Bumper crop of RVT salt tolerance rice variety

A pilot project to test a new variety of salt tolerant rice has produced outstanding results in North Central Vietnam.

Implemented by the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD) and funded by Caritas Australia, the "Natural disaster risk mitigation and community-based adaptation to climate change" project was piloted by seventeen households from the Hai Duong and Huong Phong communes. 

The results have exceeded initial expectations of local farmers, and captured the attention of local authorities. According to local farmer Mr. Pham Quoc Su, "In my 20 years of farming I haven't seen a rice crop as good as this."

Increasingly saline soil has challenged local farmers in recent years, and it is hoped the new variety will help farmers adapt to the changing environment - increasing productivity and improving their income and livelihood.

The co-operative was supported to grow two hectares of the RVT salt tolerant variety in the Winter-Spring season of 2011-2012. The pilot aimed to test the success of the new variety in the region, and provide recommendations for expanding the project if successful.

On 8 May 2012, farmers, project officials and members of the Hai Duong Commune People's Committee attended an on-site workshop to assess initial results ahead of the harvest. According to technical staff and the seventeen participating households, the RVT rice crop was healthy and bountiful, comparable to the popular Khang Dan rice variety.

At the workshop, Chairman of the Hai Duong Commune People's Committee, Mr. Nguyen Liem, further highlighted the importance of the project, stating "We cannot change the climate, however, the results from the pilot show that we can adapt better. From the point of the People's Committee, we commit to widely communicating the results in order to replicate the growth of high quality rice varieties in the upcoming summer-autumn crop." 

The participating farmers also shared their excitement about the results. "I sowed the RVT rice across 3 sao," Mr Pham Quoc Su said. "The result was rice with more branches, strong grains, a good ability to absorb nutrients and a quality of rice that is said to be better than the Khang Dan and HT1 varieties. After growing this new variety for the first time I will store the seed for planting next year," he said during the 8 May field workshop.

The positive initial results are not only economically significant for the farmers but also have social impacts - helping to raise awareness and capacity of local authorities and farmers to adapt to the changing climate in the coastal region.

-SRD-

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