More than 400 local and foreign scientists, policy makers and entrepreneurs discussed science –technology cooperation for the sustainable agricultural development of the Central Highlands at a seminar in Lam Dong province on July 24.

The Central Highlands region groups Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, and Lam Dong provinces, covering an area of some 5.46 million hectares with 1.99 million hectares of farmland.

Vice Chairman of the Lam Dong provincial People’s Committee Pham S said the Central Highlands is a key agricultural area with its strength in horticulture, forestry, animal husbandry and mining.

However, local agricultural production methods are still outdated, and science and technology have not been applied on a large scale, not to mention the region’s forestry resources, biodiversity, and environment being threatened by climate change, he added.

At the seminar, participants asked regional authorities to iron out obstacles to the transfer and development of farming technology and connect with local science and technology units to optimise the use of scientific advances.

Experts presented over 40 reports on the application of latest biotechnology in agriculture.-VNA