Irradiation centre to open in the north to serve fruit export: minister

Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) is working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to negotiate with the US to set up an irradiation centre in the northern region to facilitate fruit export, MOST Minister Huynh Thanh Dat told the National Assembly’ question-and-answer session on June 7.

As irradiation is compulsory to the export of farm produce to some markets, including the US, a legislator from the northern province of Bac Giang, a lychee farming hub, asked the minister about measures for conducting irradiation of lychee, which is entering the harvest season, and many other fruits in the northern region so as to meet technical requirements in some importing countries.

Dat said that previously, lychee of Bac Giang had to be sent to Ho Chi Minh City or Long An province in the south for irradiation, leading to high expenses. As the US has strict requirements for fruit irradiation, the MOST is coordinating with the MARD to negotiate with the US to open an irradiation centre in the northern region.

By the end of the year, lychee can be irradiated in the north in accordance with the US standards to enter this market, he noted, expressing his hope that the move will help boost the export of lychee and other fruits.

Talking about shortcomings in the application of high technology to agricultural production, he said high-tech application to farming to improve labour productivity and farmers’ life quality is a major policy of the Party and State.

The MOST and the MARD are also working closely together to step up the application. Many businesses have engaged in this effort such as Loc Troi (rice production), TH True Milk (dairy production), and Dabaco (livestock farming).

In 2022, agro-forestry-fishery exports and imports stood at about 53.22 billion USD, which is partly attributable to the application of science and technology, statistics show.

However, the official admitted that there remains numerous barriers to the application, noting it requires large capital for infrastructure, production, and manpower development while there are also many latent risks in the field.

The MOST will consider revising mechanisms and policies while asking localities to develop high-tech agricultural zones in line with targets and orientations, and promote productivity and goods quality, Dat added./.