Proceedings of the Fifth Asian Regional Maize Workshop - Search ...

ACHIEV9ENTS OF MAIZE RESENUI Nt) PFD:lX:TI~ IN VIETtW4
Tran Hong Uy.JJ
Abstract
The report presents important aspects of the role of maize in the food production strategy
followed in Vietnam. To fullfil the production requirements in recent years the National Maize
Program has implemented several measures to increase production and productiVity, such as:
1. Released several CPV's to be grown in predominantly marginal regions. These OPV's are TH-2A,
TH-2B, VM-1, MSB-49 , TSB-1, TSB-2, HLS, HL-36 , DT-6, and Q-2.
2. Developed hybrid maize cultivars to be used in intensive farming areas. These are nonconventional
hybrids i.e. LS-3, LS-4, LS-5, LS-6, LS-7, LS-8, and conventional hybrids LDSB-1,
LDSB-2, LDSB-3, LVN-6, LVN-10, LVN-11, LVN-12, and LVN-14.
3. Released advanced maize production technologies to farmers such as the technique of transplanting
maize on wet soil after two rice crops, increased productivity using early maize
varieties tolerant to drought in the mountainous areas, and the technique of transplanting winter
maize in zero tillage. The report also indicates some activities on agriCUltural extension on
maize in Vietnam.
I. Role of maize cultivation in food production in Vietn8lll
The food production program is one of three major programs worked out by the Vietnamese
government to satisfy domestic demand for human food and animal feed, and gradually to enter the
export market in the Asian region. Maize is second to rice as a food crop. In 1992, there were
6,400,000 ha planted to rice with a total output of 21.5 mt. That same year, there were nearly
500,000 ha planted to maize with a total production of over 900,000 t (Fig. 1).
By the year 2000, the population of Vietnam is estimated to reach about 80 m. Therefore,
required food production will be 29 to 30 mt of food grains, including 25-26 mt of rice, 3 mt of
maize, and 1-2 mt of other food crops (Uy, 1990).
This is a very ambitious target. However, thanks to the renovation and open door policies
decided by the government, our economic growth rate will increase. This will result in improve
ment of our people's living standard and there will be more demand for grains as well as their
by-products. It will be possible to attain this objective provided there are sound policies to
rapidly increase average yields, lower costs of production with a view to bringing profits to
farmers, and keep a level of competitivity in the international market.
Data in Table 1 indicates the production of the two most important cereal crops in Vietnam
during the period of 1985-1992.
II. Achievements in maize breeding
In Vietnam, the maize research institution was founded rather late in comparison with
other countries. It was not until September 1973, that the first maize research institution of
the maize program was established at the song Soi Maize Research Station Hac Binh province, 90 km
SW of Hanoi. In 1987, our government decided to shift the song Soi Maize Research Station to the
National Maize Research Institute (NMRI), with headquarters in Dan Phuong district, Ha Tay
province, 20 km West of Hanoi.
Since 1973, two activities were envisioned for the maize breeding work:
1. To develop open pollinated varieties (OPVs) from domestic and imported tropical germplasm,
suitable to ecological conditions of Vietnam (Uy, 1990) to gradually replace the low yielding
-!J Director, Natl. Maize Res. Inst. (MMRT) , Dan Phuong, Ha Tay, Vietnam.
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