At the Agritechnica Live event last week, Bayer reaffirmed its commitment to contributing to the sustainable development of agriculture in Vietnam by showcasing some innovative solutions for the country's farmers. The company is one of the event's two diamond sponsors.
Bayer unwrapped its offering through a variety of activities, including on-farm demonstrations, presentations at technical conferences, and exhibitions of advanced solutions for various crops, as part of its ForwardFarming concept.
Agritechnica Live 2022, organized by the German Agricultural Society (DLG), VNU Exhibitions Asia Pacific, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and the National Agricultural Extension Center (NAEC), and hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Cn Th City Peoples' Committee, not only provided Mekong Delta farmers with access to sustainable modern technologies but also provided a forum for policy discussions and collaboration on sustainable agriculture.
The National Agriculture Extension Center under the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development and Bayer signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate and share practical measures for farmers in the Mekong Delta, with the goal of improving farm productivity and sustainable agricultural practices in Vietnam. Collaborations with other industry stakeholders on key sustainable rice production in the delta, as well as support for improved on-farm practices, productivity, and crop quality, are among the areas of cooperation covered by this MOU.
Bayer presented its Much More Rice solutions at the Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute farm demonstrations to help Vietnamese farmers improve their rice performance, quality, and profitability while addressing long-term challenges posed by pests, diseases, weeds, and unfavourable environmental conditions.
Much More Rice has proven its effectiveness in controlling insects, diseases, and weeds by combining the timely application of seed treatments, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides, as well as proper cultivation and good farming practices, to ensure farmland ecosystem protection, reducing chemical use in agriculture, and improving farmers' incomes.
Bayer also demonstrated Airfarm, an innovative digital modular platform that uses drones for smart field mapping and disease prediction to serve multiple purposes such as spraying, fertilizing, sowing, growth management, sustainability, and farming efficiency. Other 'Much More' integrated management solutions for various crops, such as Much More Watermelon, Much More Tomato, Much More Mango, and Much More Pomelo, were also displayed at the Bayer exhibition stall at Mng Thanh Hotel.
"At Bayer, we believe Trung tâm Khuyn nông Quc gia (NAEC) can shape the future of agriculture," said Chu Vit Hà, head of the crop science division at Bayer Vietnam. We've been using science and imagination to advance health and nutrition for over 150 years. And by working together, we can accomplish so much more. Bayer Vietnam is proud to present our crop innovations to help Vietnamese farmers produce more with less in the fight against climate change."
"There have been several threats faced by rice farmers in Vietnam, ranging from pests and diseases and rising input costs to saltwater intrusion and extreme weather events that result in reduced rice output and quality," said Nguyn Văn Chin, a farmer attending the event. I've been looking for suitable farming practices and comprehensive crop protection solutions to address these challenges for a long time.
"I was introduced to Bayer's Much More Rice solution last year, and it has shown signs of effectively controlling rice diseases in my paddy field, promising my family a bountiful harvest." Bayer ForwardFarming is a global initiative to support agricultural sustainability in three areas: crop care, planet and people care, and partnership care.
Farmers can be one step ahead of the game in terms of agricultural sustainability by taking an integrated approach that employs tailored solutions, acting responsibly, and thus preserving natural resources and the environment. It allows for the exchange of knowledge about modern and sustainable agriculture through first-hand experiences on independent farms all over the world. Lê Minh Hoan, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, attended Agritechnica Asia Live 2022 with domestic and international delegates.
