30 years for a sustainable agriculture

Established in 1977, over the past 30 years, the Mekong Delta Rice Institute (Mekong Delta) has had many researches to contribute to improving productivity and quality of plain rice. Currently, nearly 70% of rice cultivation area in the Mekong Delta uses the rice varieties of the Institute. These research achievements are associated with the names of scientists who are passionate about the stable and sustainable development of the Mekong Delta agriculture.

Compared to 1977, when the Mekong Delta Rice Institute was established, currently, the rice output of the delta has increased more than 3 times. According to Prof. Dr. Bui Chi Buu, former Director of Mekong Delta Rice Institute, one of the three factors leading to this spike is the green revolution about seed. During that green revolution, the Mekong Delta Rice Institute played an important role when in the past 30 years the institute chose to create and be recognized for producing 90 rice varieties, of which 40 were officially recognized. Many rice varieties of the Institute are commonly used such as: OM 1490, OM 2517, Jasmine 85 .

Most of the rice varieties selected by the institute have a short growth period, from 90 to 100 days. These varieties help farmers in Mekong Delta with intensive farming, crop expansion, flood avoidance, increased productivity and yield. According to a survey of the Central Plant Variety Testing Center, over 33% of the total rice cultivation area of ​​the whole country uses rice varieties created by the Mekong Delta Rice Institute. Among 10 rice varieties grown in popularity throughout the country, the Mekong Delta Rice Institute contributed 5 varieties. In particular, when brown backed rice plant hopper and rice leaf stunt disease are prevalent in the Mekong Delta, the institute has timely chosen to create and release rice varieties with resistance to pests and diseases, such as: OM 4498, OM 5930, OM 6073 .

Microorganism culture in the laboratory of Plant diseases.

What made these great achievements? That is the heart, devoted to farmers in Mekong Delta. Associate Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lang, Head of Genetics Department, author of many excellent and confidant rice varieties: 'In scientific research, we go to the field rather than just stopping in the laboratory. Having to go to the farmers, they had to go to the fields to guide and prove to the women what kind of preeminence points they had. Thus, new varieties are quickly deployed. It is also a condition for me to listen to the opinions of people, know the advantages and disadvantages of each variety made by me to timely adjust in research '.

As the economic life is growing, the requirements of consumers are getting higher and higher, when Vietnamese rice seeds start to go away in the world market, the research objectives of the Mekong Delta Rice Institute also have to move. fit. According to Dr. Pham Van Du, Deputy Director of the Mekong Delta Rice Institute, improving rice grain quality is the institute's top research target. Associate Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lang, Head of Genetic Genetics Department, said: 'Preparing for the WTO integration step, since 2000, the subject has begun to incorporate a research strategy to improve the quality of rice seeds. Currently, we are working hard to reduce the amylose content to a low level so that the rice is good and delicious, and it will not be discouraged and resistant to pests'.

The Mekong Delta Rice Institute also conducts research to improve seeds ' health ' for production and supply of high quality seeds. Dr. Le Cam Loan, Department of Plant Diseases, said: ' The seeds are fungal, the attacking bacteria will not germinate or the rate of living plants is low. Through research, we identified some preeminent measures in seed treatment. In particular, the method of treating seeds with a 15% saline solution to eliminate impurities in seeds is an easy-to-implement, less expensive and non-polluting measure . ' Currently, many major rice varieties of the Mekong Delta are infected with blast. The Department of Plant Disease is researching to improve rice blast resistance rice by superimposed resistance technique. According to Dr. Le Cam Loan, two genes against blast disease: Pik-p and Piz-5, are still valid in most provinces in the Mekong Delta. Scientists will use the traditional hybrid method to bring these two genes into the main varieties of the region such as OM 3536, OM 1490, Jasmine 85 . to create stable varieties resistant to blast.

Clean, green agricultural products are not only the market's needs but also humanistic when aiming for the health of farmers and consumers. Mekong Delta farmers usually live along canals, water in the river scoop up alum and then use it in daily life and eating. Plant protection drugs, chemical pesticides go on from the field, down the canal, to the river and into the human body, causing accumulation. Therefore, the research and development of the use of probiotics in crop intensification, pest control aims to achieve sustainable agricultural development. Two biological preparations of the Mekong Delta Rice Institute are widely used in the Mekong Delta, Biovip and Ometar. The production process of these two biological insecticides was recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as a technological advance in agricultural production in 2002.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Loc, Head of the Department of Insect Ecology and Biocontrol , said: 'In the course of the BPH killing 2006-2007, the institute provided dozens of tons of Ometar and Biovip preparations for Mekong Delta provinces: Soc Moon, Hau Giang, Tien Giang, Vinh Long . ' . Not stopping at the rice plant, the Department of Insect Ecology and Biological Prevention is continuing to study some new preparations for insect pests, contributing to building and implementing safe vegetable and vegetable production processes. clean in the Mekong Delta. At the same time, the study selected to create the best fungus lines to create new biological products except psyllid, aphids on citrus and mango cotton. Dr. Nguyen Thi Loc said: 'The department has collected, isolated and successfully selected a number of new and highly effective strains of fungi for some pests such as vegetables and insects, and aphids and aphids. cucumber. Currently, we are building a model of safe vegetables applying this product in An Giang, Can Tho and Dong Thap '. These studies contribute to solving the problem that the Government poses for the agricultural sector, 80% of which must use fertilizers and biological drugs, in the 2010-2015 period.

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For the past 30 years, the Mekong Delta Rice Institute scientists have accompanied the development of this deltaic agriculture with all their enthusiasm and wisdom. New rice varieties, technological advances successfully researched and transferred to farmers have contributed to changing the lives of people. Vietnam joined WTO, challenges on the way of agricultural and rural development are still not less. Associate Prof. Dr. Pham Van Du, Deputy Director of the Mekong Delta Rice Institute, affirmed: ' Rice grain quality is one of the most important issues of the institute. Mekong Delta Rice Institute will strengthen international cooperation, cooperate with domestic institutes and schools to formulate large research programs to serve the Mekong Delta agricultural development '.

Post, photo: HUIEN PROFILE