Vietnam Fails to Meet Rice Seed Demand

Vietnam has failed to meet its demand for rice seed despite being the world second rice biggest exporter.

 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has invested VND30 billion in selecting rice varieties since 2006, but the country still has to import 13,000-15,000 tons of rice seed yearly, or 70% of its demand.

 

In northern Vietnam, China-imported Q5 and Khang Dan rice varieties are still overwhelming in the Mekong Delta region, the Mekong Delta Rice Institute provided 210 tons of verified rice seeds in the 2009-2010 winter-spring crop, but local provinces needed up to 1,000 tons.

 

Local experts said the country’s lacking of long-term plans on developing national high quality rice seed resulted in the seed shortage.

 

Late last year, the Department of Cultivation under the MARD said that the country will boost rice seed production so as to meet 70% of the domestic demand this year. (Liberated Saigon)