Professor Vo Tong Xuan introduced the "miracle rice" variety that helped transform the Long Xuyen Quadrangle.

Professor Vo Tong Xuan poses for a commemorative photo with lecturers from An Giang University in 2014 - Photo: AGU

On August 19th, in an interview with Tuoi Tre Online , Mr. Le Minh Tung - former Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of An Giang province (during the period 2004-2011) - said he was deeply moved to hear of the professor's passing at the age of 84. "Professor Vo Tong Xuan's contributions to An Giang in particular and the Mekong Delta in general are immense," Mr. Tung said.

Professor Vo Tong Xuan passed away at the age of 84.

Two major contributions to An Giang

Mr. Le Minh Tung - former Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of An Giang province (2004-2011) - Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Professor Vo Tong Xuan was an educator and agricultural expert not only of Vietnam, but also of the world.

Professor Vo Tong Xuan's contributions to Vietnam in general and the Mekong Delta in particular, including An Giang, are immense.

From his youth to the end of his life, he dedicated himself to the country's education and agriculture.

"Professor Xuan dedicated his entire life to his work. After serving as vice-rector of Can Tho University, he went on to become rector of Tan Tao University in Long An."

"He then moved to An Giang University, and later returned to Nam Can Tho University until the end of his life. Until his death, Professor Xuan remained the honorary rector of Nam Can Tho University," Mr. Tung said.

According to Mr. Tung, since the establishment of An Giang University in December 1999, Professor Vo Tong Xuan became its first rector (after Can Tho University). He made significant contributions to the education sector of An Giang province, leading the university to its current level of development.

"My biggest impression of Professor Xuan is that when I was the head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Professor Xuan brought the miraculous rice varieties to An Giang to help An Giang farmers switch from growing one rice crop to growing two rice crops."

"At that time, we converted 180,000 hectares of single-crop floating rice to double-crop or triple-crop rice as it is today. These are short-day, high-yield rice varieties that improved the face of the Long Xuyen Quadrangle region in the 1980s," Mr. Tung recounted.

Mr. Tung affirmed that for An Giang, Professor Vo Tong Xuan had two major contributions, most notably his pioneering role in the field of education at An Giang University and, in the field of agriculture, Professor Xuan introduced many short-day rice varieties such as 732 and IR36 to An Giang.

These are short-duration, high-yield rice varieties that have helped farmers transition from one crop to two, and then three crops, as is the case today.

"When An Giang University was established, I was assigned to be the vice-rector. Later, I was appointed vice-chairman of the Provincial People's Committee until 2011. In 2010, when Professor Xuan left An Giang, I took over as vice-chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and concurrently served as rector until my retirement," Mr. Tung said.

An Giang provincial leaders affirmed that Professor Vo Tong Xuan's greatest contribution to the people of An Giang in particular and the Mekong Delta in general was introducing the "miracle rice" variety, which helped farmers increase rice production to two or three crops per year. - Photo: BUU DAU

A role model for teachers to follow.

Speaking about the first rector of An Giang University (part of the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City), Associate Professor Vo Van Thang - the rector of An Giang University - said that Professor Vo Tong Xuan was a scientist who was very passionate about researching rice varieties and plants in the Mekong Delta.

The professor has made many contributions to helping farmers in the Mekong Delta suffer less hardship and live less in poverty.

"Because of that dedication, he has become a role model for teachers and students to follow. The practical applications of his research on rice cultivation have already been discussed in many documents," Mr. Thang said.

According to Mr. Thang, every school faces many difficulties when it is first established. Professor Xuan made significant contributions to helping An Giang University develop to where it is today. "He had traveled to many places, so when he came to An Giang, he wanted the school to develop even more, and he devoted all his mind - the heart of a teacher - to building a solid foundation for the school as it is today," Mr. Thang recalled.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/giao-su-vo-tong-xuan-dua-lua-than-nong-giup-tu-giac-long-xuyen-thay-da-doi-thit-20240819141813181.htm