On Jan. 30, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam and the delegation met with Can Tho University Board of Directors to discuss the construction and development of the regional mechanization center.

The Regional Mechanization Center is defined by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as a non-economic entity operating in the form of socialization rather than as a state administrative body. The center has the involvement of 4 themes, including: State administrative bodies with the role of guiding mechanisms and guidelines; Colleges and universities, notably Can Tho University – the leading human resources training unit in the Mekong Delta; companies, cooperatives and finally banks.

Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam emphasized that the Regional Mechanization Center is not a center owned by a single company, but a cooperation between companies, institutes and schools to provide services and information about the region. At the same time, the Regional Mechanization Center, if established, will be a place where growers’ awareness and thinking will be trained and improved, thereby helping farmers to reorganize production and start creative businesses. At the same time, the center will also be a place to provide repair and creative services, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will support mechanisms and guidelines to allow the center to work according to the state’s guidelines.

According to the proposal of the Department of Economic Cooperation and Rural Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), the Regional Mechanization Center will promote research and production of household machines on the basis of institute, university and enterprise cooperation. From there, promoting research and development, green innovation, technology transfer, training to improve professional skills for mechanization.

Besides, the center offers consulting activities, application of machines, equipment and technology in production; Supply of machines and equipment, technology and mechanization services, insurance and repair services. At the same time, the center will be the central point to link production, processing and consumption of agricultural products, agricultural by-products, environmental treatment and waste; Providing other agricultural mechanization development services such as start-up assistance, machine improvement, attracting resources such as capital, mechanization investment technology, etc.

The National Center for Agricultural Extension is expected to be the focal point to coordinate with Can Tho University and mobilize international organizations to implement the project to establish a regional mechanization center in the Mekong Delta.

Prof. Dr. Ha Thanh Toan, Rector of Can Tho University, expressed optimism about the cooperation in building the Regional Mechanization Center. At the same time, Mr. Toan instructed affiliated faculties and schools to coordinate with agencies affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to implement the project.

In addition, Can Tho University, with a team of experts with many years of experience, has committed to support the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in advising, guiding and strengthening the capacity of local agricultural advisory staff. At the same time, the school will develop learning materials and pass them on to local agricultural advisory centers for use.

“The center will first be piloted in the Mekong Delta and then replicated across the country to become a real resource. This is the center for training, transfer, invention, service and advice for farmers. After this meeting, the units of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Can Tho University will start implementing the project immediately, do it, learn from experience, adapt, not perfect,” stressed Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam. strong.