(VOVWORLD) - Dr. Vu Quang Giang, Head of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry at Tay Bac University, has been honored by the Vietnam Farmers’ Union as a “scientist of the farmers”. Giang’s research projects have contributed to greater agricultural production.
 Dr. Vu Quang Giang discusses with farmers red flesh growing techniques. (Photo: VOV) |
In his 32 years at Tay Bac University Dr. Giang has had 21 articles published in scientific journals or presented at international conferences. He has also participated in 16 studies.
His work at the Fruit Tree and Coffee Company in Son La province gave him an understanding of farmers’ hardship and aspiration to escape from poverty. At Tay Bac University he has researched and analyzed climate and soil to find ways to boost agricultural production and benefit farmers.
“We have tried to improve cultivation and pest control techniques in order to increase agricultural productivity,” said Giang.
From 2010 to 2012, Dr. Giang planted 5,000 square meters of red-flesh dragon fruit in Na Bo commune, Mai Son district. The project, supported by the Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute, was a success and soon passed its improved techniques to farmers in Mai Chau and Thuan Chau district.
“One hectare of red-flesh dragon fruits produces a good profit. We applied new technology to produce fruit in the off-season. The quality of Son La’s dragon fruit is competitive,” said Giang.
The project called "Piloting and selecting dragon fruit varieties suitable for natural farming conditions in Son La province" has helped farmers in Na Bo and Chieng Mung commune, Mai Son district, to increase their productivity.
Dragon fruits grown according to the VietGAP standard have a distinctive sweet flavor. Red-flesh dragon fruits from Son La province are now exported to Europe and the United Arab Emirates.
A local farmer said red flesh dragon fruit trees are profitable, are easy to grow, and can produce up to 25 crops a year.
Another said each year, his family harvests 20 tons of dragon fruits on 2,500 square meters of land. “It is very profitable.”
Dr. Giang also has successful research projects on the prevention of mango fruit borers and coffee berry borer control, and a province-level research project on major insect pests in Son La province, which developed an Insect Atlas used by agriculture students.
 Dr. Vu Quang Giang instructs local farmers in Son La province on how to prevent mango fruit borers. (Photo: VOV) |
Dr. Do Hong Duc, Vice Principal of Tay Bac University, said Dr. Giang regularly integrates his research into his lectures and experiments, and encourages his students to do research of their own.
“Giang’s research, closely linked with local production, improves crop productivity and reduces losses in agricultural cultivation. He is a role model and leader in scientific research at the university,” he said.
The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, led by Dr. Giang, carries out 5 to 7 projects per year by the lecturers and another 10 to 15 projects per year by the students, some of which have won national prizes.