This page features a compilation and selection of Vietnamese seed industry news briefs, summaries and leads, with an emphasis on events that impact or affect provinces, regions, counties, cities and locales in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
The news covers trends and events regarding seed regulation, testing, legislation, phytosanitary issues, intellectual property rights, biotechnology (genomics, gene-editing) plant breeding, agronomy and cropping, with original sources linked.
This page will be updated throughout the year, with most recent briefs listed first.
2024 News
Agricultural Sector Grapples with High Logistics Costs: February 26: Vietnam's agricultural sector faces a significant challenge due to high logistics costs, which consume a large portion of product prices. Transport expenses, constituting 60% of total logistics costs, are notably higher than in other nations, with some businesses reporting logistics expenses amounting to 30% of their revenue. The increase in freight rates, influenced by global geopolitical tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic, has exacerbated the situation, forcing exporters to reconsider their market strategies. Industry experts advocate for the development of local logistics centers, the adoption of advanced technologies for cost reduction, and the refinement of policies to enhance the competitiveness of Vietnam's logistics sector in the global market. More details here
Vietnam Advances Green Agriculture and Carbon Credit Market: February 19: Vietnam is planning to develop one million hectares of low-carbon rice production, aiming for sustainable growth and higher quality exports. Introduced at the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference, this initiative reflects Vietnam's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture, particularly methane from rice cultivation. The country is also exploring the carbon credit market, leveraging its 14.79 million hectares of forests to connect with global markets, enhancing forest protection, and promoting investment in afforestation. More details here
Vietnam Eyes Significant Agricultural Growth in 2024: Jan 17: Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has announced a growth target of 3.2-4% for the agricultural sector in 2024, with an expected export turnover of $54-55 billion. The strategy focuses on rural modernization, sustainable and high-tech agricultural practices, and enhancing international market integration. Efforts will be concentrated on improving product traceability, expanding export markets, especially in Japan, China, the US, and the EU, and fostering trade relations. Following a successful 2023, which saw a 3.83% growth and a record $12.07 billion trade surplus, these ambitious goals signal a strong year ahead for Vietnam's agriculture. More details here.
Decrease in Coffee Production for 2023-24 Crop Forecasted: Jan 7: The Vietnam Coffee-Cocoa Association predicts a decrease in coffee production for the 2023-2024 crop, estimating it between 1.6-1.7 million tonnes, lower than the 1.78 million tonnes in the 2022-2023 period. However, forecasts suggest Vietnam's coffee export revenue could surpass $5 billion in 2024, solidifying its position as the second-largest coffee producer globally in terms of output. More details here.
Rice Exports Hit Record High Amid Rising Global Demand: Dec 29: Vietnam's rice exports have reached a new milestone, with 7.9 million tons exported by mid-December, earning USD 4.54 billion. The Vietnam Food Association reports a surge in global rice demand, propelling prices to unprecedented levels; Vietnam's 5 percent broken rice now costs USD 663 per ton. In Vietnam's major rice-producing regions, supply constraints have pushed prices to record highs, with various rice types seeing significant price increases. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development estimates the nation's total rice output at 43 million tons, with export volumes expected to hit 8 million tons, generating about USD 4.6 billion in revenue. Experts predict Vietnam's rice export price could exceed USD 700 per ton in 2024, suggesting the possibility of increasing rice cultivation to four crops per year. More details here
Vietnam's Potato Production Revolution: Dec 21: Over 400 farm households in Đơn Dương, Lâm Đồng Province, southern Vietnam, are cultivating potatoes on 500 hectares at 1,000 meters above sea level, significantly improving their income and quality of life. The initiative, launched in 2016 in partnership with one of the country’s leading snack food producers, includes providing farming machinery, research facilities, and high-quality seed potatoes, resulting in reduced labor costs and enhanced crop quality. The program involves over 10,000 households across Vietnam and has contributed to agricultural development by supplying advanced farming equipment, including 33 tractors, and offering scholarships for agricultural studies. More details here
Science Day Promotes Food Security Research: 22 Nov: The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) co-organized the inaugural CGIAR Science Day in Vietnam, focusing on advancing science for food security through collaborative initiatives. The event brought together Vietnamese and CGIAR scientists, researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss and promote science for agricultural and food systems. Presentations and discussions covered various research findings and innovations related to climate adaptation, environmental health, biodiversity, nutrition, poverty reduction, and more. CGIAR Initiatives showcased cutting-edge technologies and research to address pressing challenges in Vietnam's agriculture and food production. Source
Vietnam and Denmark Collaborate on Green Agriculture: 22 Nov: Officials, experts, and businesses from Vietnam and Denmark gathered in Ho Chi Minh City for a seminar on the application of technology and solutions in green agriculture and food production. The event, titled "Farming for the Future: A Danish - Vietnamese Dialogue on Green and Efficient Food and Agriculture," was organized by the Danish Embassy in Vietnam, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, and the Danish Agriculture and Food Council. Participants discussed sustainable and innovative solutions in agriculture and food production, with the aim of enhancing efficiency and sustainability. Source
Challenges in Emissions-Reducing Rice Program: 15 Nov: In Vietnam, farmers participating in the Vietnam Sustainable Agriculture Transformation Project (VnSAT), aimed at reducing methane emissions from rice cultivation, are facing challenges and disappointment. While the project intended to promote emissions-reducing rice cultivation techniques, many farmers have experienced high costs and lower-than-expected yields. The program's techniques, such as "One Must, Five Reductions" and "Three Reductions, Three Gains," are designed to increase rice quality and reduce emissions. However, some farmers find them labor-intensive and costly, and the program's infrastructure projects have also faced criticism. Farmers suggest improvements are needed to make the program more effective and beneficial for participants. Source
Embracing High-Tech Agriculture: 14 Nov: Tây Ninh Province in Vietnam is actively promoting high-tech agriculture to enhance the value of its agricultural products and ensure sustainable development. The province has encouraged the use of machinery in farming, particularly for key crops like rice, sugarcane, and cassava, leading to increased efficiency and reduced labor costs. Additionally, it has converted thousands of hectares of farmland from ineffective crops to high-value fruits, further improving production efficiency. Despite challenges such as the shortage of skilled labor for high-tech farming, Tây Ninh Province is determined to advance its high-tech agriculture initiatives, including the development of 20 high-tech farming areas covering 11,000 hectares by 2030. Source
Vietnam's Agricultural Exports on the Rise: 27 Oct: Vietnam's agricultural exports are expected to continue to grow, reaching nearly USD 20 billion at the end of September 2023. This growth is attributed to new Free Trade Agreements and the efforts of domestic firms to tap into international markets. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reports that fruit, vegetable, and rice exports have seen significant growth in the first nine months of the year. Source
Challenges and Opportunities in Rice Exports: 25 Sep: Vietnam aims to increase its rice export volume and revenue for the rest of the year, despite facing several challenges. The country exported nearly six million tonnes of rice by August, a 20% year-on-year increase, reaching 89% of its annual target. This resulted in a total export turnover of almost USD 3.2 billion, a 34% year-on-year increase. However, Vietnam also needs to balance its domestic food security. The Prime Minister has directed the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to focus on large-scale and high-quality rice production. The country aims to export about 7.5 million tonnes of rice in 2023, affirming its role in global food security. Source
Vietnam's Rice Exports Set to Hit Record High: 14 Sep: Vietnam is poised to achieve record rice export volumes this year due to increasing global demand and its own large output. The country exported 6 million tons of rice in the first eight months of the year, a 20% year-on-year increase. Le Thanh Tung, deputy head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, noted that global demand is likely to exceed Vietnam's export capabilities. Source
Vietnamese rice demand surges amid global supply shortage: August 24: Vietnam is experiencing a surge in demand and rice prices due to India's export restrictions on non-basmati white rice. As the world's top rice supplier, India's export curbs have caused global rice prices to rise, providing Vietnam with an opportunity to increase production and exports. However, concerns have arisen about unfavorable weather patterns attributed to climate change potentially impacting future crops. Farmers in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, the country's rice-growing hub, are struggling to keep up with demand, with all crops in high demand despite not being ready for harvest until October. Source.
Bình Phước aims to boost farming area production codes: August 17: Bình Phước province in Vietnam is focusing on developing production codes for farming areas to enhance the value of its produce and meet export requirements. The province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is actively aiding localities, co-operatives, and companies in creating these codes, ensuring they adhere to Vietnamese good agricultural practices (VietGAP) or equivalent standards. The province is conducting advocacy activities and has trained 500 farmers in production code regulations. The initiative covers 48 areas in the province, including durian, dragon fruit, longan, mango, banana, and jackfruit growing areas, aimed at exports to markets like the US and China. Source.
Vietnam lifts restrictions on field thistle seeds: August 14: Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is set to remove phytosanitary restrictions on field thistle seeds (Cirsium arvense) in imported agricultural products, effective October 1. This policy change could have implications for wheat importers in Vietnam, enabling direct imports of wheat from countries like Canada and the US. This decision is expected to be positive news for US and Canadian shippers, potentially leading to increased demand for Canadian wheat. However, experts suggest that significant shifts in trade flows might take some time to materialize, as factors like pricing continue to play a crucial role. Source.
Prolonged Heat Waves and Drought Cause Agricultural Losses in Northern Vietnam: July 5: Prolonged heat waves and months of little to no rain have severely impacted agriculture in mountainous border provinces in northern Vietnam. In Lao Cai Province, over 11,500 hectares of agriculture, forestry, and fishery have been affected by drought, with more than 50 hectares of permanent crops experiencing over 70% damage, resulting in economic losses of over VND 205 billion (US$8.64 million). Corn crops were also significantly impacted, with over 8,300 hectares burned, leading to low yields and losses totaling VND 190 billion. Additionally, nearly 1,500 hectares of forest dried up, causing losses of VND 106 billion. The damage from this year's drought is the most severe in the past decade for the region. The local government plans to support affected farmers with financial aid for damaged crops. Source.
Vietnam's coffee production expected decline: July 5: Vietnam's coffee production is forecast to decline by 6% year-on-year to 29.75 million bags, with 28.74 million bags of robusta, during the 2022/23 marketing year that began in October, according to a report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The decline is attributed to a reduction in land under coffee cultivation, higher labor and fertilizer costs, and robusta's off-cycle year. Production costs have risen by 15% from the previous year to $1,200 per metric ton, partly driven by a 70% increase in fertilizer costs. However, the USDA predicts that production will rise in the 2023/24 crop due to favorable weather conditions and replanting with more productive and disease-resistant cultivars. The government's strategy to increase quality, yield, and sustainability is also expected to boost the production of certified coffees in the coming years. Source.
Q2
Seeds and Hi-Tech Agriculture Exhibition in HCM City: The ninth Seeds and Hi-Tech Agriculture Exhibition took place at Bình Phú Park in HCM City’s District 6. The event featured 300 booths showcasing high-quality agricultural produce, hi-tech farming models, new seedlings, bio-tech products, and more. It served as a platform for local producers and enterprises to enhance cooperation and seek partnerships. The fair, organized by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, was held from June 22 to June 25. Source.
Industry responds to Viet Nam pest list update: May 15: APSA with the International Seed Federation and CropLife Asia submitted a joint statement to Viet Nam’s National Plant Protection Organization, outlining several “Concerns Regarding Vietnam's List of Quarantine Pests. The three industry representative bodies specifically wrote to express their concerns to the Plant Protection Department (PPD) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Vietnam regarding the latest version of the List of quarantine pests of concern to Vietnam, which were announced by the country’s NPPO on March 22, with a public comment deadline set for May 21, and an anticipated date of force of October 15, 2023. According to the notification (G/SPS/N/VNM/148) circulated via the WTO’s Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (see original VietNamese announcement here), seven new pests of concern include two insects (Anastrepha suspensa and Trogoderma glabrum); three fungi (Ciborinia allii, Phytophthora sojae Kaufmann et Gerdemann and Stagonosporopsis chrysantheni); one Virus,/Viroid (Tomato brown rugose fruit virus) and one Nematode (Paratylenchus goodeyi). In their joint statement, the following key messages were relayed:
See full letter here.
Declining domestic flower supply sparks need for support: April 27: The domestic flower supply is decreasing causing a rise in imports, prompting calls for government support of Ho Chi Minh City's ornamental flower industry. The city recently organized a seminar to improve orchid and ornamental plant production for the domestic market. Domestic flower production dropped by 53%, but imports increased by 15.18% in 2022. HCMC exports flowers and ornamental plants such as honeysuckle, Mokara orchids, and Dendrobium but on a limited scale. Experts have called for a systematic collection and evaluation of genetic resources, which will help create a diverse and high-quality genetic resource foundation for the creation of new flower varieties. The city aims to develop ornamental flowers through policies on science, technology, market promotion, and training to boost income for farmers and the agricultural industry. Source (Vietnamese)
High-yield TBR97 rice evaluation a success: April 27: Sa Master District Agricultural Service Center and ThaiBinh Seed Co., Ltd. organized a seminar to evaluate TBR97 rice variety. The district has a large paddy area, and they aim to replace existing rice varieties with high-yield ones. They carried out a demonstration production of TBR97 rice in two villages. The evaluation assessed the variety’s adaptability, yield, and quality. Despite some weather challenges, TBR97 rice showed suitable plant characteristics, disease resistance, and yielded 72.5 quintals/ha. Farmers praised its pest resistance and estimated yields of at least 9 tons/ha. Source (Vietnamese)
Fruit and vegetable exports to hit USD 4 billion: April 16: Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports are projected to reach an all-time high in 2023, exceeding the crucial USD 4 billion milestone, after increasing by 16.2% in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. The reopening of the border with China is a key factor in this growth, as the Chinese market has historically been responsible for more than half of Vietnam's fruit and vegetable export value. Additionally, Vietnam is seeing growing opportunities for fresh fruit exports to markets such as the United States, New Zealand, and Japan. The recent removal of controls over several Vietnamese spices, including parsley, coriander, basil, and mint products, by the EU is also expected to boost exports. However, Vietnam must overcome various challenges to maintain its growth trajectory. Solutions include promoting investment in advanced processing, which would enable Vietnamese fruits and vegetables to penetrate more complex markets, and establishling phytosanitary procedures to continue growing exports. Source
Viet Nam and Thailand cooperation looks to boost rice price: August 29: Officials from Viet Nam and Thailand – the 2nd and 3rd leading suppliers of rice in the world (after India) will cooperate in efforts to boost the global rice price. The cooperation, which was approved by Thailand Agriculture Minister Chalermchai Sreeon and his Vietnamese counterpart Le Minh Hoan, will commence with the establishment of an ad hoc working group to inform rice farmers and exporter associations about the cooperation.
ISAAA, USDA and AGI showcase biotech for mitigating climate change: August 17: The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service Hanoi (USDA FAS Hanoi) and Vietnam's Agricultural Genetics Institute (AGI) on August 11 organized a webinar on using crop biotechnology to mitigate climate change. The Zoom webinar targeted government officials at Vietnam's Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Also joining were scientists, researchers, academics, media practitioners, and industry representatives. Source.
South Korea boost farm shipments to Viet Nam: July 25: South Korea's efforts to expand its shipments of farm produce and equipment to Vietnam are paying off. In addition to Korean-grown pears and melons popular with consumers, Vietnam is also procuring pesticides from Korea. Source.
Crop failures pushes up pepper imports: May 13: Crop failures have dented pepper (piper, not capsicum) production, leading to an increase of nearly 7 percent in pepper imports in the first four months of 2022. According to reports, Vietnam imported 12,105 tonnes of pepper during the period, of which 10,456 tons was black pepper and 1,649 tons white pepper. Source.
Can Tho’s rice seed bank: May 30: The Faculty of Agriculture Can Tho University hosts one of Viet Nam’s largest rice seed banks, where more than 3,000 rice varieties are preserved. The varieties, which have been collected over the past 50 yearsd from throughout the Mekong Delta and elsewhere in the country. Source.
Rice and corn seeds allocated for Thua Thien Hue and Quang Tri: May 20: Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai on May 20 signed Decision No. 629/QD-TTg directing the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to issue 2,400 tons of rice seeds and 55 tons of corn seeds from national reserves, to be distributed to the provinces: Thua Thien Hue and Quang Tri as part of disaster relief and agricultural production support efforts. Thua Thien Hue province was allocated 1,500 tons of rice seeds and 5 tons of corn seeds, while Quang Tri province will get 900 tons of rice seeds and 50 tons of corn seed. Source and source.
Seed treatment helps prevent leaf blast: May 12: Bayer Vietnam has launched “Routine Start 280FS” a seed treatment solution to help Mekong Delta rice farmers improve germination rates, prevent leaf blast disease, and increase yields. Active ingredients of Routine Start 280FS (Routine Start) include Isotianil (200g/l) and Trifloxystrobin (80g/l) which “can activate the natural defenses of plants, so that they can protect themselves.” Source here
Hail storms, floods damage crops in Central Highlands: March 27: Standing vegetable and flower crops in in and near the resort city of Da Lat in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong were damaged while flooding was also reported in some areas. Hail was concentrated in central commercial area of Da Lat, where the cultivation area is mainly in greenhouses. Source.
Chilli pepper exporters given green light for China: March 22: According to insights from the trade agency of the Vietnamese Embassy in China, the General Department of Customs of China recently announced the approval of five Vietnamese enterprises producing fresh chili peppers to be the first entities to be licensed to export officially again to China following a temporary stop. “As of March 4, 2022, there were a total of 1,808 agricultural product and food product codes issued by Chinese authorities to Vietnamese enterprises for official export to China.” Citing covid control measures, inflows from Viet Nam to China had been temporarily halted. Source.
Coffee farmers protest over lost land rights: March 18: Some 100 coffee growers from the Ea Kiet village of Cu M’Gar district in Vietnam’s Central Highlands engaged in protest after reportedly losing land rights in a court ruling. According to a report, the court ruling was against the farmers who refused to provide a forestry company with a portion of their annual output as rent payment. The company had allotted the parcels to them but the farmers claim it had not invested in production. Vietnam General Statistics Office reported Vietnamese coffee exports reaching U.S. $3 billion a 9.4% increase over the previous year. The Central Highlands are Vietnam’s largest coffee-growing area. Source.
Coffee industry growing, facing challenges: March 17: Vietnam, which is the second-largest exporter of coffee after Brazil, exported more than US$3 billion worth of coffee in 2021 and is expected to reach US$6 billion worth of exports by 2030. However, the Vietnamese coffee industry faces various challenges, including aging coffee trees, small-scale and fragmented production, and effects of climate change. An ASEAN Briefing highlights various challenges and opportunities for investments, here.
Viet Nam export rice hits a 3.5 month high: March 17: Export prices of Vietnamese rice hit a three-and-a-half-month high, which was credited to steady demand and elevated shipping costs linked to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis. Source.
High desalination in March, to subside in April: March 2: The General Directorate of Water Resources (GDWR), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, reported that the Mekong River Delta along Vietnam’s southern coast would show increased levels of salinity this March, but the levels would likely decrease starting in April. The intrusion of salty seawater into the freshwater Mekong Delta, was predicted to reach levels of four grams per liter, as far as 35 to 50 kilometers (20-30 miles) inland. Source.
Nine localities get rice relief: 24 January: The government has allocated more than 13.6 million tons of rice to support flood-affected and poor residents in nine localities during the Lunar New Year and crop-between period. A little over a million tons of this will be provided to Quang Ngai province, 2 mn tons to Phu Yen province, 1.6 mn tons to Phu Yen province, 825 tons to Tay Ninh province, 1.7 mn tons to Cao Bang province, 1.5mn tons to Ninh Thuan province, 1.1 mn tons to Nghe An province, 1.39 mn tons to Gia Lai province and 2.28 mn tons to Quang Binh province. See more details here.
Vietnam Fights Fall Army Worm with Bt Corn: January 7: In a research paper issued by three Vietnamese institutes and Bayer Vietnam, the depredations of the Fall Army Worm (FAW) in 2019 are traced and solutions described. Maize fields cover one million ha, normally yielding about 5 million tonnes of corn (4.8 tonnes/ha). FAW management strategies focused on farmer education, use of pesticides and Bt corn -- but the latter proved especially effective, notably: MON89034 (Cry1A.105+Cry2Ab), MON810 (Cry1Ab), Bt-11 (Cry1Ab), MIR162 (vip3A) and TC1507, and herbicide-tolerant technology NK603 and GA211. Bayer’s insect-resistant corn hybrids with MON89034 technology feature double genes (Cry1A.105 and Cry2Ab2). Corn hybrids DK6919S and DK9955S, also expressing double genes, demonstrate greater efficacy than those with single-cry genes. Popular corn hybrids presently include: NK7328BTGT, NK67BTGT, and NK4300BTGT sold by Syngenta; 501S by CP Hybrid Seeds; and DK6919S & DK9955S by Bayer Vietnam. In addition to Bt corn, crop protection products Chlorantraniliprole, Chlorfenapyr, Emamectin benzoate, Lufenuron and Spinetoram were used in the fight. .
Plant Breeder’s Rights online seminar held: January 12: The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam on January 12 held an “Online Seminar on the Enforcement of Plant Breeders’ Rights”. Hosted by the Department of Crop Production (DCP); Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) of Vietnam, the seminar was moderated by the PVP Office and held over the Zoom platform. Topics covered included a “Situation enforcement on PVP in Vietnam” presented by Ms. Cam Thi Hang or Ms. Pham Thai Ha (Officer/examiner PVPO); “Enforcement of PBR’s – case study of Hasfarm” by Mr. Nguyen Van Bao (Deputy General Director -Dalat Hasfarm Company Limited)l and several presentations dedicated to experience sharing internationally, including by Mr. Toshiki Yamamoto (Deputy Adviser, Plant Variety Protection, Plant Variety Protection Section, Center for Seeds and Seedlings, NARO in Japan); Experience in the Netherlands and EU by Ms. Hedwich Teunissen (Naktuinbouw); Experience of private seed company by Mr. Arnout Duijvesteijn (Company Lawyer, Rijk Zwaan Zaadteelt en Zaadhandel B.V.) and “View and policy about enforcement and protection of PBR” by Dr. Kanokwan (May) Chodchoey (Executive Director The Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance). The presentations can be downloaded here.
OMO donates 40,000 seed balls: December 21: Responding to the Prime Minister's project to plant one billion trees in the 2021-2025 period, OMO aims to plant one million trees in 5 years. According to the Administration of Forestry, by the end of 2019, Vietnam had 14.45 million hectares of forests with 4.64 million hectares of protected forests, or less than one-third of the total. Also, in urban areas, the ratio of trees is about 2-3 m2/person compared to the minimum level of 10 m2/person issued by the United Nations, leading to negative impacts on the overall quality of life of city residents. This year, the brand donated 40,000 seed balls and piloted the method of spreading by drones. "The method of afforestation is very effective, increasing the germination capacity of precious seeds by up to 50%, increasing the productivity of forest rangers by a factor of 20, and is ideal for difficult-to-reach areas," said a brand representative. Read original story in Vietnamese here and here.
Scientists master seed production technology: December 21: Vietnamese scientists master the production process of high-quality vegetable seeds, which are 20-50% cheaper than imported seeds of the same type. A research team created 12 plant varieties including bitter melon, cucumber, pumpkin, squash, gourd, cowpea, cove bean, and watermelon, in trial productions in various provinces utilizing a combined area of nearly 1,200 hectares. The new varieties produced an average yield 10 to 15% higher than other current varieties. The research team mastered the process of screening disease-resistant lines carrying targeted genes using DNA marker technology, helping to screen genetic material for hybridization, and shortening the screening time from 36 months to 12 months. And by utilizing isoelectric point electrophoresis (IEF) technology to check the purity of varieties, the product quality check stage was shortened from three months (when planting after field inspection) to 24 hours. The rapid screening of resistant strains is achieved by isolating pathogenic microorganisms from the very beginning and culturing a large number of pathogenic microorganisms in laboratory conditions. Infected strains on seedlings in greenhouses were evaluated for disease resistance and immediately removing any susceptible strains and keeping disease-resistant strains, then planting those in the field to assess growth and development. Original story in Vietnamese here.
More than 3,500 planting area codes issued: December 20: The Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) has to date issued more than 3,500 planting area codes for fruit trees, vegetables, and seeds for export. The development of planting area codes assists in changing awareness and actions of people, businesses and local managers in recording production logs, monitoring the production process, and origin tracing in order to improve quality, thus improving the competitiveness of exported agricultural products, promoting linkages and forming sustainable value chains. Original story in Vietnamese here.
Application of tray plating, transplanting machine reduces seeds usage by 50%: December 20: In a statement issued by Mr. Huynh Ngoc Nha, Director of Soc Trang Province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, mechanization at the sowing stage plays an important part alongside the use of high-yielding, specialty rice varieties to improve rice quality. The application of mechanization in the sowing stage is very important. Hung Loi Agricultural Cooperative in Long Phu District is one of the units selected by Soc Trang Province Agricultural Extension Center to trial tray plating and transplanting in rice production in the summer-autumn rice crop of 2021 producing positive results. The transplanting machines were utilized in an area of 50 hectares growing the OM18 rice variety as seedlings to transplant to the field, using around 3 - 4 kg of seed/1,000 m2, a reduction of 5 - 6 kg of seed compared to other sowing methods. The method also ensures the rice is hardy and able to withstand heavy rains. Original story in Vietnamese here.
Biomass corn promises more stable income for farmers: November 8: Farmers in the Krong Pa district of Gia Lai province are switching over to biomass varieties of maize, which is reportedly yielding them a more stable income than other types of maize. For many years, farmers in the district have grown glutinous corn or hybrid corn varieties for their grains, which are used in animal feed processing. Due to volatility in farmland and market factors, however, income for this type of maize has been unreliable, while biomass corn has proved otherwise due to high demand in the energy sector. According to one figure cited, this type of corn can output more than 50 tonnes of product per hectare, and after deducting production costs of about VND 12 million, one farmer’s margin was reported to be 20 million in profit per hectare.See full details in original article here.
Tet 2022 flower planting commences in Xuan Tho: November 4: Flower farmers in the Xuan Tho Commune have planted some 135 hectares of flowers in anticipation for the Tet 2022 celebrations early next year. A total of 428 acres of crops were planted in the commune, with tet flowers comprising 135 ha ofr the total, including 65 ha of chrysanthemum, 15ha of carnations, and various other flowers that are sought after during the festive period. According to some farmers in Xuan Thanh and Xuan Tho Communes, despite the difficulties brought on by the Covid 19 situation, expectations for the flower harvest this year are high. See original story in Vietnamese here.
Clean, beautiful and secure Communes aimed for in rural development: November 6: A conference of various experts collectively are asking for rural development in the coming years to emphasize cleanliness, beautification and security, referring to a draft of the National Criteria and the process of examination and recognizing new rural areas for the period of 2021 – 2025, organized by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front on 5 November. See original details here.
Phyto issues prompts revoking of certain planting area codes: October 22: Nongnghieb reports on recent moves by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and Plant Protection Department (PPD) to revoke implement corrective measures for reported phytosanitary violations that have affected the flow of fruits, especially China. As such, a total of 33 growing area codes had been revoked so that corrective measures could be taken. The move followed certain shipments of produce from the respective areas being rejected or flagged for phytosanitary issues. Until now, there have been more than 3,700 such area codes granted, 2,000 of which are designated for production areas, and the remainder for packing or processing facilities. These codes provide a convenient, digital means for tracking and tracing produce origin. See original story in Vietnamese here.
F1 paddy shows promise in highlands: October 9: DT21 is an F1 hybrid rice variety, of which trials have shown good adaptability in the Vietnamese highlands, especially around the province of Lao Cai, which has a mountainous geography with many sub-climates that are suitable for multiplication of temperature-sensitive mother lines. Trials carried out by the Center for Agricultural Variety of Lao Cai province since 2018 have been successful with DT21, which is desirable for having a short growth duration
(115 days in spring season and 100 days in summer season), yielding between 7.0 to 7.5 tons/ha, having amylose content of 13.6 – 14.2%; DT21 is also resistant to blast, blight and common diseases of rice. The Center has conducted the farm trial in some district in the province and almost of farmers who participating the trial hopes to expand to the production. See original story in Vietnamese here.
Viet Nam IP Law Ammendment Under Review: September 2021:
The Vietnam Seed Trade Association has supplied Asian Seed with the following update on the process to amend and supplement the Southeast Asian country’s IP Law, with respect to plant variety protection:
On 22nd August, 2019, the Decision No 1068/QD-TTg on approving the Strategy for Intellectual Property for the period of 2020 – 2030 was signed by the Prime Minister of Vietnam (Nguyen Xuan Phuc) as part of efforts to ensure an effective National Intellectual Property (IP) system that encompasses IP Rights Establishment, Exploitation and Enforcement. An important part of the government’s strategy is to perfect the legal framework to address the current situation in Viet Nam and ensure international integration, including through the supplementation and amendment to the law. From November 17, 2020 to January 17 , 2021, a draft bill to amend and supplement a number of articles of the Law on Intellectual Property (No 50/2005/QH11) had undergone public consultation and the fifth draft revision of the bill is currently under review [1] by the Legal Committee of the National Assembly. Amendments specifically concerning plant variety rights include amending and supplementing Article 3 (Objects of intellectual property rights) which aims to extend the scope of rights to include "products made from harvested materials of protected varieties" in order to limit prohibiting acts of sending illegally harvested materials abroad for processing, and then importing products processed from illegal materials back into Vietnam. Drafted based on the 1991 UPOV Convention, Viet Nam’s Law on Intellectual Property (No. 50/2005/QH11) was promulgated in 2005 [2][3] to “provide for copyright, copyright-related rights, industrial property rights, rights to plant varieties and the protection of these rights”. Amendments were initially made in 2009[4] through Law No 36/2009/QH12) and the two laws were unified through Law No 07/VBHN-VPQH in 2019. Until now, it has been more than 11 years to implement all aspects of the law and there has been many changes in the country since, especially in terms of science and technology and socioeconomics. According to plans. The amendments are expected to be adopted during the second meeting session of the 15th National Assembly (the first session concluded at the end of July).
References:
[1]Viet Nam National Assembly. (2021). Draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Intellectual Property https://www.most.gov.vn/vn/Pages/chitietduthao.aspx?iDuThao=822
[2] MARD. (2005.) IP Law http://pvpo.mard.gov.vn/FileUpload/Luat_so_huu_tri_tue__ban_chinh_thuc.pdf
[3] WIPO (2005) Vietnam IP Law] https://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/vn/vn063en.pdf
[4] MARD. (2009). Law No 36/2009/QH12. Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Intellectual Property Law http://pvpo.mard.gov.vn/DetailInfomation.aspx?InfomationID=IN00000297
Agri-product output affected by pandemic measures: September 17: Production and processing of raw materials, including vegetable produce, seafood and other agri-goods have been greatly affected by certain public health measures in recent months. Restoring productivity was the focus online conference on September 17, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). Productivity has particularly waned in the previous two months of stringent pandemic containment measures. According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Chairman of Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (VinaFruit), though the exportation of fruits and vegetables has increased this year compared to 2020, there has been a sharp decrease in productivity in the immediate term, linked to ‘social distancing’ measures for example. In order to restore productivity, Mr. Binh suggested to facilitate more measures to enable more staff whose work is related to exportation, to commence work and thus increase capacities. Mr Le Minh Hoan, Minister of MARD proposed bolstering the Cuu Long River delta as an strategic economic entity, which would require each respective province to cooperate as a unified entity. The news follows a report by the New Straits times on August 11 citing the closure of three wholesale markets and a number of traditional markets in HCMC, which affected the movement of tonnes of produce, including rice, vegetables and eggs, which were reportedly stuck in 26 southern Vietnamese provinces. The Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien was quoted in that report noting that five million tonnes of padi, four million tonnes of vegetables and fruits, 400 million eggs, 600,000 tonnes of chicken, 120,000 tonnes of seafood and 80,000 tonnes of pork were affected by transport restrictions imposed in 19 Covid-hit southern localities, including Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC)
Viet Nam’s area planting, processing plant Code system grows: August 28: At time of press, the Plant Protection Department, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued 3,414 growing area codes for fruits, vegetables and seeds to be exported abroad. The total area covered by such codes spans a total of 196,226 hectares, and accounts for about 17% of the total area of fruit, vegetable and spice crops in the country. According to local media report, 2,821 area codes have been issued for a dozen types of fruits, including dragon fruit, longan, lychee, mango, rambutan, lemon, grapefruit, mangosteen, watermelon, jackfruit and banana, covering produce grown in 48 provinces for export to China, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Japan, and the EU. Aside from this, the Plant Protection Department has also issued 11 planting area codes for chili pepper and tomato seeds; 193 codes for spices and vegetables produced in net houses (for export to the EU); and 389 codes for ornamental plants and flowers (exported to Korea and China). Aside from this, the Plant Protection Department has also issued 1,826 packing facility codes for fresh fruits intended to be exported to China, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, and Japan. These packaging facilities are distributed in 37 provinces across the country, and most of these codes, 97% (1,776 codes) are for nine kinds of fresh fruits destined for export to China. Such codes are in increasing demand for sanitary and phytosanitary requirements specific to production and processing origin, and will be integrated in new digital tracking frameworks. See full report in Vietnamese here.
New rules for land use of paddy land and protected forests: August 17: From September 1, 2021, amended regulations/guidance on the implementation of the 2013 Land Law come into effect. One of the new points of the latest Circular 09/2021/TT-BTNMT, affects the application procedures for changing the land use for rice cultivation, protected forest land and special-use forest land for project implementation. See full news in Vietnamese here.
Vietnamese Rice DNA certified for EVFTA: August 14: Recently, Loc Troi Groups and Eurofins Sac Ky Hai Dang Co., Ltd have cooperated in a project to identify Vietnamese Rice varieties for exportation to Europe under the scope of Europe – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). According to the project, all Vietnamese rice varieties exported under the EVFTA will be sent to Germany for DNA identification tests, ensuring the legality for the Vietnamese rice varieties, and thus solidify PBR claims and mitigate against IP infringements of the varieties in the global market. Five varieties have been sent by the Loc Troi Group through Eurofins: Loc Troi 28, Jasmine 85, OM5451, OM18, OM4900 and VD20. In addition, Eurofins, in cooperation with other Vietnamese rice PBR holders, has sent samples of other important Vietnamese rice varieties such as ST24, ST25, RVT, Na Thom Cho Dao and KDM. See original story in Vietnamese here.
High yielding OP varieties in Binh Dinh: Aug 21: For the summer-autumn crop of 2021, Quang Nam Central Seed Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Seed Group - Vinaseed Group has coordinated with Binh Hoa Cooperative (Tay Son District, Binh Dinh Province) to demonstrate high-yielding, OP rice varieties on a one hectare plot of land. The demonstrated rice varieties, VNR10 and DB6, are both heat tolerant, disease resistant, and high yielding, with VNR10 yielding 80 quintals per hectare, and DB6 up to 85 quintals/ha. Original story here.
Binh Duong bolsters agriculture: Aug 20: Government departments, branches and localities in Binh Duong province are coordinating to tweak agricultural production and consumption plans in response to the ongoing pandemic situation. Close attention is being paid to increasing productivity and expansion of certain crops, especially the area for short-cycle vegetables. According to a report of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), planted area and productivity of main crops such as rice and vegetables increased compared to the same period last year. Annual crops for 2021 summer-autumn crop have been sown on over 4,000 hectares, 1,055 hectares of which has been for rice, while vegetables and beans have been sown on 2,965 ha, in addition to fruit trees cultivated on 7,103 ha
Vegetables have been sown on 800 hectares, 425 of which were planted in July. Original story here.
Peppercorn planting popular despite volatile market: August 20: The Southeast and the Central Highlands are two key regions for the production of peppercorn, which has seen volatile shifts in the market in recent years. The price peaked at 220,000 VND/kg several years back before bottoming out at 34,000 VND/kg last year. This year the price has started to bounce back and there is estimated to be about 130,000 hectares under cultivation against plan for only 50,000 ha. See original story here.
Seed and plant priority transport smuggled corpses: Aug 19: Authorities are prosecuting a 28 year-old truck driver of Vinh Long province accused of taking advantage of priority transport channel to deliver corpses. From August 15 to August 16 the man used a seed and plant delivery truck to transport 46 bodies from Ho Chi Minh City to Ben Tre for cremation in violation of public health orders. Original story here.
‘5K Measures’ for Can Tho rice cultivation: August 2: Farmers in Can Tho are being encouraged to strictly follow “5K” recommendations in the field for the harvesting of summer-autumn and sowing of autumn-winter season rice. According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) of Can Tho city, a total of 58,923 ha of rice was sown for the 2021 autumn-winter season, while 553,000 tons have been harvested thus far. Viet Nam’s “5K” measures, or Nam Khong refer to wearing of face masks, practicing hygiene, safe distancing, avoiding gatherings and making health declarations through notifications and apps and contact tracing. See original news here.
Three new rice varieties for Central Highlands: August 2: Three good new rice varieties for cultivation in the Central and Central Highlands provinces have been developed by the Quang Ngai Seed Center. The three varieties, QNg6, QNg13 and QNg128 were selected and released for trial production by the Department of Crop Production (DCP) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development or MARD. More details here.
Vegetables for self-sufficiency in Phuquoc: July 27: The Government of Phuquoc island city in Kiengiang province is encouraging farming and animal husbandry for its people to be more self-sufficient., and has provisioned vegetable seeds and animals for households. Original story here.
Proposal to chop wheat and maize import tax: July 26: In order to reduce feed input prices, tThe Ministry of Finance (MOF) has proposed to reduce Most Favored Nation (MFN) import tax of wheat of wheat products (HS: 1001.99.99) and maize (HS: 1005.90.90) products. That for wheat has been proposed to be eliminated from 3% currently, and for maize to be reduced to 3% from 5%. An article notes that from October 2020 to time of press, prices of corn and wheat has increased continuously, by as much as 30 – 35%. The main reason cited is the impact of Covid-19 measures on global logistics. This has had a knock-on effect for animal feed, prompting the proposal to reduce MFN tariffs for these two commodities, which are not produced in Viet Nam on an industrial scale for feed purposes. The article notes that in the first six months of 2021, Vietnam imported nearly US$ 2.5 billion worth of animal feed and raw materials, up 36.6% compared to the same period last year. Importation of wheat reached 2.355 million tonnes and was valued at US$651 million, representing a 57.4% increase in volume and 68.8% increase in value. For corn, Viet Nam imported 5.424 million tonnes worth $1.459 billion, representing a 26.1% jump in volume and 61.5% surge in value. Original news here
Vietnam lockdown update: 25 July: Due to sharply rising Covid-19 cases in the country, around one-third of the country, including the capital Hanoi, has been placed under strict lockdown restrictions. Residents are required to remain at home except when obtaining essential supplies, seeking medical care, or to work in essential industries or government offices. Gatherings of more than two people are banned, and people are being fined for being out of their homes without a valid reason. Nonessential businesses, leisure and sports activities in public venues remain prohibited. Nearly all forms of transport, including buses, taxis, and bus services have been suspended. The entire southern region of Vietnam, which includes the major port of Ho Chi Minh, has been placed under a strict lockdown from 19th July until 1st August. The move has caused havoc to industry and commerce as many factories were forced to suspend operations, either due to disruptions in the supply chain or being unable to meet government regulations to remain open, such as housing workers in onsite facilities. Supply chains in the region, already badly affected by an outbreak at Yantian Port in Shenzhen, have been further exacerbated by the congestion at Ho Chi Minh port caused by the lockdown. In line with disruptions to manufacturing and trade, Vietnam's gasoline imports have been falling with June imports down 51.2% from May, and down 90% compared to the previous year. At a meeting co-chaired by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT) and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on 20th July, solutions were put forward to address issues caused by bottlenecks in the supply chain and distribution of agricultural products, which had lead to an increase in prices. Proposed measures included placing agricultural materials such as seeds and fertilizers on the list of essential commodities.
Dragon fruit exports to Aus uninterrupted by COVID restrictions: July 24: Even though many locales in Australia are under lockdown, the ‘Vietnam Dragon Fruit Week’ in Australia was held from 21st July to 27th July, with associated activity to be extended through early August. According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia, the promotion of dragon fruit (the fruit of Hylocereus undatus) trade is organized continuously for enhancing the exportation of dragon fruit to Australian market without interruption due to COVID-19. Currently, the fruit sells for AU$9 – 15/kg at large supermarkets in Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney. Dragon fruit has been approved for import into Australia since August 2017. Vietnam is reportedly the first and only country to obtain a license to import fresh dragon fruit to Australia. The import of dragon fruits into Australia grew by 36% in 2020 over 2019, reaching US$4.18 million. Prior to being authorized, it must be quarantined and issued a certificate by the Plant Protection Department (PPD) or MARD as being free of pests. This requires it to be steam heat treated for 40 minutes at 46.5 degrees Celsius, 90% humidity at a PPD approved processing facility. Original story here.
ST25 rice variety shows good adaptability in Binh Dinh Province: 19 July: A trial of the high-quality ST25 rice variety in Binh Dinh Province has shown encouraging results. The trial was conducted by a local seed company over the spring-winter 2020-21 growing season. According to the company director, Mr Nguyen Van Hoa, the ST25 rice variety produced yields of 7 tons per hectare compared to 7.2 tons per hectare for ST24 rice. If it is shown that the variety is also suitable for the summer-autumn season, the company will launch large scale production in both seasons. However, the breeders of the ST25 variety have recommended that it should not be cultivated in areas that experience heavy rain at the end of the growing season, as the rice can be easily damaged. In those areas, it is recommended to cultivate ST24 instead due to its firmer stem. The People’s Committee of An Nhon town has assigned the Department of Economic to work with agricultural cooperatives in the district. Original story in Vietnamese here
Minister of Agriculture pens inspirational letter to agriculture scientists: July 4: In a letter addressed to researchers and plant breeders working at various research institutes and centers, Viet Nam Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, Mr Le Minh Hoan expressed his appreciation for the contributions from scientists to advance agricultural innovation in the country despite facing some challenges with the legal mechanisms, and policies that had not been addressed in a timely manner. In order to improve of the efficiency of research moving forward, the Minister also called on scientists to not let their research “fall into the trap of administration" – meaning to maintain inspiration, creativity and passion over routine repetition. In addition, Minister Le Minh Hoa also urged for agriculture scientists to shift from an “Agriculture Production” mindset, to that of an “Agriculture Economy” one, and thus transform the growth model, from breadth to depth, emphasizing on value addition over increasing productivity. The Minister’s letter emphasized the central role of knowledge content, technology and innovation. Read the full letter in Vietnamese here.
Farmers in Mekong River Delta suffer from falling rice and fruit prices: July 23: The impact of the pandemic on agricultural production is being felt in the southern provinces of Dong Thap, Soc Trang, and Can Tho. In Dong Thap 187,200 hectares of rice have been sown in the province during the Summer-Autumn season, with newly harvested rice selling for USD 0.05 per kilogram compared to last month. The price of other agricultural products has also decreased with fruit crops in Dong Thap fetching prices 30 – 50% lower than one month previous. In Soc Trang province the price of longan is USD 0.35 - 0.60 per kg, 50% less than last year. Guava and dragon fruit are also down by 50% from last month. Original story in Vietnamese here
Binh Dinh's agriculture grew spectacularly in the first 6 months of the year: July 8: Despite the Covid-19 epidemic, Binh Dinh's economy and agriculture enjoyed spectacular growth in the first half of 2021. According to the Binh Dinh Department of Statistics, the gross regional domestic product (GRDP) in H1 2021 has increased by 6.14%, the highest for the same period in the last three years. Agriculture, forestry, and fishery experienced spectacular growth, contributing 1.04 percentage points to overall growth. Agriculture grew by 4.58%, contributing 0.81 percentage points to the overall growth of the whole economy; the forestry sector grew by 2.21%, contributing 0.04 percentage points; the fisheries sector grew by 1.9%, contributing 0.19 percentage points. According to Mr. Tran Van Phuc, Director of Binh Dinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the development of fruit trees in the area has contributed significantly to growth in the agricultural sector. Original story in Vietnamese here
IPM helps reduce pesticide use for Hanoi paddy: July 8: With 24 districts, towns and cities with agricultural production, Hanoi is one of the areas with the largest rice-growing area in the north of the country with about 180,000 hectares per year under cultivation. To increase the quality of rice, the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has begun encouraging farmers to adopt modern farming methods that help protect the environment and increase safety. The city organized nearly 2,000 classes on integrated pest management (IPM) and improved rice intensification (SRI) systems on rice. Farmland applying SRI in Hanoi has reached 60%, the highest in the country, and much lower levels of pesticide usage. Original story in Vietnamese here
Export of forest products in first 6 months: July 7: According to figures released by the Administration of Forestry at a conference on July 7, the export of forest products in the first 6 months of 2021 is estimated at USD 8.71 billion. An increase of 61.6% over the same period in 2020 and is forecasted to reach USD 15.5 billion in 2021. Export of wood and forest products in the first quarter of 2021 increased by 41.5%. The output of timber harvested from plantations in the first 6 months of the year reached 6.8 million cubic meters, equaling 32% of the 2021 target and an increase of 114% over the same period in 2020. Forest product exports are estimated at USD 8.71 billion, up 61.6% over the same period in 2020, and forecasted at USD 15.5 billion in 2021, up about 17% compared to the same period last year. Import of forest products was estimated at over USD 1.54 billion, up 39% over the same period. 2021 is forecast to reach USD 3 billion, up 17% compared to 2020, and resulting in a trade surplus of USD 7.2 billion. Regarding forest development, 658 million seedlings have been planted for afforestation, a 145% increase compared to the same period in 2020. Original story in Vietnamese here
Breeding seedless oranges in southern Mekong delta: July 5: Scientists from Southern Horticultural Research Institute (SOFRI) have developed a new disease-resistant seedless variety of Sanh orange. The varieties have high disease resistance, no or few seeds, beautiful fruit shape, and delicious taste. According to Dr. Tran Thi Oanh Yen of SOFRI, this new orange variety has a beautiful bright orange-yellow flesh with less lumpy and glossy skin compared to regular Sanh oranges. The fruit has an average weight of 237 grams, a high amount of juice (over 40%), a sweet and sour taste, and a characteristic aroma, and a yield of 20-25kg per plant per year for 3-year-old trees. Regular Sanh oranges have thick skin, have many seeds, and are prone to diseases that are difficult to treat including root rot, citrus greening, and tristeza virus. Original story in Vietnamese here
Lac Thuy district planting update: July 5: Aided by favorable weather, farmers in Lac Thuy district of Hòa Bình Province had planted around 350 hectares of seasonal rice, including new high-yielding and high-quality varieties. The district's department of agriculture aims to plant over 3,800 hectares of crops annually, with a total grain food output of over 15,300 tons made up mostly by rice and corn: Rice with 1,600 hectares under cultivation, yielding 5.6 tons per hectare, and corn with 1,095 hectares under cultivation, yielding a similar 5.6 tons per hectares. Tea is another important crop in the area. Early season tea accounts for about 55-60% of the crop and is sown from June 1 to 10, transplanting before June 25. The main tea season accounts for 40-45%, planted from June 10-30, and transplanted before July 15.
Original story in Vietnamese here
Ha Giang province herbal medicine research: July 2: Thai Nguyen University has completed three years of research to conserve and develop genetic resources of some endangered yet in-demand medicinal plant species in Ha Giang province. The work, carried out over 36 months with the coordination and support of the Forest Research and Development Institute, Ha Giang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Vietnam Agro-Forestry and Environment Development Joint Stock Company, focused on six species of plants: Hoàng tinh trắng (Disporopsis longifolia), Thảo quả (Lanxangia tsaoko), Đẳng sâm Bắc (Codonopsis pilosula), Kim ngân (Lonicera japonica), Gừng đá (Alpinia coriandriodora) and Sói rừng (Sarcandra glabra). Original story here.
Tay Ninh cassava trends: July 1: According to the Statistics Office of Tay Ninh province, the weather in the firs part of 2021 was favorable for the cropping, while the price of cassava has increased, despite the risk of disease prevalence and a dearth of disease-resistant varieties. As of June 2021, the area of cassava in the province infected with leaf mosaic disease was 34,745ha (out of a total 39,330ha planted). However, most of the cassava area was only mildly infected, with high tuber yields of between 18-25 tonnes per hectare reported. Investment cost for farmers was reported to be from VND15 to 20 million, while profits can reach as much as VND 30-40 million. Original story here.
Ag input prices soar from Mar- June: July 1: From the beginning of March 2021, the selling price of commodities such as fertilizers and animal feed began to surge through to June. According to ag industry data, fertilizer prices account for about 10-12% of farmers’ production costs and pesticides up to 5% depending on pest prevalence. Citing information from ag agents in Hoa Binh, high prices of inputs is linked to the dependency of imports, and the situation has been exacerbated due to pandemic restrictions and rising gasoline prices. Original story here.
Quang Nam farmers switching crops: June 29: Farmers in many localities in Quang Nam province are increasingly converting rice fields into vegetable crop plots, citing inadequate land and resources to irrigate thirsty paddy crops. Besides this, farmers are motivated by potentially better returns from growing vegetable crops, which promise up to VND40 million per crop, compared to only VND15 million for rice. Original news here.
ST25 should be trialed before cultivation: June 29: Local media has reported on concerns about the suitability for cultivating the award winning ST25 rice variety outside of its Mekong Delta origin. The variety, which was named world’s best in 2019, has been trialled by a number of entities across the country, and to address concerns about its performance in areas it was not bred for, it is being stressed that Viet Nam’s law on cultivation be observed strictly, which requires for new varieties to be trialled in specific areas before commercial cultivation. See news here.
ST25 suitable for Hanoi: June 26: Spring cropping trials carried out by the Dan Phuong District Farmers' Association ( of award winning ST25 rice variety in Hanoi show promise. According to local media, the variety is suitable for the conditions, soil, and intensive farming techniques of farmers in the capital’s district. Full details in Vietnamese.
Greenhouse cultivar for Ho Chi Minh greenhouses: June 25: A new locally developed greenhouse cultivar of cantaloupe (Cucumis melo var. cantalupo) variety has promise for production in the south of Viet Nam. The variety was bred by the Center for Biotechnology of Ho Chi Minh City in 2021 with financial support from the city's science and technology research budget as part of efforts to produce quality seed of four to five vegetable varieties for HCM City every year during the 2016 - 2020 period. The F1 melon, bred for greenhouse cultivation, can yield at least 25 tons/ha), at least 11 on the Brix scale, is disease resistant, has a green or gray rind.
See original news here.
Lac Son cropping update: June 25: Farmers in the rural district of Lạc Sơn in Hòa Bình Province have exceeded their spring planting target for 2021, having sown 10,490 ha of crops. Total production of grain crops in the first 6 months of the year was estimated at 36,135 tons. The district’s sown spring crop comprised 3,701 ha of rice, with an average yield reaching 57 quintals/ha, yielding a total of 21,096 tons; corn was sown on 3,960 ha, yielding 41 quintals/ha for a total 15,039 tons output. According to the plan, the total planted area of annual crops for the summer and autumn seasons in the district is about 8,000 ha (excluding fruit trees, long-term industrial plants). See original article here.
Gia Lai pepper planting making comeback: June 23: A recovery in the price of pepper (Piper nigrum) to VND70,000 per kg has prompted farmers to start planting this crop following a slump in prices early in 2021. Gia Lai in the past was dubbed as Vietnam’s pepper capital, with much of the production centered around the Chu Se district. At the present price, growers anticipate turnover to reach VND 100 million/ha, higher than many other crops. See original stories in Vietnamese here, and here.
Phú Yên farmers reduce paddy seed requirement: June 23: According to rice sowing data from the Phuk Yen Provincial Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection, for this summer-autumn crop sowing period, more than a fifth (21.7%) of paddy farmers in the province had reduced their seed requirement to be less than 100kg per hectare (5kg/sao), covering an area of 5,768ha of the province’s paddy fields, which were concentrated in the districts of Phu Hoa, Dong Xuan and Dong Hoa town. Aside from this, an addition 33.7% or 8,956 ha were sown with between 100-120kg/ha. According to the summer-autumn cropping plan, a total of 24,500ha were marked to be sown. Original news here.
Stockpiles of purple onion in Ninh Thuan: June 21: Due to economic fallout from pandemic related policies, prices of, and demand for key agricultural products in Ninh Thuan province have fallen, especially for purple onions and grapes. According to data cited in local media, output of purple onion in one production commune of 277 households was 765.5 tons. However, at the time of press, only 213 tons of onions were consumed, leaving more than 551 tons of unsold onions. Market spot prices in the article were reported to be VND 7,000 - 9,000 VND per kg, while onion seed was quoted at between VND 17,000 to 18,000 VND /kg. See news here.
Sowing in Tra Vinh update: May 15: Taking advantage of plentiful rain in the first half of May, farmers in Tra Vinh province have sown more than 4,000 hectares of crops of all kinds, bringing the total area of crops planted in the province to nearly 25,000 hectares, 48% of its sowing target. Original story here.
Famous viet rice variety trademark protection registration abroad: May 11: ST rice varieties such as ST24, ST25 have become popular on the global market, winning prizes at the International Conference on Rice Trade. However, companies in the United States have attempted to trademark ST25 rice, which has led to concern among local producers and farmers. The original developer of ST rice, Mr. Ho Quang Cua, applied for trademark protection of "Rice Ong Cua" for all rice developed and jointly developed by Mr. Cua, possibly including ST24 and ST25 varieties at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and plans to transfer the trademark of the fragrant rice varieties to the state. According to the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, after acquiring the copyright of the ST25 rice variety, the Ministry will cooperate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Science and Technology to research and register the trademark of ST25 rice in key rice export markets, especially the domestic market and the United States. Original story in Vietnamese here and here .
Gia Lai Pepsi potato production success: May 5: In March 2021, farmers in Chu Se and Dak Doa districts harvested the first 36 hectares of potatoes in a project conducted in partnership with PepsiCo Foods Vietnam. The output of the first crop exceeded expectations with the average yield of potatoes in the two districts ranging from 24 to 32 tons/ha, exceeding the expected output by 20-25 tons, a remarkable achievement from the first crop. Explaining this breakthrough result, a representative of PepsiCo Foods said that the districts in Gia Lai have favorable soil and climate, with large farms that are ideal for the mechanization process. Other major contributing factors were the use of FL2215 and FL2027 potato varieties, the two best-performing potato varieties developed by the company; the use of quality agricultural pharmaceuticals and fertilizers; and the monitoring and transfer of knowledge and experience from engineers to support the use of machines and technology in the potato cultivation process.
Original story in Vietnamese
Loc Troi Group announces positive results in first quarter: May 3: After suffering a loss of nearly USD 1.6 million in the first quarter of 2020 when the covid-19 pandemic began in Vietnam, Loc Troi Group Joint Stock Company showed excellent financial results in the first quarter of this year, with both revenue and profits back to pre-pandemic levels. According to the newly released financial results at the end of the first quarter, Loc Troi earned USD 103 million in net revenue. The largest contribution came from its pesticide products at USD 44 million, a 500% increase compared to the same period last year; its food product sales contributed USD 26 million; seed production brought in USD 5.2 million; packaging and construction contributed USD 1.2 million and USD 1.7 million respectively.
Original story in Vietnamese
HG12 rice variety in Thua Thien Hue: May 2: After many years of development the highly valued HG12 rice variety has shown potential for high yields and tolerance to pests. The Thua Thien Hue Agricultural Extension Center has been working with farming cooperatives in the province to trial the new rice variety with 51 hectares of HG12 rice under cultivation. Results showed that HG12 rice has a short growing period, is easy to cultivate, resistant to pests and diseases, and has high yield potential. The rice yield of the households participating in the trial was about 70 quintals/ha, 3 - 4 quintals/ha higher than the control rice field, resulting in increased profits of 150 - 170 USD/ha
Original story in Vietnamese
Enterprises commit to supporting rice seed prices for farmers in Quang Tri: April 30: The Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with Thaibinh Seed Corporation held a conference to evaluate the results of testing the new TBR97 pure rice variety in the province. For the winter-spring crop 2020-2021, Thai Binh Seed has trialled the production of over 70 hectares, 65 hectares in Trieu Phong district and 6.5 hectares in Vinh Linh district. Evaluating the results of the TBR97 rice variety trial, the Quang Tri Sub-Department of Plant Protection showed that it has a growth period of 105 days; a low plant height, averaging 82 cm; and is adapted to local climatic and soil conditions. Quang Tri Province is committed to supporting the price of TBR97 rice variety lower than other rice varieties from 0.04 to 0.08 USD/kg, and at the same time promoting the strain for production and consumption.
Original story in Vietnamese
Famous viet rice variety trademark protection registration abroad: May 11: ST rice varieties such as ST24, ST25 have become popular on the global market, winning prizes at the International Conference on Rice Trade. However, companies in the United States have attempted to trademark ST25 rice, which has led to concern among local producers and farmers. The original developer of ST rice, Mr. Ho Quang Cua, applied for trademark protection of "Rice Ong Cua" for all rice developed and jointly developed by Mr. Cua, possibly including ST24 and ST25 varieties at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and plans to transfer the trademark of the fragrant rice varieties to the state. According to the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, after acquiring the copyright of the ST25 rice variety, the Ministry will cooperate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Science and Technology to research and register the trademark of ST25 rice in key rice export markets, especially the domestic market and the United States. Original story in Vietnamese here and here .
Gia Lai Pepsi potato production success: May 5: In March 2021, farmers in Chu Se and Dak Doa districts harvested the first 36 hectares of potatoes in a project conducted in partnership with PepsiCo Foods Vietnam. The output of the first crop exceeded expectations with the average yield of potatoes in the two districts ranging from 24 to 32 tons/ha, exceeding the expected output by 20-25 tons, a remarkable achievement from the first crop. Explaining this breakthrough result, a representative of PepsiCo Foods said that the districts in Gia Lai have favorable soil and climate, with large farms that are ideal for the mechanization process. Other major contributing factors were the use of FL2215 and FL2027 potato varieties, the two best-performing potato varieties developed by the company; the use of quality agricultural pharmaceuticals and fertilizers; and the monitoring and transfer of knowledge and experience from engineers to support the use of machines and technology in the potato cultivation process.
Original story in Vietnamese
Loc Troi Group announces positive results in first quarter: May 3: After suffering a loss of nearly USD 1.6 million in the first quarter of 2020 when the covid-19 pandemic began in Vietnam, Loc Troi Group Joint Stock Company showed excellent financial results in the first quarter of this year, with both revenue and profits back to pre-pandemic levels. According to the newly released financial results at the end of the first quarter, Loc Troi earned USD 103 million in net revenue. The largest contribution came from its pesticide products at USD 44 million, a 500% increase compared to the same period last year; its food product sales contributed USD 26 million; seed production brought in USD 5.2 million; packaging and construction contributed USD 1.2 million and USD 1.7 million respectively.
Original story in Vietnamese
HG12 rice variety in Thua Thien Hue: May 2: After many years of development the highly valued HG12 rice variety has shown potential for high yields and tolerance to pests. The Thua Thien Hue Agricultural Extension Center has been working with farming cooperatives in the province to trial the new rice variety with 51 hectares of HG12 rice under cultivation. Results showed that HG12 rice has a short growing period, is easy to cultivate, resistant to pests and diseases, and has high yield potential. The rice yield of the households participating in the trial was about 70 quintals/ha, 3 - 4 quintals/ha higher than the control rice field, resulting in increased profits of 150 - 170 USD/ha.
Original story in Vietnamese
Enterprises commit to supporting rice seed prices for farmers in Quang Tri: April 30: The Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with Thaibinh Seed Corporation held a conference to evaluate the results of testing the new TBR97 pure rice variety in the province. For the winter-spring crop 2020-2021, Thai Binh Seed has trialled the production of over 70 hectares, 65 hectares in Trieu Phong district and 6.5 hectares in Vinh Linh district. Evaluating the results of the TBR97 rice variety trial, the Quang Tri Sub-Department of Plant Protection showed that it has a growth period of 105 days; a low plant height, averaging 82 cm; and is adapted to local climatic and soil conditions. Quang Tri Province is committed to supporting the price of TBR97 rice variety lower than other rice varieties from 0.04 to 0.08 USD/kg, and at the same time promoting the strain for production and consumption. Original story in Vietnamese
Soc Trang town resolves to reduce purple onion surplus: April 23: The People's Committee of Vinh Chau town (Soc Trang province) have resolved to procure purple onion for local consumption. The decision was made during a meeting, attended by business leaders and government officials.
Previously, the Chairman of Soc Trang Provincial People's Committee, Tran Van Lau had signed a letter advocating for purple onion consumption in Vinh Chau town. Due to reduced consumption linked to COVID-19 situation, it was reported that there was initially a 50,000 ton surplus of purple onions that, if not consumed in a timely manner, would spoil and thus pose great economic loss. Vietnamese news here, and according to another article here, from the original surplus, there was between 16,000-20,000 tonnes that had yet to be consumed. It was also reported that a total of 6,500 ha of land had been cultivated with purple onion cultivation, of which 5,000 ha was for commercial onion tubers, and 1,500 ha planted for seed. The onions were being procured from farmers for as much as 15,000 VND ($0.66) / kg, though traders were offering only between 8,000-10,000 ($0.35-0.44) VND / kg depending on the grade. Base production costs were cited at VND 12,000 ($0.52) per kg. Prices were reportedly suffering from market pressure as purple onions from Thailand and China are being traded in Ho Chi Minh City for as low as VND 3,000 ($0.13) / kg.
Vinaseed revenue, profits increase in Q1: April 22: The Joint Stock Company of Vietnam National Seed Corporation, or Vinaseed, has released its Q1 / 2021 quarterly financial statements. As reported in local media, net revenue in the first quarter of the year reached 245 billion dong (US$10.7 million), up 11.4% from the same period in 2020; gross profit reached VND 81 billion ($3.5mn), up nearly VND 10 billion ($436k) compared to quarter 1/2020. The increase could be explained mainly from reduction in marketing and administration expenses in addition to profits from the sale of IP-protected products. See Vietnamese news.
Orchid production and trade association formed: April 23: The recent establishment of the Vietnam Orchids Production and Trading Association is hoped to bolster orchid business sustainability. The new association was formed in Hanoi, coinciding with the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Hanoi coordinating with a number of organizations to organize a seminar and workshop, which was attended by leaders of the Department of Crop Production (MARD), managers, scientists, businesses and individuals focusing on investment in developing ornamental plants. Vietnames news here.
New high-yielding rice variety promising: April 21: The newly released OM 468 rice variety, which is being cultivated in the Mekong Delta, was developed through research cooperation between the Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute and ThaiBinh Seed. This year's winter-spring rice crop is the third crop that the An Phong Seed Production Experimental Farm in Thanh Binh district (Dong Thap) under Dong Thap Seed Joint Stock Company ( Doseco ) has conducted seed trials for the variety, which belongs to the ThaiBinh Seed Group and the Mekong Delta Rice Institute. Results thus far show that the variety is less prone to pests and diseases, and yields have exceeded expectations. The variety has been trialled on plots at the An Phong Seed Production Experimental farm, which has a total of 6.5 hectares of land allocated for trials and demonstrations of various varieties. Read full details about the trials and results in Vietnamese news here.
Leaf mosaic infested cassava destroyed: April 21: Some 180 hectares of cassava crop infected with leaf mosaic virus in Quy Chau will be destroyed. Throughout the district a total of 220 hectares of the crop was inspected, equating to an infection rate of 70%. Cassava is not a key crop of Quy Chau district, though many farmers, hoping to reap twice the returns of sugar cane this season, started growing it and with plans to have some 2,000 ha be brought under cassava cultivation. The infected plants were about three months old when the inspection was conducted.
Officials of the Agricultural Service Center recommend that people remove and destroy the entire infected cassava area to improve the soil and wait for the new crop production season. See Vietnamese news here.
Duc Tho’s Summer 2021 planting master plan: April 20: For the summer-autumn crop this year, Duc Tho district’ (Ha Tinh) planting master plan was revealed: It includes both conventional and organic rice field commercial and trial production: throughout the whole district, 97.6% or a total of 4,231 hectares out of 4,335 ha will be planted with rice. Output is expected to reach 18,809 tons, with five main varieties to be planted: BT 09, sticky, VRN20, LP5 and Thien Uu 8. The district will also implement large field production trials on an area of 750 hectares; including 10 to 15 fields for conventional rice production, each a minimum of 50 ha, and five fields for organic rice trials following VietGap standards, each at a minimum scale of 10 ha. Aside from rice, the district planting plan also includes 214 ha of maize, 992 ha of beans, 24 ha of peanuts and 135 hectares of vegetables. See original news in Vietnamese here.
Vinaseed varieties popular on Quang Ngai farms: April 20: High-yielding, disease-resistance rice varieties from the Central Seed Joint Stock Company (Vinaseed Group) are in demand by farmers in Quang Ngai. Among them is the Thien Uu 8 rice variety, which continues was first launched in Quang Ngai in in 2015. For the coming growing seasons, Vinaseed plans to supply between 190 and 350 tons of seed of this variety, and as much as 500 tons by 2025. Another popular variety is VNR 20, which has shown good adaptation to the climate and soil of this province, where it can reportedly yield 90 quintals of rice per ha. See original Vietnamese news here.
Northern rice pest and disease report for current season: April 18: The peak period for pests and diseases causing damage to winter-spring rice is reported to be in April and May. For the most recent winter-spring crop period, cold weather has posed increased risk of pest and disease outbreaks. According to the Northern Plant Protection Center (Plant Protection Department), the total cultivated area of the 2020-2021 winter-spring crop is more than 727,000 hectares, which is in varying stages of growth, though pest and disease occurrence is reported to be to a lesser degree than last year. See details in Vietnames news here.
ThaiBinh’s high-yielding rice in Khanh Hoa: April 17: ThaiBinh Seed Group Joint Stock Company’s rice variety TBR225 continues to deliver high yields in the fields in Khanh Hoa. After four seasons of demonstration in the fields in Khanh Hoa, the variety has consistently delivered outstanding yields of “delicious rice” which is soft and with a “bold taste and characteristic aroma”. Productivity is reported to be 90 quintals per hectare. See original news in Vietnamese here.
Hoa Binh veg market survey during Tet holiday: Feb 16: According to a survey at a number of local markets in Hoa Binh Province, the price of green vegetables such as kohlrabi, cabbage, and cauliflower had fallen after the Lunar New Year festival. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, traders in other localities did not come to buy vegetables and local farmers had to sell their produce at local markets in the city. However, according to market sellers, this year the sales of fresh produce after the Lunar New Year has decreased compared to previous years. Original story in Vietnamese here
Winter-spring cool weather crop protection advisory: Feb 28: The South Central Coast and Central Highlands provinces are being affected by cold temperatures and cloudy weather with scattered rain. The main crops in the region such as rice, maize, coffee, pepper, cashew, durian, dragon fruit, and cassava are at a critical stage and susceptible to pests and diseases. The Center for Plant Protection in Central Vietnam has assigned agencies in the various provinces to take an active role in monitoring the situation closely and inspecting crops regularly for signs of harmful pets and diseases. Particular attention is to be applied to rice, cassava, maize, pepper, cashew, coffee, durian, and dragon fruit. Original story in Vietnamese here
Tet flower sales slump: Feb 8: Flower growers in Gia Lai province are experiencing slow sales during what would normally be a busy Tet festival period, causing farmers to abandon their gardens and experience financial losses. Original story in Vietnamese here
Cinnamon cultivation in Yen Bai: Feb 7: Cinnamon is used in traditional medicine and is an important ingredient in many dishes. Cinnamon is concentrated in 4 growing areas: Yen Bai, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa - Nghe An and Quang Nam - Quang Ngai. In Van Yen district of Yen Bai Province the area for growing cinnamon is now nearly 50,000 hectares, and increasing between 1,800 to 2,000 hectares per year. This has resulted in an annual output of 6,000 tons of dried cinnamon bark; 63,000 tons of cinnamon branches and leaves; 300 tons of cinnamon oil; and 51,000 tons of ground cinnamon. Original story in Vietnamese here
Village co-operative turns to organic vegetable farming for higher profits: Feb 16: A group of 20 farmers from a village co-operative located in Lương Sơn District of Hòa Bình Province have been growing organic vegetables under the cooperative model since 2014. The cultivated area is about 20 hectares that was converted from rice fields. A range of seasonal vegetables are grown including tomatoes, cabbage, gourd, zucchini, cucumber, papaya, beans, lettuce and other leafy vegetables. The organic produce is quickly snapped up by buyers from Hanoi with production not able to meet demand. The farmers estimate that the profits from vegetable cultivation is around 5 to 6 times higher than intensive rice farming, achieving an average of income of 95-130 USD per hectare of cultivation per month. See news here
Pilot scheme of ST24 and ST25 rice varieties show encouraging results: (Feb 13) Cultivation of ST24 and ST25 rice varieties on a 60 hectare plot in Hồng Dân District, Bạc Liêu Province, shows the varieties possess good adaptability to local soil conditions and ease of cultivation, especially on shrimp-rice land. To encourage the production of ST24 and ST25 varieties, the agricultural sector of Bac Lieu province has organized 70 training courses on farming techniques with the participation of 2,600 farmers on soil improvement techniques, sowing, and cultivation. The scheme will be expanded to 3,500 hectares of land north of National Highway 1A in Bạc Liêu Province. See news in Vietnames here.
For the winter cropping season of 2020, nearly 2,220 hectares of crops were sown in the district of Huong Khe; of this, biomass maize was sown on over 400 hectares. Currently, across the fields in localities in the district, farmers are focusing on taking care of winter crops with the hope of achieving and exceeding targets. This past year Hà Tĩnh Province has provided support in the form of seeds. More in Vietnamese here.
Vinaseed’s award winning rice to be distributed via Vinmart outlets: January 2021: Ho Chi Minh listed Vinaseed recently signed a distribution agreement with the Vinmart supermarket chain to distribute the seed company’s famous ST25 rice products at Vinmart outlets across Vietnam. Vinaseed's ST25 rice is produced in a closed "field to table" model utilizing “purebred rice varieties'' produced using special symbiotic breeding and production methods that integrate with rice and shrimp farming at sites in Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau. Aside from this, the rice is processed, milled and packed using modern technology from Japan and Israel, and is produced under FSSC 22,000 certification standards. Since the ST25 variety won the World's Best Rice 2019 award, many counterfeit and copy brands have surfaced on the market. Read more in Vietnamese here.
Rice ‘Tet aid’ requested for poor households in Quang Tri: January 2021: The Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee is seeking aid from the central government in the form of rice, having requested more than 807 tons of rice for people to consume during this coming Tet holiday. Concerned Quang Tri officials have identified 53,838 people living in 11,484 households in need to support rice for the month, which equates to about 15kg / person / month. Those in need include poor households, ethnic minorities with difficult circumstances, affected by natural disasters, especially floods at the end of 2020. The rice is proposed to be divided as follows: over 466 tons distributed in Huong Hoa district; 285 tons for Dakrong district, while the districts of Gio Linh, Hai Lang, Vinh Linh, Cam Lo and Con Co island districts would be allocated between 1 to 21 tons, respectively. More details in Vietnamese media here.
Seed aid for several disaster-stricken provinces: December and January 2021: The Prime Minister has assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to issue without charge 615.8 tons of rice seeds; 130.48 tons of corn seeds and 1.48 tons of vegetable seeds in three provinces: Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai as part of relief efforts following a number of natural disasters in late 2020. Specifically, Thua Thien Hue province will receive 210.8 tons of rice seeds, 24 tons of corn seeds and 1.48 tons of vegetable seeds; Quang Nam province 200 tons of rice seeds and 35 tons of corn seeds; Quang Ngai province: 205 tons of rice seeds and 71.48 tons of corn seeds. More details in Vietnamese here. The order follows similar news in late December, when the Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to issue 2,340 tons of rice seeds without charge; 500 tons of corn seeds and 40 tons of vegetable seeds in four provinces: Quang Tri, Quang Binh, Ha Tinh and Thanh Hoa. In that order, Quang Tri province was supported with 1,000 tons of rice seeds, 80 tons of corn seeds and 10 tons of vegetable seeds; Quang Binh province was supported with 640 tons of rice seeds, 120 tons of corn seeds and 10 tons of vegetable seeds; Ha Tinh province was supported with 500 tons of rice seeds, 100 tons of corn seeds and 10 tons of vegetable seeds; Thanh Hoa province was supported with 200 tons of rice seeds, 200 tons of corn seeds and 10 tons of vegetable seeds.The news was covered in several reports, here, here, here and here.
APSA company sends vegetable seed aid: In response to several storm-induced flood and landslide disasters affecting Central Vietnam in October and early November 2020. East-West Seed Vietnam Flag of Vietnam (EWHMTD) has collaborated with the local authorities & seed distributors in 5 provinces and donated more than 20,600 leafy vegetable seed pouches. See photos on East West Seed twitter feed here.
Disaster seed, seedling aide in Quang Nam: On January 12, a delegation from the central government visited the Tra Leng commune in Nam Tra My district, Quang Nam province to distribute gifts and relief to households affected by storm-induced landslides last September and October. Nam Tra My district was severely affected in “storms No. 9 and 10”, which caused 19 deads, 13 to go missing, 33 injuries and 600 houses destroyed. Productive land was also affected. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has mobilized resources and advised the Prime Minister to support the province with VND250 billion in relieff, including 235 tons of seeds, chemicals and medicine. It was also proposed to provide 5,000 seedlings of durian and mangosteen to villagers in the Tra Leng commune, as well as other varieties of fruit trees that would be most suitable. Full story in Vietnamese here.
Vinaseed rated top Vietamese company again: December 2020:
Vietnam National Seed Group (Vinaseed) was honored as a top 15 listed enterprises with the best business performance for the third consecutive year. The list is part of "Assessment of Business Performance - Vietnam the Best Company (BCI)", which is administered by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Business Forum Magazine in collaboration with Research Institute and Business Development (INBUS), Vietnam Association of Accountants and Auditors (VAA) and the Vietnam Association of Business Administrators (VACD). 1,500 listed companies were survey in various categories including solvency, business efficiency, financial leverage, dividends, profitability, capital preservation and revenue. More details in Vietnnamese here
Seedless melons yielding fortunes in Nghe An: December 2020:
Thanks to the planting of year-round seedless lemons according to VietGAP standards, many farming households in Do Luong district (Nghe An province) are able to earn great returns. From the third year the tree begins to bear fruit, yielding on average more than 1,000 fruits, or about 70-100kg / tree / year. More details in Vietnamese here.
Pioneering coffee replanting in the Central Highlands: December 2020:
With favorable climate and soil, in Lam Dong province, there is a move to bolster the cultivation of high quality coffee. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Lam Dong province has been implementing a coffee replanting and grafting program since 2006. As a result, in the period 2013-2020, more than 73,100 ha have been covered: Most of the coffee areas after replanting stably yield 4.5 tons / ha, with some up to 6-7 tons / ha. This is compared to the province's coffee productivity of 2.6 tons / ha in 2012, which has risen to 3.2 tons / ha in 2019. Read more here in Vietnamese media.
Ruby Queen corn trials show promise in Long An: December 2020:
Up to this point, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Khanh, living in Hamlet 3, Binh Tam Commune, Tan An City, Long An Province has planted ruby red corn seven times since first trialing the new variety from Thai seeds in 2019. According to the instructions of the seed supplier, the variety has an average yield of about 10-12 tons / ha. Common yellow American corn and waxy corn sold in the market fetch only 3,000-5,000 VND / cob, while the ruby queen variety can fetch 3-4 times more. Feed grade corn is priced per kg and thus fetches inferior returns. More details in Vietnames here.
New crop protection, input fee schedule draft: December 2020:
The Ministry of Finance has completed a draft revision for the schedules of fees concerning the regulation of phytosanitary, biosecurity and crop protection and agriculture input products and services. The organizations responsible for fee collection include the Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), the Plant Protection Sub-Department, the Plant Quarantine Sub-Department, the Plant Protection and Cultivation Department. Details of the new fees are outlined in this Vietnamese article.
Cherry blossoms in Sa Pa district: December 2020:
In the Sa Pa district of Lào Cai province, there are two places to admire Japanese cherry blossoms (Prunus serrulata): one is on the campus of the People's Committee of Sa Pa district, near the bank of the lake in the center of the town; the second is a European flower garden in Ham Rong mountain eco-tourism area behind the church. The Cherry blossoms planted in Sa Pa stemmed from seedlings donated by the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association on the occasion of Sa Pa's 100-year-old turn in October 2003. Unlike Japan, where the cherry blossom season usually occurs in March and April, Sa Pa cherry blossom around the western Christmas and New Year period, at the end of December. More details and photos here.
Nghệ An Province tet flower planting commences: December 2020:
Many farmers in Nghia Dan district and Thai Hoa town in Nghệ An Province have started sowing of traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) season flowers, including various types of chrysanthemum, lilies and roses. During this time farmers who usually grow other types of crops switch to flowers due to the prospect of earning high incomes from the flowers (up to 20,000 VND per flower), which are bought ahead of the Lunar New Year festivities, which are scheduled to take place in February, 2021. Farmers typically sow their own saved seeds from previous cycles. More details in Vietnamese here.
August 2020
Thai Binh Seed Group lauded as leading seed brand in Vietnam
The Thai Binh Seed Group, an APSA member, has been recognized by Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for having the “most advanced brand identity” in the Vietnamese seed industry. According to this article, the seed enterprise had exceeded a sales target by 20%. Aside from this, the company was lauded for its efforts in human resources, technology and R&D, particularly with regard to the establishment of a 153ha Crop Research Institute, the first of is kind in Vietnam, and the development of a number of new leading quality rice varieties. The article goes on to mention an investment of more than VND 400 billion ($17.3 million) in mega projects, including a seed processing plant, Trade Center and other facilities to support its work.
Vietnamese Macadamia cropping stats
The Vietnam Macadamia Association will look to bolster investments in cropping of the cash crop. According to this article, macadamia is currently cultivated in 23 provinces, spanning an area of about 16,400 hectares. Of this, 65 ha is for research purposes, and 480 ha is part of forestry extension projects; 7,500 hectares for commercial cropping, and another 8,355 ha is individual growers. This year the association expects output of fresh nuts to reach 5,300 tons: 2,030 tons in Dak Lak; 1,850 tons in Lam Dong; 780 tons in Dak Nong; 220 tons in Son La, 164 tons in Lai Chau and another 260 tons in other provinces. The average per hectare cost of planting and tending (not including investment costs for infrastructure such as in-field transportation, electricity and water) ranges between VND 130 to 340 million ($5,640 to $14,754) and macadamia harvested from trees that are 6-7 years old can yield between 1.1 - 2.8 tons, depending on planting density. This can increase by 15-20% per year after the seventh year. On average, the price of (fresh) nuts per kg can fetch about VND 90,000 ($3.9) / kg.
5-3 model saves expense, increases take-home for rice farmers
A “5-3” cropping model is yielding good results in the Dai Huu village, Cat Nhon commune of Phu Cat district in Binh Dinh province, where a trial was carried out by 14 rice farmers on a 2-hectares of paddy. The five in the model refers to five reductions: in the amount of paddy sown, as well as in the amount of nitrogen fertilizer, pesticides and irrigation water used, in addition to the reduction of post-harvest losses. The “three” refers to three increases: in productivity, quality of rice and economic efficiency. The farmers were supported with 50% of the seeds, as well as materials and fertilizers, and were given training and technical guidance on best production processes for intensive rice production, extending to knowledge on general nutrition management, and combining wet and dry farming methods to optimize rice growth, inhibiting harmful pests, reducing costs and improving productivity and economic efficiency for optimal land use. The pilot enabled farmers to reduce their investment costs while increasing productivity, finally achieving yields of 75 quintals per hectare, about nine more quintals / ha than control fields that didn’t apply the model. This resulted in farmers fetching more than VND19.3 million ($831.65) / ha -- VND 6.4 million ($275) more per ha than the control field. More details here.
Thai durian varieties brings good return for Quang Tri farmer
This article documents the success of one 68-year-old durian farmer in Quang Tri who is growing durian on his 20-hectare plot of land since 2008. Initially, he had issues with drought, but got fruit by the 6th year. Now after more than 10 years, he is getting between 150 - 250 kg of fruit, which brings him about VND 100,000 ($4.32) / kg. Aside from this r, this Vietnamese language article covers the trend, challenges and opportunities of durian farming in various parts of Vietnam.
Making a good living from water lilies in Thua Thien Hue
Many initially thought that a resident of the Giang Hai commune, Phu Loc district, Thua Thien Hue province was crazy to invest in renovating a sandy swamp to grow exotic water lilies. But not anymore as he now makes over VND 2 billion ($86,300) per year from his trade. This Vietnamese language article documents how in 2013, Mr. Huynh Van Khanhimported lily seeds from Thailand and invested in improving his land to have many shallow ponds.
June and July 2020
‘Safe vegetable’ cultivation to be expanded in Hanoi
Over the next five years the Vietnamese government will support expansion of “safe vegetable” cultivation in the capital. According to the Director of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection (Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development), Nguyen Manh Phuong, quoted in an interview on the Hanoi Moi news website, at present, vegetables are being cultivated on more than 5,044 hectares of land in the Vietnamese capital. This is distributed across 22 districts, towns and 151 concentrated vegetable production areas, with an output of about 700,000 tons, which feeds about 70% of the needs of consumers in Hanoi. According to the interview, the government will invest in bringing more cultivation under safe production standards that call for less use of chemicals. By 2025, the goal is to increase cultivation by 3,000 to 4,000 hectares.
Trials of ‘purple coal’ rice variety underway
Members of the Hieu Thuan Organic Village Agricultural Cooperative (Hieu Thuan commune, Vung Liem district, Vinh Long province) are trialling a new “purple charcoal” rice variety (MS2019 RMTT) on an area of 35 hectares. According to the report by Nongnghieb, the seed has initially showed good adaptability to local conditions, yielding the equivalent of traditional rice varieties -- five to seven tonnes per hectare. The type of variety, which is aromatic and high in nutrients, was reportedly introduced from abroad “by a monk” and has been registered with the Department of Crop Production for trial purposes.
Company banks on successful horticulture seedling supply model
Nongnghiep Vietnam reports on the effective contracting and supply model of one horticulture company in the provinces of Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Lak and Dak Nong. The firm, which was praised by the Dept of Agriculture and Rural Development, produces seeds and seedlings for farmers, and purchases and processes produce from them under contract. This covers hundreds of thousands of tons of vegetables and fruits, especially passion fruit, mango, avocado,and durian. Passion fruit is its main focus now. The company reportedly fronts the cost for the seed/seedling to the farmer who sells the passion fruit back to the firm at a minimum price of VND 6,000 / kg. According to figures, one hectare can yield 50 tons of fruits, and earn revenue VND 300 million per year -- half of that net. Vietnamese article here.
Leaf Mosaic Virus compounds crop woes in Ha Tinh
Leaf mosaic virus has ravaged no less than 200 hectares of cassava crop in the upper part of the rural Kỳ Anh district of Hà Tĩnh Province of the North Central Coast region of Vietnam. Reports Bao Ha Tinh Vietnam news, the disease has compounded crop failure issues from prolonged drought and bad weather
‘Biotechnology model’ for safe, efficient rice cultivation trialled in Thanh Binh
To meet demand for quality rice seeds ahead of the Summer-Autumn crop of 2020, the An Phong experimental seed production farm in Thanh Binh District of Dong Thap is trialing and demoing a number of special varieties on several hectares in accordance with processes outlined by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Seed requiremen was reported at about 50kg per hectare, and tthe model calls for the use of biological fertilizers and pesticides as well as plastic coverings to protect from pasts. The varieties reportedly have a cycle of 98 to 105 days. Nongnghiep Vietnam reports.
Promising results from LY2099 hybrid rice in Lang Son and Cao Bang
Nongnghiep reports on promising data on cultivation of the LY2099 variety of hybrid rice in the provinces of Lang Son and Cao Bang. In the former farmers had reported yields of 91.6 quintals per hectare, while trials in the latter achieved as much as 98 q/ha.
Mekong delta rice sowing expanded with favorable conditions forecast
Locales in the Mekong Delta area of Vietnam are increasing the area of autumn-winter rice sowing as weather and water resources are forecast to be favorable. As the rainy season has begun, the risks of saline intrusion in coastal estuaries has reportedly decreased and according to a hydrometeorology agency, this year it is unlikely that early floods will occur in the southern part of the Delta, with peak floods anticipated in late September. Hence sowing in Hau Giang will be expanded to span 40,000 hectares, up 1,500ha from the initial plan of 38,500ha; And while sowing on 68,000 ha has been completed in Kien Giang, the plan is to cover a total of 72,000 ha. Nongnghieb reports.
New soybean variety gets approval for Central Highlands, Central region
Vinasoy’s 02-NS soybean variety selected by Vietnam Soybean Milk Factory (Vinasoy) has been officially approved for circulation by the Department of Crop Production - MARD. According to this article in Vietnamese, Vinasoy successfully tested and developed soybean varieties in four regions across the country, including in rice land in the Mekong Delta and the North. After many years of research, the Vinasoy Soybean Application Research Center successfully created two new, non-GM soybean varieties VINASOY 01-CT and VINASOY 02-NS, which were grown and tested by the Department of Crop Production MARD, which issued a plant variety protection certificate in 2019. Recently, the Department announced approval of the variety for growing in the Central Highlands and Central regional. The variety is resistant to many pests and diseases, and can yield d 25-35 quintals (2.5-3.5 tonnes) / ha.
May 2020
Amending Vietnam’s 10-year-old GM & Biosafety regulation
A proposal to amend Vietnam’s GMO regulations -- Decree No. 69/2010 Decree No. 69/2010 / ND-CP of June 21, 2010, covering biosafety of genetically modified organisms, genetic specimens and products of genetically modified organisms -- is in review, pending public commentary. Baochinhphu reports that current regulations saw five events of genetically modified corn issued biosafety certification and 39 of corn, soybean, cotton, alfalfa and canola granted certificates as animal feed. The new decree addresses the need for integrating GMO regulations with other relevant legal strictures. Full details of the draft ammendments (in Vietnamese) and commentary on it can be found here. .
VNR20 rice high yielding & profitable, affirms evaluation
The Tuyen Quang Province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Office sponsored a conference to evaluate Vietnam National Seed Corporation (VINASEED) VNR20 rice variety. It was concluded that the promising variety -- first planted by 144 households on 9.5 hectares in Tan Ha, Phường La and Tuyen Quang wards during January 2020 -- is pest resistant and offers yield stability. The Vinaseed-developed variety produced in Tuyen Quang rice with a seed-to-husk ratio of 89.6% while yielding 255 kg per rod (5.0292 meters): farmers’ 953,000 Dong investment thus reaped a return of 2.17 million (US$93 dollars). Nong Hieb reports.
‘World’s Best Rice’ backed by PVP, assures MARD
Voted the World’s Best Rice at the 11th World Rice Trade Conference last November in Manila, Vietnam’s long-grain Vietnamese jasmine fragrant rice, or ST24 variety received its plant variety protection certificate or PVP (No. 28. VN.2018) from the Department of Crop Production (MARD) in 2018. According to Kinh Tedothi report, a MARD representative affirmed on 15 May of this year that his department has inspection and supervision authority, and that if ST24 rice -- developed over two decades -- is produced or traded without written consent from the PVP holders it is a violation of law and will any such infringement will be prosecuted. The brand is registered with Soc Trang Province’s Department of Industry and Trade.
Hanoi Pushing high-tech agricultural projects
Hanoi published a list of 11 direct investment projects for 2019 - 2025, including seven high-tech agricultural production projects with total investment of 5,200 billion dong (US$222,966). Examples of Vietnam’s recent agricultural breakthroughs include: Kinoko Thanh Cao Import and Export Co., Ltd. (My Duc district) an investment valued at nearly 70 billion dong (US$2,999,255.70) to produce 30 tons of Enoki mushrooms monthly using modern Japanese technology, bringing revenue of 1.8 - 2 billion dong (US$85,693.02); and Hanoi Materials and Seed Joint Stock Company, which invested 8 billion dong (US$342,772.08) to build a modern-tech tissue culture room, and plant seven hectares of flowers in Me Linh and Soc Son districts. Bao Dautu reports.
Nha Ho new grapes, other crops show promise for SW Vietnam
The Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences’ Nha Ho Cotton Research and Agricultural Development Institute since 2016 has introduced 22 new asparagus, 9 guava, 9 mango, 8 custard apple, 8 jackfruit, 7 longan; as well as several promising apple and grape varieties, which are suitably adapted to the local climate and soil in Ninh Thuan Province and the greater south-central region of Vietnam. These varieties have high yield potential, good quality and are stable. The NH 01-152 grapes are grafted on to wild grape rootstock, producing large fruit weighing from 0.5 kg to over 1.5 kg per bunch, are wine red when ripe, lightly aromatic, with crisp firm meat and moderate sweetness -- making for great market popularity. Bao Tin Tuc reports.
Persistent drought in Central Vietnam
The Vietnamese government continues to implement measures to cope with drought, heat, and saltwater intrusion in the Central Region and Central Highlands. The Prime Minister’s Office issued Directive No. 04 / CT-TTg effective since January has mandated for provincial and metropolitan Peoples’ Committees “not to let people suffer from water shortage for domestic use” and to focus on remedial measures. The ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Natural Resources and Environment, and Industry and Trade were likewise notified and coordinating efforts as drought persist through May. Hardest hit are Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan provinces. Bao Chinh Phu reports.
Terrace melons in the heart of Hanoi
Nguyen Thi Thuong Huyen, 38, is now producing some 300 kg of melons annually in 70 pots on her 30 square-meter terrace in rainy Hanoi. Going into her fourth year since her first successful grow in 2017, she cultivates a number of varieties, including Korean, Thai, Pear, and Cabernet melons. Quality is evaluated using a fruit sweetness meter. Each crop, in batches of 15 - 20 plants, takes 65 - 90 days; fruits average 1.8 - 2.5 kilograms each, and typically sell for 100,000 dong (US$4.29). “Some, such as Japanese melons, sell for up to 500,000 dong (US$26.49),” Mrs Nguyen said, adding she can harvest up to six times a year. Eva Vietnam reports.
SOFRI’s ‘Plant Hospital’ and Advisory Center
The Southern Fruit Research Institute (SOFRI) long has been a core resource in development of Vietnam southern provinces’ fruit, vegetable and flower industries, credited with many varieties of fruit trees, bioproducts, processes and models for quality vegetable and fruit production. SOFRI guidelines also ensure food hygiene and safety in the Mekong Delta, Southeast and Western provinces. Now, in collaboration with research agencies and businesses, the Institute has established both a “plant hospital” and a “center for advice, introduction and supply of good seedlings, agricultural materials and garden tools”, aiming to facilitate transfer of technical advances, market information, specialty fruit trees, high quality agricultural materials, and bio-organic preparations to farmers. SOFRI seed, planting techniques and tissue propagation technology are used in cultivating fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, and tissue culture flowers such as chrysanthemum, gerbera, bell flower, petunia, orchid, and rose. Nongnghiep reports
‘Superior quality’ hybrid rice for north-central coast
The LY2099 hybrid rice variety reportedly offers both superior productivity and quality, and is easy to cultivate. The three-line hybrid is planted widely in the North Central Coast province of Thanh Hoa under differing soil conditions, climatic sub-regions and levels of cultivation. The variety features high productivity and tastiness, and is less expensive than many other hybrids. On mechanized farms, a 500 square-meter plot produces 350 kilograms of dry rice. A kilogram sells for 7,000 dong (US$0.30). The typical investment is 1.1 million dong (US$47.17) -- returning 2.4 million dong (US$102.92) for a net income of 1.3 million dong (US$55.75). LY2099 is produced by Yen Bai Seed and Livestock Center in collaboration with the Viet Seed Co., Ltd. and received recognition as a new plant variety from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as of November, 2018 (Decision No. 4401/QD-BNN-TT). Nongnghiep reports.
Peanut Farmers’ abundant yields in Minh Hoa
Mountainous Minh Hoa District’s winter-spring peanut crop this year in the North Central Coast province of Quảng Bình has been good, and prices are high. The district agricultural office reports nearly 770 hectares planted to peanuts, with excellent growing conditions and fewer pests, affording a “much higher” ratio of tubers -- and thus greater yield -- than in previous years.Groundnut averages reached 2,300 kilograms per hectare (an increase of 50 kilograms y-o-y). Many locales are seeing production up to 2,500 kilograms per hectare, with total district output estimated at 1,800 tons. Nongnghiep reports.
Breathing new life into stale coffee plantings
The Vietnam - Sustainable Agriculture Transformation (VnSAT) Project is revivifying aged coffee plantations in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. Nongnghiep reports that cultivators with 20-year-old plantings in 2015 found their coffee beans’ quality had worsened, with decreasing productivity and many sick or dying trees. VnSAT advised they should be entirely uprooted, the soil cleansed, plowed under and left to dry for six months, during which period all old roots were incinerated. “Everything differed from our traditional ways,” said one farmer of methods promoted by the Western Highlands Agricultural Science and Technology Institute (WASI) and VnSAT. She started re-planting her one-and-one-quarter hectare plot during the Lunar New Year period in 2016: “Every job must be meticulously performed according to strict rules,” she said. “It’s scientific.” Results are plain to see: Central Highlands coffee plantings are once again green and vibrant.
April
Access to inputs, fertilizers, crop protection products initially a challenge
According to this article in BaoHoaBinh news, many agricultural supply stores at the beginning of April were forced to close due to restrictions announced via a March 31 notice from the Department of Industry and Trade, which did not exempt such shops. By April 10, however, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development issued a proposal to ease the restrictions to ensure essential commodities for agricultural production were accessible during lockdown, coordinating with relevant departments to ensure food security.
Fresh veg cooperatives city cooperation ensure stable food supply in Hanoi
Soha Vietnam reports on the successful approach of the Chuc Son Fresh Vegetable Cooperative, which has been cooperating with businesses and other cooperatives to ensure stable supply of produce to consumers in Hanoi. According to the article, the cooperative has nearly 40 members cultivating crops on more than 65ha, including mainly vegetables and fruits in order to feed demand in Hanoi. Output is cited to be from 7 to 9 quintal of vegetables per day, which is sold directly to consumers at special points of sale set up at apartment buildings in addition to traditional markets, supermarkets, hospitals, and retail chain stores. The article also mentions efforts of another organic agriculture cooperative in Dong Anh District, which has its vegetable products affixed with QR codes; the cooperative is working directly with leading agrofood supply and retail chains. The article also provides estimates on monthly demand in Hanoi for various types of agricultural products as follows: Rice: 92,970 tons; fresh pork: 18,594 tons; beef: 5,230 tons; chicken and duck: 6,198 tons; vegetables: 84,100 tons. Accordingly, production within Hanoi can supply much of this demand including 58% of the demand for meat; 70% for fish; 90% of poultry eggs and 65% of fresh vegetables.
Cooperatives go online during lockdown
Likewise this article highlights how vegetable and farm cooperatives are mobilizing and adapting to supply direct to consumers via online channels and apartment points of sale.
Free rice ATMs supply food to the poor
ATM-like automated rice dispensing machines have been installed throughout Vietnam to supply people with rice rations during a time when residents are under strict lockdown. Such machines were initially set up in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, before being introduced in Hue and Danang, reports Vietnam Plus.
On those in Danang, the Da Nang City Young Businessmen Association set up free ‘rice ATMs’ to in Danang. The first was installed at Trung Nu Vuong Street in downtown Hai Chau district before being spread to more locations in Hoa Vang, Cam Le, Thanh Khe and Lien Chieu districts. The association had initially collected 40 tonnes of rice from donors in the city, and would gather more to supply the free rice ATMs through the end of June.
Melon production trending in an Giang
VTV.vn reports on the growing trend of ‘hi-tech’ cultivation of melon in An Giang province, inspired by techniques and methods from the US and Japan, melons are now grown throughout An Giang province, including in Tinh Bien, Phu Tan districts, Tan Chau town, Chau Doc city and Long Xuyen city Cultivated varieties come from both Vietnam and Japan, and are tropical varieties that love the sun and high temperatures. Melons are reportedly fetching from 55,000 to 60,000 VND / kg.
Watermelons still selling in Phu Ninh
At this time, farmers are beginning to harvest watermelons in the district of Phú Ninh of Quảng Nam Province. This year, watermelon was planted on some 300 hectares in the district, including in Tam Phuoc, Tam Loc and Phu Thinh, despite worries that sales would be impacted by the Covid-19 situation. Nonetheless, watermelons are fetching 5,000 VND per kg farmgate prices, reports Nonghieb.
Ups and downs of cucurbits growing in Thach Ha
Baohatinh Vietnamese news reports on challenges and opportunities of growing various cucurbit crops in Thạch Hà, a rural district in Hà Tĩnh Province, including zucchini and pumpkin.
Ag officials guide farmers to protect spring rice in Kien Xuong
The district crop planting station in Kien Xuong, Thai Binh province is leading a campaign to guide farmers in taking pest and disease preventative measures for various varieties of spring rice planted on roughly 11,000 hectares. The measurers include surveillance, monitoring and pesticide spraying. News here.
Farmers switching from rice to maize
Considering the hardships of drought impacting rice cultivation in Binh Dinh province, many upland farmers in places with poor irrigation and rainfall trends are switching from rice to maize, reports Nongnghiep News.
Exporters oppose proposal to suspend rice exports
Baodatviet reports on some opposition to a draft proposal regarding the export management plan to continue exporting sticky rice, parboiled rice, organic rice and fragrant rice, and temporarily stop exporting low-grade rice (IR 50404 variety cited) through to the end of June 15, citing sufficient reserves.
Extra crop cycle conversion constraints in Binh Dinh
Despite 10 years of efforts to implement three rice crops per year in Binh Dinh, many farmers still prefer the two-crop cycle due to a number of challenges with the former and advantages of the latter, highlighted in this article in Vietnamese.
Varieties yielding up to 9 tonnes/ha of rice in Binh Dinh
Trials of two new rice varieties -- VNR20 and VNR10 -- of the Central Seed Joint Stock Company are showing much promise in Binh Dinh, according to this report, which cites yields of between 85 and 90 quintals per hectare.
Flower crop integration improves rice productivity
By strategically planting certain types of flowers near paddy crops, researchers at the An Phong Experimental Farm for Production of Varieties in the Thanh Binh District of Dong Thap Province say that yields can be improved while expenses can be reduced. This is based on the concept that certain types of flowers can attract beneficial insects such as butterflies, spiders, and bees that can serve as predators of yield-inhibiting pests and thus also reduce dependency on pesticide applications. Vietnamese report here.
Rains blamed for sesame root rot
Seseme farmers inf Ha Linh commune in Huong Khe of Ha Tinh province have reported crop losses from intensive rain, which has been blamed for the perishing of sesame plants due to root rot. According to BaoHaTinh news, the village currently has about 80 households planting black sesame trees with a total area of more than 15 hectares, but estimates show that 70% have been lost or damaged.
March 2020
Food supply secure in wake of covid and swine flu
The Masan Group Joint Stock Company has joined heads with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development since the African swine flu to minimize food supply impacts through strengthening its supply chain network to ensure stable supply of necessities at stable prices. Re. Covid-19, Masan has developed a coping strategy… Vietnamese news here
Winter-spring cropping ‘a victory’
Through field visits of MARD mission and reports from localities showed that the Winter - Spring crop 2019 - 2020 in the South Central region and The Central Highlands has achieved a comprehensive victory. The area of rice production in the whole area in this crop is estimated at 314,200ha, down 5,300ha compared to the previous season; productivity was estimated at 66.28 quintals / ha, an increase of 2.16 quintals / ha; production is estimated at nearly 2 million tons, an increase of more than 33,000 tons compared to the 2018-2019 winter-spring crop. Vietnamese news here
Vietnamese rice flourishing thanks to good varieties
A report suggests that Vietnamese rice has an advantage due to varieties with high yields, short cycles while competitors suffer from drought, low quality, Vietnamese report here
Demand for rice surges in Hanoi
According to a report by Nongnghiep, the Vietnam National Seed Group (Vinaseed), a major rice supplier with some 2,000 distribution points in Hanoi has reported an increase in demand for rice in local markets. In March, the company has increased staff and distribution agents to meet demand while employing price stabilization mechanisms in accordance with government guidelines. .
Market minded tissue culture propagation
This article in Vietnamese language highlights some of the practical work being carried out at the Center for Advanced Application of Science and Technology in Ha Tinh province, which offers training and services geared useful for local agro-entrepreneurs, including tissue culture plant propagation for commercial breeding purposes. Among the species being propogated here include bananas and orchid species. Also, in related news, In recent years, the Center for Applied Science and Technology (S&T) Can Tho has implemented two projects on propagation of tissue transplant flowers at city and central levels
Soc Trang specialty rice to the next level
Efforts to expand the Soc Trang delta rice brand (ST25) was recently voted world’s best) expanding breeding and cultivation in Delta region
Breaking down salt stress for rice cultivation
Bao Vinhlong reports on capacity-building efforts by the Agriculture Department of Can Tho University, where research has contributed to improved knowledge and understanding of soil salinity challenges and solutions in rice cultivation in dry and saline conditions. Recently the department organized a workshop to prepare participants for the upcoming Summer-Autumn planting cycle, by focusing on the effects of salinity and hot weather conditions. The workshop covered best practices, including soil preparation, liming, seed prep and sowing management; while also looking at the use of short-cycle salinity tolerant rice varieties such as OM5451, OM2517, OM6976, OM6162, OM9921, GKG1, OM6677.
Rice seed multiplication in An Phong
An Phong Experimental Production Farm (Dong Thap Plant Joint Stock Company) has produced and restored more than 8 hectares of rice seeds of all kind, details here.
Vietnam’s popular durian variety thrives with IP protection
This article in Vietnamese language highlights the background of Vietnam’s famous Ri6 variety of durian, which has enjoyed trademark protection from Vietnam’s National Office of Intellectual Property since 2002. The variety was developed by breeder, Mr. Sau Ri in the 1990s and had won a number of awards. Today millions of its seeds are planted across the country for domestic consumption and export.
Counterfeit rice seed packages story in Vietnamese
Seedless grape breeding in Ninh Thuan
Grape growers in Ninh Thuan are developing new, seedless grape varieties to compete with imported grapes. Among the varieties include Ha Den grapes, which in their second year of trials, have an average output of over 1.5 tons / sao (360 square meters), and can yield two to three harvests / year, fetching market prices of between 120,000 to 150,000 VND / kg.
Leaf mosaic virus inflicts cassava crops
Nearly 2,600ha of cassava (cassava) infected with the leaf mosaic virus, the raw material area of Quang Ngai province is in danger … Latest statistics of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection - Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Agriculture and Rural Development) of Quang Ngai province, the province now has 2,583 hectare. More than 1,400 hectares of cassava infected with leaf mosaic virus in Phong Dien, Quang Dien and Huong Tratowns in Thua Thien Hue province …in order to support the damaged farmers, Phong Dien District People's Committee agreed on a level of 2 million VND / ha for disposal of the infected cassava for the infected area of over 70% and 1 million VND. / ha for infected areas less than 70%. KM94 cassava variety is a popular variety used by people today. This variety has been recommended by the provincial agriculture department to be less infected with the use rate of about 90% of the area.
Drought woes
Five provinces, including Kien Giang, Ben Tre, Tien Giang, Ca Mau and Long An, have declared a drought and salt emergency. Compared to the historical salinity drought of 2015-2016, this year's drought season has far exceeded. Saline intrusion has affected production and livelihoods since December 2019 and continues to increase so far. Drought and salinity have affected 10/13 provinces in the Mekong Delta (except An Giang, Dong Thap and Can Tho). There are about 95,600 households who are facing difficulties during drought, salty water.
Forestry planting in Thai Nguyen
In 2020, the whole Thai Nguyen province plans to plant 4,000 hectares of new forests, a decrease of more than 1,000 hectares compared to 2019, in which mainly grown quality trees such as acacia and cinnamon. In particular, afforestation under the program of sustainable forestry development is 1,597 ha, alternative afforestation 50ha, planting 500 thousand scattered trees, striving to maintain forest cover
7 new acacia hybrids for forest
The Research Institute for Seed and Biotechnology (Vietnam Academy of Forestry Sciences) has successfully selected 7 new hybrid acacia varieties, including BB055, BV350, BV376, BV434, BV523, BV584 and BV584. These 7 varieties have been recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, allowing for dissemination to produce under Decision No. 761 / QD-BNN-TCLN, dated March 6, 2019.
Thai Binh Seed Group holds annual meeting
...in which it reviewed its works in 2015 to 2020 and laid out strategy and targets for 2020-2025 period. News here.
February 2020
200 infringement violations dealt with in Dong Nai in 2019
Baodongnai.com.vn reports that according to the Steering Committee against smuggling, trade frauds and provincial counterfeits, in 2019, authorities in the southeast Vietnam province handled more than 200 infractions related to agricultural products, with fines and enforcement expenses contributing to a figure cited at 2.3 billion dong ($99,190). Of the cases, 39 were related to infringements or infractions concerning plant protection chemicals and/or plant varieties; the rest were related to fertilizer, animal and aqua feed businesses.
Realizing returns from F1 hybrid peppers
One 27-year-old university graduate farmer is realizing success with a chili pepper cultivation venture in the Dau Tieng town, Dau Tieng district. According to a Vietnamese news report, the young man had rented a hectare of rubber-plantation land, which he re-purposed to grow F1 chili peppers from a "leading Dutch [sic] two red-arrows seed company". Giving special attention to best cropping practices, including soil, spacing, drainage, fertilizer application and the use of plastic mulching and tarpaulin, for example, the farmer has reported initial harvests 120kg from his initial trial on 1,000 square meters. The market price at about 25,000 VND per kg and the farmer anticipates to be able to get two crops per year, with a four-month cropping cycle each.
Seasonal watermelon farmers not discouraged by rising rent prices
Even though the cost to rent land in parts of Nhu Xuan and Thanh Hoa districts is surging, the returns from watermelon farming for many outweigh the rising costs. According to a Vietnamese report by Baongnean there are nearly 40 farmer households renting land in the two districts with an area of about 70 ha in different areas of to grow watermelon in the summer-spring. Rents were cited to be around 10 million dong per hectare per three months; but returns can fetch as much as 150 million dong per hectare.
Cassava farmers struggle with drought, leaf-mosaic virus
A Vietnamese news report from baophuyen in February relays that cassava farmers in the Son Dinh commune (Son Hoa district) are suffering losses due to both abiotic and biotic stresses; namely drought-conditions and the leaf-mosaic virus. Some farmers report losing as much as half of their anticipated crop.
DECEMBER 2019 & JANUARY 2020
‘No ban of GM’ variety imports in new Crop Production law
Vietnam’s “Law on Crop Production Regarding Plant Varieties and Crop Cultivation” comes into effect 1 February. Detailed guidance for the new law, which supersedes the 2004 Ordinance on Plant Varieties, was published in December 2019 via Decree No. 94/2019/ND-CP (Decree 94). See comprehensive Vietnamese coverage on Danviet.vn, benews.vn here as well as on Cuctrongtrot.gov.vn here. The bill became law when the Vietnamese parliament approved it in late 2018. According to one law firm familiar with the legislation “Decree 94 removed the provision prohibiting the import of genetically modified plant varieties into Vietnam that was included in the draft version released in May 2019.” The new law also includes a list of 10 specified types of genetic material that are effectively banned from exporting: These include select types of rice varieties, parent lines of hybrid rice and hybrid maize lines and genetic material of Vietnamese Ginseng and various varieties of of selected fruits, including mango, durian, dragonfruit, orange, apricot, tea, grapefruit, lychee, longan, and Vietnamese. The full list of these varieties is listed in Appendix I of the new law, which can be viewed here (Vietnamese language).
Seed associations as solution for PVP management
Nongnghiep Vietnam reports on a recent conference organized in Soc Trang by Vietnam’s Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection. The meeting was titled “Current status of plant variety management and proposed solutions in the coming time in the provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta" (translation) and attended by government officers and seed industry representatives. It sas revealed that the formal seed registration and protection system covers between 50 and 65% of seeds utilized in the Mekong Delta region, while the remaining non-formal system seed poses a number of IP and quality control and compliance related challenges. The Department of Crop Production proposed emphasized the need to strengthen the role of sowing seed associations in organizing the production and supply of sufficient sources of plant seeds.
Story behind ‘2019 World’s Best Rice’
A renowned rice breeder and professor shares the story, in Vietnamese language, behind efforts to breed new rice varieties in Vietnam, leading to the release of the famed ST 24-25 variety that was last year selected as best in the world, besting other famous Cambodian and Thai varieties. The article, in Vietnamese, also talks about rice variety conservation efforts in the Mekong Delta area. An English version of the story can be found here: