Vietnamese scientists have presented to the World Rice Congress a set of Vietnamese rice varieties with characteristics that many rice-growing countries in the region… dream of.
According to the Department of Crop Production (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), there are currently approximately 100 different rice varieties in the Mekong Delta, with about 10 main varieties occupying a large area. "Thanks to many different rice varieties, Vietnam has less risk in rice production and can adapt to many ecological zones," said Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production Le Thanh Tung.
Mr. Le Thanh Tung said that the rice variety that Vietnam has just presented to the World Rice Congress is the "dream" of many countries.
Research on improved rice varieties is one of the top priorities of Vietnamese scientists. Not only ensuring food and nutrition security, research also develops risk prediction systems, policy advice, and creates opportunities for the rice industry to adapt to natural disasters, floods, and salinity intrusion.
Of the more than 7 million hectares of rice cultivated in Vietnam each year, the Mekong Delta accounts for more than 3.8 million hectares, equivalent to 53.5% of the total area. But this is also the region facing saline intrusion and water scarcity, with many consecutive record droughts in the past decade. As a result, 70% of rice-growing land is affected by salinity and rice production has decreased by up to 30%, causing thousands of farmers to lose income.
To address this issue, rice scientists in the Mekong Delta are collaborating with CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) under the Asian Mega-Delta (AMD) Initiative, which seeks solutions in areas at risk of soil degradation and climate change impacts in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Dr. Tran Ngoc Thach introduces Vietnam's rice varieties. Photo: QUYNH CHI
At the International Rice Congress - IRC 2023 (entering its second working day and lasting until October 19), Dr. Tran Ngoc Thach, Director of the Mekong Delta Rice Institute, presented a project to select and disseminate improved salt-tolerant rice varieties.
The Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute has received about 40 salt-tolerant rice lines from international rice research centers. Through testing in Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau, the two best rice varieties are IRRI147 and IRR117839-22-15-B-CMU10-1-B, which will continue to be tested on a large scale before being put into production in Soc Trang - the locality most affected by saltwater intrusion in Vietnam.
IRRI147 rice variety. Illustration photo
Within the framework of the AMD Initiative, this October, the Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) will implement the project "Ensuring food systems in Asian deltas through identifying salt-tolerant rice varieties in Vietnam".
Accordingly, seeds will be planted in "hot spots" of salinity in 3 provinces in the Mekong Delta, applying the rice - shrimp model in Soc Trang, rice - dry crops in Tien Giang, rice - rice in Kien Giang.
According to VAN PHUC/sggp.org.vn
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