Abstract

S6-14

Cassava Breeding and Varietal Dissemination in Vietnam: 1975 to 2000

Kim H.¹, P. Van Bien¹, T.N. Quyen¹, T.N. Ngoan², T.P. Loan³ and K. Kawano

1.     Institute of Agricultural Sciences of South Vietnam (IAS), 121 Nguyen Binh Khiem St., Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

kimharc@hcm.vnn.vn

2.   College of Agro-Forestry, Thai Nguyen University, Thai Nguyen, Vietnam

3.   Root Crop Research Center, Vietnam Agricultural Sciences Institute (VASI), Tranh Tri, Hanoi,Vietnam

Cassava breeding and varietal dissemination in Vietnam was initiated in 1975 after Vietnam was unified.  The cassava program in Vietnam began to collaborate with CIAT and became part of the Asian Cassava Research Network in 1988.  With the introduction of new high-yielding varieties from Thailand and the adoption of improved cultural practices, cassava production in Vietnam has increased.  Before 1985, Gon, H34 and Xanh Vinh Phu were the most popular cassava varieties.  Between 1986 and 1993, HL20, HL23 and HL24 were selected from a local germplasm collection by Hung Loc Agricultural Research Center (HARC) and the varieties are being grown on 70,000 to 80,000 ha annually in South Vietnam.  Improvement in breeding and varietal dissemination was achieved more recently due to collaborations between Vietnam Cassava Research and Extension Network and CIAT, Vedan Vietnam Enterprise Corp. Ltd. and cassava processing factories.  Six new high-yielding varieties were recommended and disseminated between 1993 and 1999.  These include KM94, KM60 and SM937-26, which have high-starch content in their storage roots for industrial use and KM98-1, KM95-3 and KM95, that are for multipurpose usage.  The six varieties were grown on 60,000 ha during the 1999/2000 cropping year.  The cultivation of the high-yield/high-starch varieties gave additional income of about 787 billion Vietnamese dong (US$ 60.78 million) between 1994 and 1999 in five provinces: Dong Nai, Binh Phuoc, Binh Duong, Tay Ninh and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.  More than half of the additional benefits went directly to cassava farmers while the rest was shared among cassava processing factories and traders.  At present, Vietnam has a large and promising cassava germplasm collection.  In the future, new varieties will be developed in order to satisfy the demand for higher production and for processing and it is expected that biotechnology will complement breeding to achieve the purpose.