Long term solution

Faced with the situation that mechanization is still slow, not synchronized, and has not met the needs of agricultural development, especially in the Mekong Delta and across the country in general, many experts and leaders of the agricultural sector in the Mekong Delta region said : The establishment of a regional agricultural mechanization center to speed up the mechanization process and promote the development of agricultural production is an urgent general trend.

Mr. Le Thanh Tung, deputy director of the Department of Crop Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, acknowledged that at present, not only mechanization but also production factors need to be linked and coordinated to promote efficiency. First is the association of farmers into cooperatives, then the links between cooperatives, then the links between administrative units and regional links. When these small connections become large connections, all areas of raw materials are synchronized in terms of infrastructure and agricultural processes so that suitable machines and equipment can be deployed.

Synchronization in agricultural mechanization is understood more deeply as a harmonious combination between the devices, devices and technologies in the stages of agricultural production.

Industry connected with production-technical infrastructure. Next comes the well-trained and capable staff that ensures job safety. Finally, synchronization throughout the chain from production, transport, pre-processing, preservation, processing to product consumption.

This is a very important requirement to promote synchronous agricultural mechanization and promote sustainable agriculture. Mr. Tung pointed out that the levels of mechanization in production are not uniform at present. There are many machines, but they are not synchronized, resulting in unreduced production costs and non-increasing profits. One short-term solution suggested by Mr. Tung is to set up service centers in the districts. When there are service centers, people think about training staff, providing services, and maintaining machines. And the longer-term solution is to create a center of agricultural mechanization in the region.

Mr Nguyen Van Cuong, principal of Can Tho University Polytechnic School, shared the same view, saying that focusing on establishing a regional agricultural mechanization center is a sine qua non. The important question is how to arrange the implementation, organizational structure, operating mechanism and provision of this center for each region. As the living standards of farmers in the Mekong Delta are currently still limited, Mr. Cuong estimates that some areas have low living standards.

According to the proposal of the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Rural Development (MARD), the Mekong Delta Agricultural Mechanization Center will promote research and domestic machine production on the basis of cooperation with other institutes, schools and enterprises. From there, promoting research and development, green innovation, technology transfer, training to improve professional skills for mechanization.

In addition, consulting activities on the use of machines, systems and technologies in production; Provision of machinery, equipment, technology and mechanization services, insurance services, repairs… At the same time, the center becomes the hub for connecting production, processing to consumption of agricultural products, agricultural by-products, environmental treatment, waste, as well as other services to Development of agricultural mechanization, such as

Experts believe that the establishment of an agricultural mechanization center in the Mekong Delta will overcome the current shortcomings of mechanization, especially household-scale spontaneous mechanization. In particular, it makes an important contribution to the promotion of research and manufacture of machinery and equipment in the country and the mechanization of the reorganization of production. Since then, promoting the change in mechanization approach from the household level to large-scale synchronous mechanization, coupled with concentrated areas of raw materials and goods.

Mobilization of social resources in mechanization

Recently, the delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, led by Vice Minister Tran Thanh Nam, had an exchange and information on the need to set up the Mekong Delta Agricultural Mechanization Center. Deputy Minister Nam wishes Can Tho University will be the lead entity to link and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to develop a project to set up the center.

Through the exchange, the two sides agreed and directed relevant entities to enhance coordination and cooperation to promote the development of a project to establish the Mekong Delta Agricultural Mechanization Center. Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam has put his heart and soul into the Mekong Delta Agricultural Mechanization Center to be a training center to raise awareness among producers and thereby reorganize production for farmers. In addition, this will be a place for students to visit the center, study and even participate in the activities, creating the motivation to make the students love the mechanical profession again. In particular, promoting the spirit of innovation among students.

In addition, the aim of the Mekong Delta Agricultural Mechanization Center will be a place to provide repair and creative services. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will support mechanisms and guidelines to allow the center to operate in accordance with the direction of the state. Deputy Minister Nam determined that the center will be a socialization unit that will mobilize the participation and support of 4 subjects, including: state administrative bodies; Universities, especially Can Tho University; Company; cooperatives and banks.

In the near future, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development aims to develop and standardize the criteria for the use of machinery and equipment to gradually lead farmers to become farm workers. Therefore, it is very important right now to promote activities such as student education, establish a coordination mechanism between provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta, mobilize cooperatives to participate, and a prerequisite for the establishment of the Mekong Delta Agricultural Mechanization Center create. Can Tho University will be the lead agency coordinating with the relevant units of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and mobilizing the involvement of international organizations to start building the project.

The establishment of the Mekong Delta Agricultural Mechanization Center will help increase the rate of mechanization in the region. This is a fundamental and important solution to promote the improvement of productivity and quality of agricultural, forestry and fisheries products with the aim of reducing product costs and improving the value and income of farmers involved in the production chain.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has advised the Prime Minister to announce the Strategy for Mechanization of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Processing by 2030 (Resolution No. 858/QD-TTg) and the forthcoming decree on synchronizing the mechanism with development orientation agricultural mechanization towards synchronous mechanization that links the production chain with the processing and consumption of products; Promote the use of machinery, equipment, advanced technology, digital technology and intelligent technology in all stages of agricultural production.