Although the number of certified new plant varieties every year hasincreased, many have not been put into large-scale production, accordingto experts.
The Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Science(VAAS) reported, for example, that 161 new plant varieties, mostly ricestrains, were certified by the Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment (MARD) in 2011 and 2012.
During this period, the Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute also provided 27 rice varieties certified by MARD.
Theinstitute has had 132 rice varieties certified and put into productionso far, according to the institute head, Le Van Banh.
NguyenVan Bo, VAAS director, said most plant varieties that are cultivated ona total area of more than 50,000ha were certified five to 10 years ago.
Most vegetables, cashew, pepper and soybean varietiesthat are now being cultivated were certified more than 10 years ago, hesaid.
Because there is no key plant variety for individualregions, agricultural production has not been equal in quality and hashad low competitiveness and brought low prices, he added.
Le Quoc Doanh, Agriculture Deputy Minister, said the quality of plant varieties must be improved to increase prices.
Institutes and government agencies should create rice varieties with high yield as well, he said.
MaiXuan Trieu, Head of the Corn Research Institute, however, noted thatthe quality of our new "corn varieties is not lower than corn varietiesof the US and some countries."
The unstable output of the corn varieties occurred because of improper implementation of tending, irrigating, and fertilising.
Toincrease the country's corn output by one tonne per hectare under theGovernment's requirements, cultivation processes must be improved.
MARDplans to develop groups of plant varieties and advanced farmingtechnologies for each region, and those that will adapt to climatechange and be environmentally sustainable.
The countryexported 27.5 billion USD of agricultural produce last year. Of thatfigure, plant produce accounted for 60 percent, according to MARD.-VNA
The Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Science(VAAS) reported, for example, that 161 new plant varieties, mostly ricestrains, were certified by the Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment (MARD) in 2011 and 2012.
During this period, the Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute also provided 27 rice varieties certified by MARD.
Theinstitute has had 132 rice varieties certified and put into productionso far, according to the institute head, Le Van Banh.
NguyenVan Bo, VAAS director, said most plant varieties that are cultivated ona total area of more than 50,000ha were certified five to 10 years ago.
Most vegetables, cashew, pepper and soybean varietiesthat are now being cultivated were certified more than 10 years ago, hesaid.
Because there is no key plant variety for individualregions, agricultural production has not been equal in quality and hashad low competitiveness and brought low prices, he added.
Le Quoc Doanh, Agriculture Deputy Minister, said the quality of plant varieties must be improved to increase prices.
Institutes and government agencies should create rice varieties with high yield as well, he said.
MaiXuan Trieu, Head of the Corn Research Institute, however, noted thatthe quality of our new "corn varieties is not lower than corn varietiesof the US and some countries."
The unstable output of the corn varieties occurred because of improper implementation of tending, irrigating, and fertilising.
Toincrease the country's corn output by one tonne per hectare under theGovernment's requirements, cultivation processes must be improved.
MARDplans to develop groups of plant varieties and advanced farmingtechnologies for each region, and those that will adapt to climatechange and be environmentally sustainable.
The countryexported 27.5 billion USD of agricultural produce last year. Of thatfigure, plant produce accounted for 60 percent, according to MARD.-VNA
