53 scientists and farmers awarded new agricultural honour

HÀ NỘI — Some 53 individuals, including four women, were honoured as “the Scientist of the Farmer” (Nhà khoa học của nhà nông) on Tuesday evening for their outstanding contribution to the nation’s agricultural sector.

This is the first time a meeting has been held to bestow the honour. The event was organised by Việt Nam Farmers’ Union, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Việt Nam Union of Science and Technology Associations.

The honoured individuals include 21 people with PhDs and 14 farmers. The youngest honouree is Nguyễn Văn Tuấn, 38, a farmer from the northern province of Bắc Kạn, while the oldest is Professor Trần Duy Quý, 70, of Hà Nội.

One of the award’s recipients, farmer Nguyễn Hồng Chương from the Central Highlands province of Lâm Đồng, left school in eighth grade but has succeeded in building many agricultural machines including equipment to sow seeds, mill mud and sort crops.

PhD Đoàn Xuân Cảnh of the Food Crops Research Institute under the Việt Nam Academy of Agricultural Sciences has researched a dozen new types of vegetables and fruits with higher productivity and presented them to farmers.

Speaking at the ceremony, president of Việt Nam Farmers’ Union Thào Xuân Sùng said the event would be held annually from now on.

The honour aims to encourage scientists and farmers to continue their research to contribute to the nation’s industrialisation and modernisation. — VNS