On the morning of August 9, in Da Lat City, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Lam Dong province organized a workshop on greenhouse management for agricultural production adapting to climate change.

At the workshop, many opinions and presentations from scientists, experts and businesses were presented to help the provincial agricultural sector build a "strategy" for developing greenhouses for agricultural production to ensure harmony with the goals of agricultural production development, urban development and ensuring environmental landscape.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Mr. Nguyen Van Chau - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Lam Dong province said that in the process of developing high-tech agriculture in the province (especially in Da Lat city and districts: Lac Duong, Don Duong, Duc Trong), greenhouses are one of the technical solutions that farmers, businesses, and cooperatives prioritize to invest in building as a basis for combining with other high-tech solutions to serve agricultural production.

In addition to the efficiency and economic benefits brought by the application of greenhouses in agricultural production, in recent times, the development of greenhouses has been uncontrolled, especially some greenhouses encroaching on forest land and protection corridors of works (traffic, irrigation, historical and cultural relics, scenic spots, security, national defense...) which have affected the landscape and urban aesthetics.

"Using greenhouses with high construction density, not arranging outdoor production areas, green areas and water collection and drainage systems has negatively impacted the landscape and environment; hindering the infiltration of rainwater is part of the cause of flooding in some areas.

In addition, the application of greenhouse technology and highly intensive farming solutions also limits biodiversity, reduces the composition of many natural enemy species, affecting the natural microflora," Mr. Nguyen Van Chau informed.

Meanwhile, according to Mr. Nguyen Van Toan - Hanoi University of Architecture, urban agricultural greenhouses are an inevitable trend of modern urbanization. If the development is well controlled, it will bring many great benefits in terms of socio-economy, environmental protection and urban aesthetics; without affecting the sustainable development orientation of Da Lat city based on 5 criteria: Modern, unique, green, smart and livable.

However, Mr. Nguyen Van Toan also said that the work of managing and developing greenhouses in Da Lat City is very large, very difficult and complicated. The implementation will face many challenges. First of all, it is the consensus of businesses and people. Next is to build a detailed and feasible implementation plan, ensuring sufficient legal basis and resources for effective implementation.

Talking about greenhouses in Da Lat City today, Associate Professor, Dr. Mai Van Trinh - Director of the Institute of Agricultural Environment said that Da Lat greenhouses are an inevitable existence, closely linked to the agricultural development of Da Lat City and Lam Dong Province. This is also a manifestation of smart agriculture adapting to climate change, helping to attract investment and develop tourism.

However, Da Lat City as well as Lam Dong agriculture sector need to develop greenhouses based on master planning and landscape planning, linking tourism with smart agriculture, high-tech agriculture, ecological agriculture, experiential agriculture, multi-value. From there, turn greenhouses into artistic paintings seen from the air.

Concerned about the implementation of greenhouse reduction in the inner city of Da Lat, Mr. Lai The Hung - Vice President of Da Lat Flower Association said that the implementation of Decision 178 of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee on the above issue is facing many difficulties. First of all, the selection of outdoor flower species and varieties (after dismantling the greenhouse) is very difficult due to: Adaptable varieties, processes, need to increase the area scale to ensure the livelihood of farmers, production and consumption chains, unclear market? The current outdoor flower species are mainly accompanying flowers, decorative flowers, low output demand, low value, narrow market, difficult to increase planting area...

Furthermore, where to move the greenhouse when farmers do not have land in the suburbs of Da Lat City is also a huge difficulty, the only way is to dismantle the greenhouse to make scrap. Greenhouses are a large asset of the people with a value of 2-3 billion VND/ha (investment loans, long-term depreciation, ...), the asset becomes scrap when it is no longer usable.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chau said that after recording the opinions of experts, scientists, businesses and people, relevant departments and branches will coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to make recommendations and proposals to the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee. From there, effectively implement the Greenhouse Management Project, promote high-tech agricultural production to adapt to climate change by 2030 according to Decision 178/QD-UBND dated January 30, 2023 of the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee in the coming time.