research, application and transfer of technology to farmers across the country.

Nguyen Quoc Binh, a Vietnamese Canadian, said that Ho Chi Minh City should focus to some major products such as vegetables, fruits, flowers and ornamental fish, while making careful planning for the sector’s development.

At the same time, Tony Lam, CEO and General Director of US Farm company, highlighted the need to form a “supermarket restaurant” model to ensure the smooth selling of farm produce.