VietNamNet Bridge – Dr Vo Tong Xuan, the first Southeast Asian scientist to win the Dioscoro L Umali Achievement Award for Agricultural Development, voices concerns with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

We have discussed this a lot, but the role of the State remains unclear.

What do our international friends say about Vietnamese farmers?

They praise Vietnamese farmers for their skill and hard-work, but they also say that our farmers are given a free hand. This isn’t a compliment. In reality, they are alluding to weak production management. Lack of control and direction means that farmers freely choose what kind of trees to grow and which breeds of animals to raise.

Some farmers imitate their peers in their choice of crops and animals, thinking that the latter will know what is the most efficient. Others are just competing for superiority with their peers.

Discerning people recognise that a majority of Vietnamese farmers follow and pass down traditional methods through generations. Few keep up with the newer, cutting-edge techniques recommended by scientists. These are shortcomings Vietnamese farmers need to overcome.

Do you mean that Vietnamese farmers have not been introduced to newer production techniques?

Scientists have instructed them, but they don’t listen.

A successful farmer told me he didn’t want to listen to all of my advice, even though I had knowledge of coveted techniques. He said he was unsure about whether he would reap good or lean crops, but that he could harvest 30-40 bushels of rice per working day based on his own methods.

He said to me: “If I follow your methodologies, it does not matter when I harvest good crops, but in case of a loss, must I go hungry?”

If they say so it means they are still on the defensive, partially because they have little confidence in agricultural extension workers.

But why don’t farmers trust, or follow extension workers’ instructions?

Because those responsible for encouraging agricultural development have failed to build the trust of farmers. Recently, I designed a curriculum to train agronomists in rural development for the An Giang University. The agronomists are taught a range of farming activities, such as breeding, processing and trading. When they graduate, they are supposed to work with farmers in rice fields, supporting them and directing them to lucrative markets to sell their produce.

More than 300 students have graduated, but regretfully, most of them are working for companies in jobs they’re not trained for. This is because there is no room for them in the personnel units at communes and districts.

Who helps farmers to sell their products?

Farmers are encouraged to produce according to plans to avoid being made redundant. But many companies, most of them State-owned, are only pursuing profit. By doing so, they lose out on the benefits of long term partners and stable market shares. Farmers, meanwhile, struggle to sell their produce.

How can the problem be solved?

Companies must actively seek out markets and sign contracts with farmers specifying quantity, quality and delivery times.

For this to happen, the State must play an intermediary role by persuading farmers to use new techniques for the production of quality goods.

The State should also support companies to build trade names for commodities.

It should take on the role of arbitrator to settle disputes in case contracts are violated by either side.

More processing companies should also be set up to raise the value of agricultural products.

(Source: Viet Nam News)