An agricultural product irradiation center to open in the North

On the morning of June 7, after finishing the second group of issues, the National Assembly questioned the third group of topics in science and technology with 7 main content groups. In which, there are problems and solutions to promote the application of high technology for socio-economic development, especially in the field of agriculture.

The Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, and the Ministers of Finance, Planning and Investment, Industry and Trade... are responsible for answering questions and explaining related issues.

Delegate Phan Thi My Dung, from Long An province, asked Minister Huynh Thanh Dat to discuss solutions to help apply high technology to improve labor productivity and life for farmers.

Minister Dat shared that this is a great policy of the Party and State. The Ministry of Science and Technology is working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to deploy innovative and high-tech applications in agricultural production.

According to the industry commander, many businesses have participated in and applied new technologies to agricultural development, such as Loc Troi Group in the rice industry, TH Group in the dairy industry, and Dabaco Group in the livestock industry.

In addition, 290 enterprises are applying technology, 690 production areas with 70% meeting the criteria of high-tech application areas, and nearly 2,000 cooperatives have applied digital transformation and technical advances to production.

Emphasizing that the total export turnover of agro-forestry-fishery products in 2022 will reach more than US$ 52 billion, Minister Huynh Thanh Dat considers this a "common achievement of the agricultural industry with the contribution of science and technology".

However, he acknowledged that applying science and technology in agriculture still has many barriers. The Minister commented that to operate effectively. It needs a significant capital source, infrastructure, production, and human resource training.

"This is also an area with many potential risks but lacks prevention tools such as insurance and investment funds," said Minister Dat.

In the coming time, the Ministry of Science and Technology commits to continue researching and amending mechanisms and policies; at the same time, coordinate with localities to ensure that the hi-tech agricultural zone develops by the objectives and orientations, improve productivity and product quality.

Delegate Nguyen Van Thi, from Bac Giang province, said irradiation is mandatory when exporting agricultural products, namely lychee, to the markets of some countries, including the United States. Over the years, Bac Giang lychees always have to be brought to Ho Chi Minh City to do this, which increases the cost and time. Delegates asked the Minister to provide solutions for establishing an irradiation center in the northern region in the upcoming time.

Minister Huynh Thanh Dat said that during the last trip to accompany the Prime Minister to the United States, he noticed that the Vietnamese side had strict requirements on the irradiation process with lychee. The United States proposed to have experts come to Vietnam to supervise the irradiation process. Equipment and processing conditions must also comply with the importing country's requirements.

The Ministry of Science and Technology has coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to negotiate with the US side, initially achieving some results to establish a qualified irradiation center in the North.

"Negotiation steps are at the final stage. From now until the end of the year, we can irradiate lychees according to US standards to export to your country", Minister Dat expressed his expectation.

Including both questions above, Minister Huynh Thanh Dat had more than 2 hours to answer delegates. About 120 delegates registered to question him - a record number at the 5th session of the 15th National Assembly.

In the spirit of "trying to grasp the proposals and aspirations of voters through questions from delegates to perfect mechanisms, policies and orientations for the implementation of science, technology and innovation tasks", the Ministry of Finance Chief Dat has frankly answered many thorny issues.

One of them is a specific mechanism, taking risks in science and removing administrative barriers in management, which was raised by Delegate Tran Thi Dieu Thuy - President of the Ho Chi Minh City Confederation of Labor. Minister of Science and Technology shared the Ministry has issued 5 new circulars to restructure national science and technology programs.

Many regulations have been abolished, such as the scientist who heads a scientific research project that fails to pass the acceptance test. "We are very interested in the specificity, risks, and latency of science and technology," said Mr. Dat.

Recalling the saying of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, that "Science is the shortest way to prosperity", Minister Dat called on the competent authorities to believe more in scientists and create an adequate for them to realize their full potential.

The Ministry of Science and Technology is coordinating with the Ministry of Finance to research and amend Circular 27 on contract spending, simplifying procurement and payment procedures, and reducing application procedures for scientists.