Vietnam seeks to develop rice that is adaptable to climate change

The plan, which will cover the period from 2023 to 2024 and has a budget of $447,460, aims to establish a grain seed bank, develop new populations, and create genetic diversity from crosses to achieve high-yielding rice. Adaptable to variations of climate.

The trial crops will be conducted in eight provinces and cities in Vietnam, namely Lao Cai, Win Bai, Phu Tho, Hanoi, Phu Yen, Gia Lai, Vinh Long and Can Tho.

VNA news agency said it suggested at the event that the project should also study solutions for efficient use of resources such as changing crop structure, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving water resources.

They also recommended the establishment of an information system facilitating early warning, weather forecasting, disaster prevention and control, as well as improving the training of officials and farmers on selecting appropriate rice varieties and farming techniques for each region.

At the end of last February, the Mekong Delta Agricultural Research Institute of High Technology announced the development of a new Hatri 200 rice variety, potentially drought- and salinity-tolerant.

Researched by that institution since 2017, Hatri 200 is a variety derived from Japonica (round grain) rice, with advantages such as 95 to 100 days growing time, hard stems, ability to give between 10 and 13 buds per bush, and round . Fruit 6.2 mm long.

The new cultivar was first grown experimentally in Ben Tre Province as part of a research project led by Professor Nguyen Thi Lang, Director of the aforementioned institute, and in three trial periods showed good drought and salinity tolerance.

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Thi Lang explained that Hatri 200 is considered one of the most salt-tolerant varieties in the Mekong Delta and also has a stable yield, averaging 6.5 to 7 tons per hectare.

Specialists hope that this is a type of rice suitable for cultivation under the current conditions of climate change and capable of helping farmers produce three crops per year.

Vietnamese rice exports in 2022 amounted to approximately 7.2 million tons, with an estimated value of three thousand and 490 million dollars, which the authorities in the sector estimate as clear evidence that the grains are of better quality and this allows us to enter the most demanding markets. .

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