Rice Research Institute seeks to lead Southeast Asia
The Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute should master new cutting-edge technologies, especially biotechnology, to become one of the leading institutes of agricultural science in the Southeast Asian region.
Speaking at the 38th founding anniversary of the institute in Can Tho city on January 29, President Truong Tan Sang asked the establishment to forge ahead with modern cultivation, processing, and preservation technologies relevant to the delta’s conditions to create new high-yield varieties.
At the same time, the institute should equip farmers with the latest knowledge; increase training courses; build safe and high-tech production zones for farm produce; and strive for strong and comprehensive agricultural development in the delta and the nation at large, he said.
Established in 1977, the institute has helped the agricultural sector create high-yield, disease-resistant grain; raise the region’s total rice output to 25 million tonnes per year from 4.2 million tonnes in 1976; and contribute to national food security, ultimately leading Vietnam to become one of the world’s top rice exporters.
The same day, President Truong Tan Sang had a working session with the Steering Committee for the southwest region, during which he asked local authorities to focus on human resources improvement and effective investment capital utilisation to reduce public debt and restructure the economy.
The region should focus on high-added value, competitive products, and increasing the income of farmers, while promptly addressing any emerging issues and removing obstacles for provinces and cities to fulfil the 2015 socio-economic targets, he said.
In 2014, the region recorded economic growth of 8.9%, a per capita income of VND38 million (US$1,809), and generated 330,000 jobs.
At the same time, the institute should equip farmers with the latest knowledge; increase training courses; build safe and high-tech production zones for farm produce; and strive for strong and comprehensive agricultural development in the delta and the nation at large, he said.
Established in 1977, the institute has helped the agricultural sector create high-yield, disease-resistant grain; raise the region’s total rice output to 25 million tonnes per year from 4.2 million tonnes in 1976; and contribute to national food security, ultimately leading Vietnam to become one of the world’s top rice exporters.
The same day, President Truong Tan Sang had a working session with the Steering Committee for the southwest region, during which he asked local authorities to focus on human resources improvement and effective investment capital utilisation to reduce public debt and restructure the economy.
The region should focus on high-added value, competitive products, and increasing the income of farmers, while promptly addressing any emerging issues and removing obstacles for provinces and cities to fulfil the 2015 socio-economic targets, he said.
In 2014, the region recorded economic growth of 8.9%, a per capita income of VND38 million (US$1,809), and generated 330,000 jobs.