Science and technology elevate Vietnamese rice seeds

(Chinhphu.vn) - On the morning of September 4 in Can Tho, the Vietnam Rice Industry Association and the Vietnam Seed Trade Association held a workshop on "Scientific solutions to improve the quality of rice and rice varieties". The workshop attracted a large number of experts, businesses and managers in the context that seed quality is the key to the future of this "billion-dollar" industry.

Vice President of the Vietnam Seed Trade Association Tran Xuan Dinh speaks at the workshop - Photo: VGP/LS

Rice varieties: From 'fourth' to 'premise'

Mr. Tran Xuan Dinh, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Seed Trade Association, commented: "In the past, farmers often said 'First water, second fertilizer, third diligence, fourth seeds', but modern agriculture must consider seeds as a premise."

Statistics show that in the North, the formal seed production system (enterprises, seed centers) meets about 80% of the demand for planting on 2.4 million hectares each year, equivalent to 65,000-70,000 tons of seeds. The rest is left by farmers themselves.

In the Mekong Delta, the formal seed system meets about 45% of the demand for rice seeds for planting about 4 million hectares, equivalent to about 180,000-200,000 tons of seeds/year; the household system (cooperatives, cooperatives) produces about 25%, equivalent to about 90,000-100,000 tons of rice seeds/year; the rest is self-sufficient for farmers.

As for hybrid rice, a 2020 survey showed that the country only produced 2,560 hectares of F1 hybrid rice varieties, with an average yield of 2.5 tons/ha, producing 6,500 tons of new F1 hybrid seeds, meeting about 35% of demand. This area has been decreasing year by year.

Regarding research results, in the period 2015-2019, Vietnam recognized 76 new rice varieties, many of which have 10-15% higher yields than common varieties, are resistant to pests and diseases, and are tolerant to drought, salinity, and acidity. This is the foundation for increasing the value of rice grains in the context of climate change.

Key area but still a 'lowland' in terms of breed

New high-quality varieties have demonstrated clear economic value in the fields. Many familiar names to farmers, such as RVT, Dai Thom 8, OM5451, ST24 have brought high value, with hundreds of thousands of hectares of cultivated area.

There are currently 26 rice varieties with a cultivated area of ​​over 50,000 hectares, of which 13 varieties have exceeded the 100,000-hectare mark. Notably, OM5451 covers over 670,000 hectares, OM6976 over 540,000 hectares, OM4900 nearly 500,000 hectares, and Khang Dan 18 over 400,000 hectares. In the North and Central regions, BC15 variety covers 268,000 hectares, while in the Mekong Delta, Jasmine 85 variety covers 251,000 hectares.

High-quality varieties not only help increase productivity (10-15% for hybrid rice, 8-10% for pure rice), but also increase farmers' income by 15-16 million VND/ha/year. Fragrant and specialty rice varieties are making an important contribution to building the Vietnamese rice brand.

However, paradoxically, the key national rice production region, the Mekong Delta, is the region with the highest rate of use of non-standard seeds. According to the Vietnam Seed Trade Association, this is a "lowland" in terms of rice seed quality, and is also the region with the highest rate of use of seeds from the non-standard system, without processing technology.

A representative of Vietnam Rice Company Limited (Vinarice) analyzed: Varieties play a key role in productivity, quality of agricultural products, disease resistance and tolerance to adverse conditions. Short-term varieties also help increase crops, diversify crop structure and increase profits.

The reality of production in the Mekong Delta shows that if farmers use poor quality seeds without strict control, the quality will degrade after each crop. These seeds are easily separated, mixed, lose their inherent characteristics, prolong the growth period, the rice grains lose their aroma, causing the selling price to decrease, and even being refused to be purchased for export.

Not only causing economic losses to farmers, bad varieties also entail the risk of losing the reputation of Vietnamese rice brands in the international market. A few batches of poor quality can affect an entire production area, even the national reputation.

Signing of Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between Vietnam Rice Industry Association and Vietnam Seed Trade Association - Photo: VGP/LS

Post-harvest technology: 'Preserving gold' for seeds

According to scientists , seed quality is not only determined in the field but also in the post-harvest stage. Harvesting at the right time when 96% of the seeds on the cotton are ripe is a prerequisite.

Harvested seeds must be quickly transported and dried at temperatures below 41°C to avoid damaging the embryo. Many factories have invested in modern drying systems with a capacity of 450 tons/day and night, with a preliminary fanning process before drying to avoid thermal shock and maintain a high germination rate.

Processing and sorting of refined rice is also very important. The specific gravity separation screening system helps to remove broken, immature and weedy grains, retaining only firm and uniform seeds. This is the key step to create a pure seed batch, improving the quality of rice grains.

Artificial intelligence participates in rice appraisal

At the workshop, Mr. Doan Thanh Vo, representative of EASYRICE Technology Company, introduced the solution of applying artificial intelligence (AI) in rice appraisal.

This AI system analyzes grain characteristics, identifies desired varieties, and eliminates adulterated varieties without damaging the rice grains. Thanks to this, mills and purchasing businesses can make decisions more quickly and accurately.

AI helps reduce the risk of contamination, saves processing time, and is especially effective when buying and selling in large quantities. To date, EASYRICE has inspected more than 10 million tons of rice per year, serving over 300 businesses in Thailand, India, and Vietnam.

Chairman of Thai Binh Seed Group and Chairman of Vietnam Seed Trade Association Tran Manh Bao highly appreciated AI technology in rice appraisal of EASYRICE Company and committed to cooperate immediately with this company to continue improving the quality of Vietnamese rice varieties, maintaining the Vietnamese rice brand in the international market.

According to scientists, using AI for appraisal will increase reliability in trade, especially when the market increasingly demands purebred, high-quality rice.

The inevitable path: Synchronized science and technology

Experts agree that only by synchronously applying science and technology throughout the entire seed production chain can Vietnam maintain stable rice grain quality: high germination rate, uniform plant growth, and no impurities.

Many varieties, such as Dai Thom 8, Huong Chau 6, RVT have proven their superior quality and are internationally competitive. With standard varieties, farmers can reduce fertilizer and pesticide costs and sell rice at high prices.

More importantly, seed quality control contributes to the successful implementation of the Project of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030. This is a strategic step to build a sustainable Vietnamese rice brand, raising the country's position in the world rice market.

Currently, Vietnam has the opportunity to make a breakthrough thanks to science and technology. However, the path to raising the level of Vietnamese rice cannot allow for any delay. From fields to factories, from post-harvest preservation to the application of artificial intelligence, everything must be synchronized and professional.

Because only when the seeds are cared for from the beginning, can Vietnamese rice assert its worthy position on the world's dining table.

Le Son

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-nang-tam-hat-giong-lua-gao-viet-nam-10225090411253451.htm