Báo cáo nghiên cứu khoa học " CROPS PRIORITIES RESEARCH " potx

Ministry of Agriculture &
Rural Development








CROPS PRIORITIES RESEARCH
Period of 2011 -2020

(Discussion Paper for Agriculture Sector Priorities Workshop)







Prepared by: Nguyen Van Bo
VAAS

November 2010


I. INTRODUCTION
In 2009, at the National Conference celebrating 50 years of the Ministry of Science and
Technology, we agreed that, outstanding agricultural achievements during 20 years of renovation mainly
thanks to four factors: (1) policy renovation, (2) increasing investment especially for irrigation and
drainage infrastructure, (3) technology innovation and application and (4) Farmer’s hard-working.
Depending on the period in time, the three first above-mentioned factors have received a different ranking
in priority. In 1986-1990, the appropriate policies by the Government of Vietnam concerning agro-land, for
example enhanced the motivation by farmers when they obtained their land-use rights. Farmers then also
facilitated the effective investment in science and technology in their fields. In 1991-2000, water
management received priority for special investment to promote irrigated areas, to prevent salt intrusion,
and reclamation of land suffering acid sulfate toxicity in the Plain of Reeds area of the Mekong Delta. The
rice growing area was 5.70 million ha in 1986 and increased up to 7.66 million ha in 2000. Over 2 million
ha increase for 15 years (34%) is very impressive
During the last ten years, science and technology has obviously been a decisive factor leading
to increased rice production as well as other crops. Lessons in China indicated that the contribution by
science and technology to agricultural growth accounted for 39-50% (especially 48.5% in term of
husbandry growth). In Vietnam, however, there is not yet any assessment to pinpoint the influence by
science and technology. It has been accepted that this possibly accounts for 30%, and the figure has
been nominally used so far.
However, poverty remains the single biggest factor in Vietnam. The country has been facing
many challenges and difficulties such as agro-land reduction due to urbanization and industrialization,
population pressure with an increase of more than 1 million people a year; climate change causing
flood and salinization in coastal areas or severe drought in upland areas. In addition, the low profit for
farmers from agricultural production making this sector less competitive when compared to the others.
To overcome current and future challenges, Vietnam intends to pay more attention to
strengthening science and technology capacity, which is considered to be the only solution for

improving agricultural productivity and farmer’s income. This report is focusing in crops sub-sector
priority for the period of 2011-2015 and strategy to the year of 2020.

II. PAST PERFORMANCE AND IMPACTS
1. Most significant gains from research, technology development and transfer in the sub-sector
over the last 10-15 years.
2.1. Achievements
In the last decade, crop production value increased from 8.45 billion USD up to 10.39 billion USD, with
a growth rate of 4.0%/year (This figure in agricultural sector accounts for 4.5%/year). Crop production’s share
in agricultural GDP is relatively very high: varies from 74 to 78%.
In 2000-2009, on average, planting areas of most crops increased by 50%. Some crops having
significant increase in area include pepper (197%), cassava (114%) and Cashew (133%). However,
main crops with large area or play important role in the subsector didn’t increase much except for
rubber. Rice and groundnut areas maintained the same figure. However, most of crops, productivity
increased by much higher rate compared to area, leading to increasing production significantly.
The most impressive achievement is rice subsector. Rice production increased by 142% (average
1.03 million ton/year
-
over 22 continuous years). It increased mainly due to improving productivity
with the average of 0.11 ton/ha/year. Thanks to yield increase from 4.29 tons/ha in 2001 to 5.40
tons/ha in 2009, leading paddy output increased from 32.1 million tons to 38.9 million tons during the
same period. This production growth is mainly due to productivity growth, because at the same period,
rice land reduced by 15 thousand ha/year on average. Remember that, during 1980-2000, thanks to
improvement of irrigation works, reclamation of soils in Plain of Reed, farmers could grow 2-3 crops
years instead of 1 crop. Sustainable rice production ensuring not only national food security but also
providing 5-6 million tons of milled rice for export. Vietnam rice export contributed 0.7%, 9.3%, and
12.3% of total commercial rice in the world market in 1988, 1998 and 2008 respectively.
Maize has very fast growth rate both in area and productivity. Area increases from 729 thousand
ha in 2001 up to 1.09 million ha in 2009 and yield increases from 2.96 tons/ha to 4.08 tons/ha

accordingly. Production increases from 2.16 million tons to 4.43 million tons during the same period.
Area of coffee in 2009 was 537 thousand ha, decreased by 30 thousand ha compared to that of
2001 due to the reason that some area need to be replanted or with declining productivity (farmers
planted coffee on poor soils when coffee price went up dramatically in late of eighties of last century).
However, thanks to higher intensification, yield of coffee increased by 10% for the period of 2001-
2009.
The same trend as maize, area of rubber increased very fast for the last 10 years, reaching 674
thousand ha (with approximately 30 thousand ha/year). This is more meaningful when we had a plan
of planting only 500 thousands ha. During the same period, dry latex yield increased by 0.36 tons/ha .
Tea area increased not much, only 31 thousand ha for the last 10 years, reaching 130 thousand
ha in 2009. The main achievements in tea production are in improving productivity and quality; more
than 60% area of tea has been replaced by new varieties. Some area of premium tea has been
developed, especially for oolong tea. Thanks to new varieties, fresh bud yield increased by 1.5 times,
price increased by 20%.
Cashew has the highest fluctuation in area and productivity due to the world markets demand
and competitiveness of the others commodities for the same land. Area under cashew increased very
fast in the early 1990s, but is now decreasing year by year. At the same time, farmers reduce
investment so yield in most of the area is lower than 1 ton/ha. Plan to replace area planted by seed
with grafted varieties has a quite low progress.
Different picture can be seen with pepper, when productivity decreased (0.11ton/ha) when area
increased by 13.9 thousand ha during 2001-2009. Yield reduction mainly is due to nematode and
inappropriate post. Almost no big research projects on pepper for the last period.
The same trend as pepper is in sugarcane. Area decreased by 20 thousand ha during 2001-2009.
Productivity also increased with very low rate (less 1.0 tons/ha/year). The main reasons are low
competitiveness of sugar and bad linkages between sugarcane growing farmers with sugar industry.
However, thanks to sugar price increase, so farmers start increasing intensification.
In legume production, peanut production area was 255 thousand ha in 2009, increasing 10.8
thousand ha compared to that in 2001. Peanut yield was 2.08 tons/ha, increasing 0.59 tons/ha
compared to that in 2001. Peanut production reached 531 thousand tons, increasing 167 thousand tons

compared to that in 2001 with average increase of 5.6%/year.
Soybean production area was 192 thousand ha, increasing 51.4 thousand ha compared to that in
2001 with average increase of 5.6%/year. Soybean yield was 1.46 tons/ha in 2008, increasing over
10% compared to that in 2001. Average yield increase was 6.4%/year.
The fruit production area increased 26 thousand ha/year for the period from 2001 to 2009. It has
currently reached approximately 800 thousand ha. Total vegetables and legumes production area was
925 thousand ha, increasing at an average of nearly 30 thousands ha/year during the last ten years.
The above achievements in agricultural production have resulted in the increase of food per head
from 435 kg in 2001 to 485 kg in 2009. In addition, 4.5 million tons of rice was exported from Vietnam
every year. Value of crop production increased from 360 USD in 2001 to approximately 500 USD in 2009.
Many crop products are exported with high proportions such as rice (20%), coffee (95%), rubber
(85%), tea (75%), cashew (90%), black pepper (98%). Some export products are internationally well
known such as black pepper, cashew (the largest exporter), rice, coffee (second largest exporter),
rubber (fourth largest), tea (fifth largest). The export turn-over of main agricultural produce (rice,
coffee, rubber, black pepper, tea, fruit, vegetables, peanut) increase with on average by23.6%/year. The
export turn-over of many key crop produces such as rice, coffee and rubber is worth over one billion
USD. The export turn-over of cassava reached 800 million USD in 2009.
Vietnam is a trade-deficit country. However, in the case of crop products, exports are greater
than imports. If the import of agricultural inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides, planting materials is
taken in to account, the agricultural commodities always have a trade surplus of over 50%.

2.2. Causes for the success
Achievements in crop production are the results of many causes above including investment,
policy and science innovations. In this report, only science and technology-related causes are
discussed.
i) Firstly, it was the application of new varieties with appropriate growth periods for each area,
short growth period, resistance to the weather extremes and disease and application of integrated crop
management. Good varieties and techniques are important for the stable increase on yield of crop,
reduction of price and quality improvement of produces. As quoted by the Department of Crop
Production, 80% of the current rice area was covered by new rice varieties and over 30% was planted

with certified varieties. The hybrid rice area made up 20 – 25%, high quality rice was 30 – 40%. For
maize, hybrid maize area made up over 90%, of which over 70% was planted with Vietnamese
varieties.
Just in the period of 2006 – 2010, 63 varieties were officially recognised including 16 varieties
of rice, 7 varieties of maize, 5 varieties of legumes, 8 varieties of vegetables, 4 varieties of fruit trees, 5
varieties of coffee and 2 varieties of sugarcane …and 107 crop varieties were approved for pilot
production.
In the recent 5 year, 16 varieties of rice have been officially recognised and 35 varieties have been
approved for pilot production. Quality and yield of Vietnamese rice varieties produced in northern Vietnam is
higher than that of Chinese varieties. Production area for newly recognised varieties covers 750 thousand to
800 thousand/ha/year. If the new varieties had 10% yield increase then the above production area of new
varieties would result in the addition of 350 thousand tons/year, equivalent to 1.2 thousand billion VND/year.
In the southern Vietnam, as surveyed by the Center for crops and fertilizers testing (2008), the
rice production area covered with varieties bred by Cuu Long Rice Research Institute (CLRRI) had
reached over 2.4 million ha, covered 34.9% of the total rice production area in Vietnam or 80% of the
rice production area in the Cuu Long river delta. The dominant varieties for the last period were OM
4900, OM4498, OMCS 2000, OM 2517, OM 4088, OM 3536, OM 6162 and OM 1490. With the area of
2.4 million ha, if the new varieties had 10% yield increase or production increase of 1.2 million
tons/year, just varieties bred by CLRRI and IAS have brought about the profit of 4.2 thousands billion
VND/year.
The survey also shows that the Vietnamese rice varieties are commonly grown in the Central Coast and
Central Highland with the production area of approximately 100 thousand ha, covered up to 37.7%, in the East
Southern with over 221 thousand ha, up 45.4% of total area.
In five years, four hybrid varieties of rice (two two-lines and two 3-lines) were approved for
wide production. The combinations that are effectively produced includes HYT 100, HYT 92, HYT
83, HYT 102, HYT 103, TH3-3, TH3-4, TH3-5 and VL20. Those parents have produced 5,059 tons of
F1 seeds generating seedlings for 168,655 ha of rice production. In addition, some Chinese varieties
have been selected and acclimatized by the Vietnamese scientists contributing to the increase of hybrid
rice production area. The total hybrid rice production area reached 700 thousand ha for one year. With
the yield being 1 ton/ha higher than conventional rice, the above hybrid area produces 700 thousand

tons extra per year.
- Maize varieties: In the recent 5 year period, 17 maize varieties including 13 hybrid varieties
have been recognised. Yield of the new varieties are similar to introduced foreign varieties. The
Vietnamese varieties are more resistant to drought and pest and diseases and cheaper than the introduced
varieties. Vietnamese varieties can compete with imported varieties in the domestic market and has been
exported to several countries in the region such as Laos and China. The MRI and IAS produce
approximately 4,000 tons of seeds, supplying for over 60% seed demand in the whole country. With the
amount of seeds produced and supplied by those institutes, farmers save almost 4 million USD every
year if the price of Vietnamese maize seeds is 1 USD lower than imported varieties. The use of new
maize varieties have resulted in the yield increase of 0.52 tons/ha (from 3.46 tons to 3.98 tons). Yield of
Vietnamese maize has beaten that of Thailand maize and is now leading the South East Asia region.
Proportion of hybrid maize production is equivalent to that of Thailand and far ahead of Indonesia and
the Philippines. Yield increase has brought about the profit of 500 billion VND/year.
- Legume varieties: Yield of new released peanut varieties can be over 5 tons/ha. Two dominant
varieties (L18 and L23) are planted every year with the area of 40 thousand ha, making up 15% of
production area in the whole country. Yield increase is 0.5 – 1 ton/ha, bringing about the profit of 330
billion VND/year. Bacterial-wilt-resistant varieties MD7 and MD9 have been a solution for tens of
thousands of hectares with bacterial wilt epidemic. In the recent 5 years, 9 new varieties of soybeans
including 1 variety of vegetable soybean have been recognised. Production area covered with new
varieties is around 22 thousand ha/year, making 11.5% area of the whole country with the increase of
200 kg/ha, bringing about the profit of 52.8 billion VND/year.
- Fruit: Have evaluated and selected 4 varieties of early ripe litchi (20 – 25 days earlier than Thanh
Ha variety), 2 varieties of late ripening longan (20 days later than other varieties). Price of these varieties is
3,000 – 5,000 VND/kg higher than other varieties, which has led to the expansion of production in recent
2-3 years (early ripe litchi 820 ha and late ripe longan 800 ha). FAVRI and AGI are extending the
production area of seedless orange V2 in many traditional orange regions such as Phu Quy, Anh Son (Nghệ
An) and Cao Phong (Hòa Bình). Yield of this orange in some areas of Nghe An has reached 20 tons of
fruit/ha right in the fourth year of growth. This is a good quality orange with very few seeds, nice
appearance and disease resistance. Free-pathogen seedlings are produced by grafting techniques. In
addition, some new varieties are being evaluated and extended, e.g. mandarin PQ1 with high and stable

yield (35 – 50 tons/ha), good quality, greening disease resistance, late ripening in January – February; red-
fleshed dragon-fruits and pineapples. …
Tea: New Vietnamese varieties have covered 48% of production area in the whole country (132
thousand ha) including LPD1: 15,000 ha (12%), LPD2: 18,000 ha (13%), PH1: 13,000 ha (10%). Especially in
Nghe An, the new tea varieties have been produced in 96% of the tea production area in the province. It is noted
that area for new tea varieties only made up 12% with average yield of 3.6 tons/ha before 2000; the area for new
tea varieties increased to made up 35.6% with the average yield of 5.8 tons/ha in 2005 and 48% with the average
yield of 7.3 tons/ha in 2009. Price of new variety tea increased 50% compared to the traditional varieties. Tea
produced in Vietnam is also qualified for process of O long tea.
Coffee: New lines of Robusta coffee (TR4, TR5, TR6, TR7, TR8,TR9, TR10, TR11, TR12, TR13)
yielded an average of 4 – 6 tons of coffee bean/ha with weight of 17 – 19 g/100 beans. The yield is 0.5 – 1
ton higher than the varieties grown from seed. VAAS has supplied 1.5 million high quality grafted
seedlings for new production and in parallel, renewed 40 thousand ha of low-yield Robusta plantation with
new varieties since 2002.
Cassava: Cassava varieties have progressed very well. New varieties have been produced in all
cassava production areas in Vietnam with the yield increase of almost 100% for the last 10 years.
Dominant varieties are KM 94, KM 140.
Moreover, many new crop varieties of cashew, cocoa, banana, passion fruits, temperate fruits
(peach, pear) are now produced.
In general, the biggest achievements in new varieties are with rice, maize, peanuts, cassava,
rubber, tea and cashew. There has been some progress with new varieties of coffee, sugarcane and
cocoa. Fruits and vegetables have the least new varieties, mainly indigenous and traditional varieties
except pineapple (30% of production area replaced with new varieties), cauliflower, broccoli and
hybrid vegetable varieties (tomato, cucumber).
ii) In addition to new varieties, production techniques and technical packages have been applied
systematically in production. Examples of typical techniques/technical packages are:
- Single techniques: Using certified varieties, leveling the field with laser, using sowing
machines. In some northern mountainous areas, changing spring crop from peak season to late season
has increased yield significantly and avoided the weather extremes. Transplanting technologies
including wide and narrow row, “thick in thin, thin in thick” or triangle transplanting techniques have

increased the evenness and uniformity of the rice fields and increase the yield. Sowing machines,
combined soil milling and field leveling machines, water pumping machines innovated from the
mowing machines have been applied. In fruit production, producing virus-free planting materials by
grafting technique, quick propagation of crops (orange, pomelo, cashew, mango, flowers) by tissue
culturing, grafting to renew crop plantation (coffee, fruit trees) have been conducted.
- In plant protection, protocols for managing brown plant hopper and rice grassy stunt virus and
rice ragged stunt virus which caused the loss of 1 million tons of rice in the southern Vietnam have
been studied and applied successfully. The supervision of brown plant hopper density, seed treatment,
early spray and good hygiene practice and simultaneous sowing has been proved effective to control
the virus epidemic. With the experience from rice grassy stunt virus and rice ragged stunt virus control,
the Vietnamese scientists stopped the spread of Southern Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus in Nghe An,
Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, saving hundreds of ha of rice production which was in a risk of no harvest.
Control of citrus greening by using yellow ants or Protein baits or intercropping with guavas has been
effective. Crop production on slopping land using new terrace and munching techniques has changed
from 1 crop/year to 2 crops/year.
- A number of new techniques in using fertilisers have been studied and applied effectively.
Good examples include appropriate fertiliser application, nitrogen application based on chlorophyll
meter followed by checking rice leaf colour code. Fertiliser application techniques depending on
specific regions have increased of 8 – 10% effectiveness of using fertilisers. Recently, the use the
nitrogen inhibitor Agrotain has reduced 20 – 25 kg urea/ha/rice crop. In crop production industry,
usually nine million tons of fertilisers (1.8 tons urea, 600 thousand tons SA, 750 thousand tons DAP,
900 thousand tons KCl, 1.6 million tons P
2
O
5
and 3.5 million tons NPK) are used annually. Therefore,
using of the above techniques has made a huge contribution in saving fertilisers.
- The technical package “3 reduction, 3 increase” (reducing planting materials, nitrogen, and
spray to increase yield, effectiveness and income). This package has been integrated from the single
effective techniques such as using rice leaf colour code and has been applied effectively in most of

Cuu Long river delta areas, bringing about the project of at least 1.5 million VND/ha/rice crop.
- During the implementation of “3 reduction and 3 gains”, scientists recommended some
additional techniques such as using certified varieties (currently, certified varieties only used in 30% of
total rice production), mechanising production systematically to reduce labour and postharvest losses.
Therefore, a new technical package called “one must do and 5 reductions” is recommend. “1 must”
means must use certified varieties, “5 reduction” means reducing planting materials, reducing spray,
reducing nitrogen, reducing labour and reducing loss after harvest. Recently, with the collaboration
with IRRI, the application of the rice production techniques “dry – wet” has saved 30% of the
irrigation water. The package has proved effective, not only reduced production input and increased
yield, but also reduced the pressure with pests and diseases, especially the rice grassy virus and rice
ragged stunt virus.
2.3. Main issues related to science and technology
i) Production was not sustainable, mainly depending on the weather conditions (flood, typhoon,
drought, warm/cold, disease epidemics in a large scale). There is still big difference in yield between
crops and areas due to small household production which is difficult to apply advanced techniques.
ii) There was a reduction trend in growth of crop production industry (increase 5.2% in 2000,
4.6% in 2004, 3% currently) due to the cost of input whereas there was no price increase.
iii) The scale of production was small, no strategic plan. Some products developed without
proper plan leading to the common “planting-destroying” situation. In the period from 2001 to 2009
over 101.6 thousand ha of litchi production was destroyed (2001: 194.9 thousand ha, 2008: 93.3
thousand left), 28 thousand ha of coffee was destroyed (2001: 565.3 thousand ha, 2009: 537 thousand
ha); approximately 40 thousand ha of cashew was destroyed (destroyed in 2007, now continuing to be
destroyed for replacement of rubber).
iv) Crop yield has increased. However, it is still significantly low compared to that in some
developed agricultural countries. Rice yield is 5.4 tons/ha in Vietnam whereas it is over 6.2 tons/ha in
China, Japan, Korea. Maize yield is 4 tons/ha in Vietnam whereas it is over 8 tons/ha. Peanut yield is 2
tons/ha in Vietnam whereas it is over 3 tons/ha in China and nearly 6 tons/ha in Israel. Soybean yield
in Vietnam is only 40 – 50% of that in other countries.
v) Postharvest loss was significant, number of varieties used was too high (over 300 rice
varieties in the whole country). Therefore, price of Vietnamese rice is always 20-30 USD/ton lower

than Thai rice. Processed products make up a small proportion.
vi) Food safety has been an issue. There has been high amount of produce contaminated with
high level of Nitrate and pesticides. Non-permit pesticides are still used in some areas. Imported fruits
and vegetables have not been assessed in term of quality and toxic residues.
The above issues were due to many reasons including 3 most important reasons as follows:
i) Emphasized too much on the applied research and less emphasized on basic research
For many years, research institutes were mainly focused on the applied research due to the
pressure on production. Those studies have been applied effectively in production. However, from this
approach, many research projects did not include an appropriate basic research component. It,
therefore, has led to the description of a phenomenon instead of explaining scientific basis for the
phenomenon in many research projects. This approach also led to the reduction of basic scientists.
Lack of basic research has led to the lack of confidence in management of unexpected changes due to
weather, rice grassy stunt virus and rice ragged stunt virus, , Southern Black-Streaked Drawf Virus in
crop production, epidemics of bird flu in animal husbandary.
ii)Research collaboration has progressed but has not met the requirements
The lack of highly educated human resource, equipment and laboratories requires collaboration in
research. However, the research collaboration has been very limited due to the regulations on sciences,
finance, partial attitude and pressure of getting more work. Collaboration in research has progresssed but
not very strong, mainly just single or compulsory collaboration due to administrative pressure
iii)Research outcomes were not sustainable, the application of many research outcomes are not stable,
no research strategies.
Currently, there are a high number of research outcomes that have been recognised as technical
innovations. However, not many of them are applied in production. It could be due to the short term
studies, lacking basic studies or single techniques which are difficult to supply as a technical package to the
farmers. The research and extension/transfer have been conducted independently leading to the slow
technology transfer. It is also very difficult to set directions for the research fields when there are no
scientific research strategies for the industry.
III. CHALLENGES FOR CROP PRODUCTION INDUSTRY RELATED TO SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY
- Vietnamese population continues to increase with a speed of 1.0 – 1.2%/year for the next tens

of year and is estimated to reach 100 million in 2020 and 110 in 2030 and become stable at around 130
million people.
- Area for agricultural production continues to reduce, especially rice production area. In the
period of 2001 – 2007, over 500 thousand ha of agricultural production were changed into non-
agricultural land. It is forecasted that 550 thousand ha of agricultural production including 200
thousand ha of rice production will be changed into non-agricultural land from 2008 to 2020.
1. - Climate change will directly affect crop production. As studied and forecasted by the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) and the World Bank (WB), Vietnam will be one of 5
countries which are most affected by climate change. In the next 100 years, sea level will rise 1 m,
temperature will increase 1 – 2
o
C. There will be 1.5 – 2 million ha of agricultural production area in Cuu
Long River Delta region and 0.3 – 0.5 ha in Red River Delta region, which are mainly rice land, being
flooded or salt affected. Climate change will also cause the increase in typhoons, floods, drought, cold,
hot weather, increase of pests and diseases and reduction of crop yield. If the temperature increases 1
o
C
the rice yield will reduce 10%, maize % - 20%, irrigation water demand will increase10%. This will
affect crop production and will be a challenge for ensuring food security to meet domestic and export
demand in the future.
- Low competitive capacity of Vietnamese agricultural produce has faced the high competitiveness
when joining the WTO due to high production cost, low quality, small-scale production and low
processing rate.
- Low investment in agricultural sector. In 2009, the figure accounting only 6.26% of total state
investment, when, the sector contributes 20.91% in national GDP. At the same time, FDI in agriculture
also low (2008 accounts for 0.32% of total FDI in Vietnam, in 2009: 0,58%). For the whole period,
from 1988 to 2009 (21 years), FDI in agriculture was 2.3% of total (the sector contributed 27.7%
during the same period). according to Ministry of finance, for the last 5 years state investment to
agriculture meeting only 17% of demand (8.7% of state investment).
IV. OBJECTIVES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF CROP PRODUCTION INDUSTRY AND

PRIORITIES FOR THE PERIOD 2011-2020
4.1. Objectives
- Industry value increase at 2.6%/year, of which food crop increase 1.1%/year, industrial crop
3.8%/year, fruit 4.3%/year.
- Reach a production of 45.2 million tons of food (rice 39.6 million tons, maize 6 million tons) in
2015 and 48.8 million tons (rice 41.3 million tons, maize 7.5 million tons) in 2020.
- Export turn-over in 2015: 11 billion USD; 12 billion USD in 2020.
- Promoting the development of maize, soybean with the future goal of no import.
4.2. Criteria for identifying priorities and research priorities
There are 3 groups of plants in crop production: i) High competitive group; ii) Medium
competitive group and iii) Low competitive. There was some period when priorities were identified
with 2 groups: Export group (rice, coffee, rubber, black pepper, cashew, cassava, peanut) and
alternative import group (maize, soybean and cotton). In this report, we group products in the
competitiveness on production and marketing capacity.
Criteria for the prioritized grouping are based on competitive advantage and social role of
produce, therefore, can change through time. Examples: rice doesn’t have high competitive advantage
compared to many other crops but having large production scale, high social role involving the whole
nation. There are crops like sedge which used to have low competitiveness but now grouped in
medium priorities due to the market demand and the advantage of being the only plant that can grow in
the salt affected area.
Table 1. Crops of high competitiveness advantages
Planted Area (A), Harvested area (HA), Paddy land (PL): 1000 ha, Yield (Y): tons.ha
-1
, Production (P): 1,000 tons
Plan
Target 2009
2010 2015 2020
Research Priorities
PL 4.10 4.06 3.85 3.70
HA 7,440 7,200 7,050 7,000

Y 5.23 5.32 5.62 5.90
1.Rice
P 38,895 38,304 39,621 41,300
Short growth duration, wider adaptation, ensuring yield
increase by 1,0% per year until 2015 and 0,5% per year
afterward. Increase area under hybrid rice up to 1 million
ha. Start super rice breeding program.
A 735 800 1.000 1.200
2.
Vegetable*
Y
16.2
16.0 16.5 17.0
Hybrid varieties, implementation of GAP, pre-
processing and storage technology.
A 674 650 800 800
3. Rubber
Y 1.69 1.70 1.75 1.85
High yielding varieties, low temperature resistant and
farming practice for Northern Vietnam,
A 537 500 500 5004. Coffee
Y
2.00
2.00 2.04 2.24
Replacing plantation with more than 20 years old by
grafting with new varieties, re-plantation. Increase area
of Arabica coffee. Wet processing technology
A 128 130 135 1405. Tea
Y
6.98

7.00 7.5. 8.00
New varieties of high quality replacement of old
plantation by intercropping. Diversification of tea brand,
especially oolong tea
A 50.5 50 50 506. Black
pepper
Y 2.38 2.60 2.80 2.80
Disease resistant varieties development, suitable post,
Nematode control.
A 398 400 400 4007. Cashew
Y 0.86 1.10 1.40 1.60
Replacement of all cashew plantation by grafted ones
8. Fruits A 790 850 950 1.000 Pruning and postharvest technology
A 45 45 50 558a. Pomelo
Y 11.5
Purification of indigenous varieties, disease-free
seedlings and pruning and postharvest technology
A 73 93 105 1158b. Orange
Y 10.6
Seedless and greening resistant varieties, Green house
technology, pruning and postharvest technology
A 88 92 105 1108c. Mango
Y 8.0
Improvement of fruit skin suitable for long
transportation. Breeding for-seasons varieties
A 8d. Dragon
fruits
Y
Varieties improvement with diverse colors and
postharvest technology

* Including edible and medicinal mushrooms

Table 2. Crops with medium competitiveness
Planted Area (A), Harvested area (HA): 1000 ha, Yield (Y): tons.ha
-1
, Production (P): 1,000 tons
Plan
Target 2009
2010 2015 2020
Research priorities
A 1,087 1,140 1,200 1,300
Y 4.08 4.12 5.00 5.77
1. Maize
P 4,432 4,700 6,000 7,500
Developing new varieties with high yield, short duration,
drought resistant, pest resistant.
Commercialise and extending the GMO varieties
A 249 260 280 300
2. Peanut
Y
2.11
2.10 2.30 2.50
Developing new varieties with high yield, widely
adaptable, high rate of seeds and oil, disease resistant,
especially bacterial wilt resistant.
A 260 300 300 300
3.
Sugarcane
Y
58.6

63.0 72.0 85.0
Developing new varieties with high yield and sugar
content.
Developing quick and effective propagation techniques
A 560 500 450 4004. Cassava
Y 16.9 17.0 18.9 22.5
New varieties (high yield and content of starch), quick
propagation, land protection
A 7.81 15.65 33.50 50.005. Cocoa
Y 0.40 0.72 1.00 1.19
New varieties and plant protection
6. Flower A 15.0 20.0 22.0 New varieties, flowering time control
A 135 135 135 1357. Coconut
Y 8.65 9.0 9.5 10.0
Short type varieties, multiple use purposes, replacing old
varieties with dua coconut with certain rate.
A 10.3 8. Sedge
Y 7.35
New varieties with high yield, long thread
Source: Statistical Yearbook, 2010 and other sources




Table 2. Crops with low competitiveness
Planted Area (A), Harvested area (HA): 1000 ha, Yield (Y): tons.ha
-1
, Production (P): 1,000 tons
Plan
Target 2009

2010 2015 2020
Research Priorities
A 146 220 300 400
1. Soybean
Y 1.46 1.50 1.70 2.00
New varieties with high yield, short duration, high protein
content, rust resistant.
Commercialise GMO varieties
A 8.0 40.0
2. Cotton
Y 1.25 2.5
New GMO varieties, changing planting season
A 146 200.0
3.Sweet potato
Y 8.25 15.0
New varieties with high yield and disease resistant
A 23.7 25.0
4. Tobacco
Y 1.84 2.0
New varieties with high yield and disease resistant,
distinguished flavour
A 9.9 15.0
5. Mulberry
and silk worm
Y 13.8
20.0
New varieties with high yield, long thread.
Silk worm production technique. New silk worm
varieties
A 106 115 135 140

6. Litchi
Y 5.8
New varieties: early ripe, small seed or seedless.
Orchard management, plant protection
A 93 105 125 140
7. Longan
Y 7.2
New varieties: late ripe, small seed or seedless.
Orchard management, plant protection.
A 39 45 50 55
8. Pineapple
Y 14.6
New varieties: high yield, appropriate for processing and
fresh eat, flowering stimulating techniques
A 114 120 135 145
9. Banana
Y 16.3
New varieties: high yield, quick propagation for virus
free seedlings
10. Grass A 53 110 220 332 New varieties with high yield and food quality
Source: Statistical Yearbook, 2010 and other sources
There is difference in priorities for produce position in crop production industries and for
research. However, we identify the priorities based on the role of produces. Science and technology
have to follow the above priorities. Therefore, if research capacity doesn’t meet requirements for
developing a prioritised produce, we can import new technology or enable research collaboration as in
the example of GMO maize.
With the above point of view, there is difference in the priorities in this report with some crop
groups in ARDO reports from a study funded by CARD in 2007. If in previous workshops, we divided
crops into 9 groups based on different research opportunities (ARDO 1: Rice; 2: UPLAND CROPS; 3:
LEGUMES; 4: INDUSTRIAL CROPS; 5: FRUIT; 6: VEGETABLES; 7: FLOWERS; 8: CROPS FOR

ANIMAL FEED and 9: CROPS FOR NEW USES). In this report we divide crops more specifically to
species to avoid overlap or controversy. Example, we had Upland Crops and Industrial Crops as
separate groups, which was difficult to decide which group to put coffee and tea into - uplands or
industrial crops. It was also difficult to priorities research for fruit crops as they were all in one group.
Following the criteria mentioned above, the high research prioritised group include products with
large scale production and export: rice (20% of total production is for export), rubber (85% of total
production is for export), coffee (90% of total production is for export), tea (75% of total production),
black pepper (98% of total production is for export) and cashew (90% of total production is for
export). Production area of this group makes up over 80% of the total cultivated land. Two groups of
vegetables and fruits although not important for export but having high domestic demand and large
production area, influencing social likelihood and having future market potentials. These crops are
therefore classified in the high prioritised group.
In fruit groups, there are 3 species being prioritised for research and development. They are
citrus, mango and dragon fruit. Pomelo and orange are the most important citrus. 6 Vietnamese
indigenous pomelo varieties are considered the best pomelo in the world. They are Da xanh pomelo,
Phuc Trach pomelo, Thanh Tra pomelo, Nam Roi pomelo, Dien pomelo and Doan Hung pomelo
(ranking based on the taste and personal interviews)
The priorities for rice, coffee, rubber, tea are obvious, easily acceptable.
For coffee, in addition to developing new varieties for high yield and disease resistant, research
on replanting old coffee plantation (pest and disease issues, low yield) with new selected varieties
(15000 ha/year) is important. As estimated by the WASI, in the next 5 years, it is necessary to replant
20% the coffee production area equivalent to nearly 100,000 ha of 343,000 ha coffee in the region.
Coffee plants in this old plantation area are in the age of 17 – 25 year old, yielding only 1.2 tons of
coffee bean/ha, equivalent to 50% of average yield in the whole country and 1/3 of commercial yield in
the same region.
For rubber, to meet the objective of developing rubber plantation area to 800 thousands, rubber
need to be planted in 150 thousands ha ineffective agricultural land, unused land and poor natural
forest land which is appropriate to the growing conditions of rubber. Therefore, it is very important to
have appropriate varieties that are widely adaptable and systematical production techniques.
For tea, prioritised research are focused on developing new varieties with high yield and good

quality, developing new techniques for replacing old varieties and improving tea processing
technology.
In the vegetable group, it is difficult to identify priorities at the national level as the production
area for this group is large and there are many different vegetables across different growing seasons
and areas. However, with 267 thousand ha of intensive vegetable production and total production area
of 800 thousand ha, planned to extend to 1.2 million ha, vegetables have good potential for
development including export. For vegetable groups need prioritised research in all stages from seeds,
nursery to production techniques are tomato, cucumber, leafy vegetables and mushroom.
The medium research priorities group includes maize, peanut, sugarcane, cassava, cocoa,
coconut and sedge. This group is mainly for domestic consumption and import alternatives (maize,
peanut oil) with the production area of 1.5 million ha.
Maize in fact is highly prioritised in research point of view. However, from now to the next 10 –
15 years, Vietnamese maize can compete with imported maize due to the high production cost.
Therefore, it should only be classified in the medium prioritised group. The main targets are extending
maize production in rice field, former coffee field, extra crop land; establishing maize production area
with large scale in appropriate location and investing on maize intensive production, meeting the
requirements of supplying materials for livestock food processing industry.
There may be some queries with the classification of cassava and cocoa in the medium group of
research priorities. With the new set of varieties, low investment, wide adaptation, less pest and
diseases, high market requirement not only for food processing but also for biofuel production, cassava
is developing rapidly. In 2009, export of sliced cassava and cassava starch reached the value of over
800 million USD. However, the Government does not strongly encourage the development of this crop
due to issues involving deforestation, soil productivity reduction and the waste from cassava
processing. Planned production area for cassava is just around 400 thousands ha. However, it is now
over 550 thousands ha and may increase more. For cocoa, although the production area is just 15
thousands ha, the quality of Vietnamese cocoa is considered the best in the world. Cocoa can be
intercropped with coconut. It is encouraged to extend production.
Recently, coconut is classified into prioritised group for its multiple usage. There are new
technologies in processing of coconut; all parts of coconut from juice, copra, nut shell to coco palm are
usable. Coconut is also widely adaptable, low land competition (slatternly produced) and have

potential to be extended to a large scale in coastal sandy soil areas. Thus, with the current production
of 135 thousand ha, it is possible to extend coconut production to tens of thousands ha. Together with
the extension of production area, new varieties of coconut such as “pineapple coconut” is also
produced largely.
In the low prioritised group, there are 5 species including soybean, cotton, sweet potato, tobacco,
mulberry, litchi, longan, pineapple, banana and grass. The production area for these species is not
small but the market for those produces are not stable, low yield and easy to be replaced by other
crops.
For litchi, it is important to focus on the control of fruit borer and develop early ripe varieties
with high sugar content and high proportion of flesh. Postharvest technology should also be prioritised
to storage produce during transportation and maintain good quality for at least one week. Current
production area of 115 thousand ha should be maintained with 30% of production area being replanted
with early ripe varieties. For longan, a common nationwide product, the production area is 105
thousand ha with many different varieties. However, quality of longan in general is low with small
fruits, big seeds.Therefore, breeding is the highest priority for longan.
For all fruits, they are mainly consumed fresh, not many are processed. Therefore, there is a
need of importing and developing processing technology for juice, jam, dry fruits in order to diversity
the products and reduce amount of fresh products sold from intensive harvest.
For all crops, especially fruits and vegetables, production should be organised following
GlobalGAP to ensure food safety and be able to compete with imported fruits and vegetables in
domestic market as well as promote export.

V. RESOURCES AND CONDITIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING RESEARCH PRIORITIES
PERIOD 2011-2020
5.1. Research opportunities
For many years to come, science and technology is still prioritised by the Vietnamese
Government. Opportunities for the above research priorities to be implemented effectively are:
1) The Government is promoting changes in the organisation and administrative and finance
management mechanism following the trend of giving more rights to the organisation and individuals
by issuing the Decree 96 which provide amendments and additions to the Decree 115 on the

independent rights for public science and technology organisation. For finance, Decree 44 and 97 have
provided opportunities for scientists to be more independent in implementing research works, or the
cancellation of reclaim policy for P project has increased the application of research outcomes.
2) The Government has committed to spend 2% of total Government spending budget for
science, regardless the loan credits, international collaboration or production and business. It is also not
taken into account the significant budget invested in education and training and environmental
resources used in agricultural and rural research.
In agriculture, the Government will continue support the project of seeds in agriculture and
forestry, animal breed and aquaculture breed. This is also an important resource to quickly produce
new planting materials and animal breed with larger scale.
3) Infrastructures have been upgraded in most of research institutions with new laboratories,
green houses, fields with the loan of 60 million USD. Those new built facilities have been completed
and are ready for use in research.
4) The system of research institutes in crop production has been basically completed, resulted
in an organisation with good linkage and appropriate coordination in both basic and applied research
between the specialised research institute and regional institute. Working groups have started forming
creating a true linkage not just in administrative system.
5) The Government considers human resource as an essential factor for research quality and
effectiveness. The Government invest in oversea postgraduate training with the budget of 7 – 8 million
USD/year. The agricultural biotechnology program also allocates a significant budget for oversea
postgraduate training. These Master and PhD resource are now prepared to contribute to the
improvement in the research staff quality.
6) The Government allows the purchase of new variety copyrights and technical innovations to
re-invest to research and increase support to good scientists. Although there were not many
commercialised products for 2006-2010, it has created a good opportunity to promote the
commercialisation process.
5.2. Challenges for research
Beside the opportunities, science and technology is going to face the following challenges in
the coming years:
1) Lack of leading scientists who have experience and ability of gathering the research

scientists. Looking into the current situation in crop production research (which involves most of
VAAS institutions), most of the plant breeders have biology or plant physiology background, very few
were trained in genetic technology. Although the Government is investing in the capacity building of
human resource, the lack of well-trained researchers has led to ineffective operation of central
laboratories which have been built with the investment budget of 3 -4 million USD.
Lack of well-trained researchers in many high prioritised research areas. There are 2 -3 research
scientists who have experience with breeding of coffee, citrus, cashew, black pepper, sugarcane. There
are only 4 -5 experts even in hybrid rice which has drawn attention for almost 20 years. There has been
no addition of trained staff in some field such as mulberry and silkworm, bee production… for many
years. Brain-drain is also a common phenomenon although it is a trend of integration. There is no
training plan for specialised fields.
2) Beside the advantages, the independence mechanism and self-responsibility to organisation
and finance will create the focus on the works involving getting income to cover salary and other
expenses. It also creates the further difference in resource allocation between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh city
and ecological regions.
3) Lack of research strategies is a great challenge, hampering the sustainability of research
priorities
5.3. Production areas that have great potentials for application of research outcomes
There is a certain delay in the achievement of research results in agriculture. Therefore, the
increase in the investment of facility and research projects will benefit the development of the
following industries:
1) Rice production will still be the high prioritised industry with stable development. Four to
five new varieties annually together with popular varieties will maintain the increase in yield of 50 –
60 kg/ha/year as planned. The rice combinations of hybrid 2 and 3 lines will develop better.
Vietnamese hybrid rice will make up 30 – 35% of the total hybrid rice (instead of 20% currently).
There will be an increase in production area due to the increase in the yield of hybrid seeds (has just
found the suitable seed production area in Central Highland) and the quality of rice produced from
hybrid combinations, especially 3 lines hybrid.
The staff resource will also enable the implementation of goals on rice. Most of the institutes,
universities have rice research group regardless 3 main research institutions (CLRRI, FCRI and AGI)

with well-trained scientists and many well invested laboratories including 2 national central laboratories.
2) Rubber will be a crop which will continue to increase in yield and production area due to the
priority policy of the Government. The current set of rubber varieties with completed production
techniques allows an increase of tens of thousands ha each year. The extension of rubber beyond the
traditional production area (North West) will be a great opportunity for research, not only on seeds but
also on nursery and production.
Many research outcomes are ready to be applied in production including new plantation in
Vietnam and overseas. There is a rubber research institution and 3 other institutes (in North West,
Central Highlands and North Centre) having a rubber research group which are capable of studying in
both seeds and production techniques. Moreover, rubber is the only crop having a national business
company and stable and developed market which allow the investment of research and rapid
development.
3) Maize will continue to increase in both yield and production area due to the priority policy
of the Government as well as the current good set of varieties. Moreover, the development of GMO
varieties (field risk assessment trial is currently conducted) will provide an opportunity for increasing
yield and reducing production input.
A specialised research institute and two other research institutes (AGI and IAS) with the
involvement of approximately 50 scientists, 4 foreign companies and 2 big Vietnamese companies will
promote the development of this chain.
4) Coffee and tea are the two crops with no rapid growth due to the difficulties with investment
and replanting. However, with the stable market and intensive production area, these 2 crops will
continue to develop in quality and yield. There used to be a research institute for each of the 2 crops
and good team of experts. There is still good researchers working on tea whereas there is an issue with
staff resource working on coffee, 3/6 experts have changed their job. Most of coffee research related
laboratories are very poorly equipped.
5) Vegetables are in the high prioritised group but there will be no big development as there are
almost no innovations in new varieties and nurseries. Most of hybrid vegetable seeds are imported.
There are not more than 5 – 6 breeding scientists working on vegetables. This is a big challenge not
only for the next 5 years but also for the 10 – 15 years if there is no active support.
The mushroom group has potentials to develop due to many new varieties, good market, a

specialised research centre and many company’s interest.
6) Fruit group will have some progress as there are some new and imported varieties together
with improved nursery, production and postharvest techniques. However, rapid development will
happen only on production area, not in quality. The indigenous and traditional varieties will still be
dominant. Imported fruits will interfere with the development of fruit supply chains although we have
2 institutes specialised in fruit research with tens of experts highly recognised in Vietnam and in the
world. Moreover, laboratories specialised in fruit research are still poorly equipped.
7) Sugarcane, mulberry and silkworm, root and legume crops: have long history of research.
However, there will be no great development from the scientific point of view. The high yield varieties
developed recently are imported from overseas (cassava, peanut, sugarcane). There is still limited basic
research on these crops, no related laboratories.
8) Flower has potential for development as there is market demand, rapid propagation capacity
and high diversity. Many organisations are involved in research on flowers. However, the development
of flower industry will mainly base on the indigenous and imported varieties.
9) Cashew and cotton have limited opportunities for development although there are new
varieties of cotton. The production of these two crops will be reduced. Therefore, the improvement of
competitiveness capacity through increasing yield will be important. It should be noted that there is
few scientists specialised in cashew.

VI . CONCLUSION
For the coming years, the crop production industry will still play a very important role in
agriculture in particular and in Vietnam’s economy in general. We have had many achievements in
research and development. However, we also face increasing challenges due to integration, climate
change and population pressure.There will be no advantages of natural conditions and cheap labour.
Therefore, science and technology seem to be the essential solution for the sustainable development
and enhancement of competitiveness in crop production industry including technical science and social
economic science.

TABLES
Table 1. Productions of selected crops 2000-2009
(Area: 1000ha, Prod.: 1000 tons; Yield: tons.ha
-1
)
Source: General Statictical Office of Vietnam

1) Rice
Years Area Yield Production
2000 7666.3 4.24 32529.5
2001 7492.7 4.29 32108.4
2002 7504.3 4.59 34447.2
2003 7452.2 4.64 34568.8
2004 7445.3 4.86 36148.9
2005 7329.2 4.89 35832.9
2006 7324.8 4.89 35846.5
2007 7207.4 4.99 35942.7
2008 7400.2 5.23 38729.8
2009 7440.1 5.23 38895.5
2009 vs 2000, % 97.0 123.0 120.0

2) Maize
Years Area Yield Production
2000 730.2 2.75 2005.9
2001 729.5 2.96 2161.7

2002 816.0 3.08 2511.2
2003 912.7 3.44 3136.3
2004 991.1 3.46 3430.9
2005 1052.6 3.60 3787.1
2006 1033.1 3.73 3854.6
2007 1096.1 3.93 4303.2
2008 1140.2 4.01 4573.1
2009 1086.8 4.08 4431.8
2009 vs 2000, % 149.0 148.0 221.0

3) Cassava
Years Area Yield Production
2000 237.6 8.3 1986.3
2001 292.3 12.0 3509.2
2002 337.0 13.2 4438.0
2003 371.9 14.3 5308.9
2004 388.6 15.0 5820.7
2005 425.5 15.8 6716.2
2006 475.2 16.4 7782.5
2007 495.5 16.5 8192.8
2008 554.0 16.8 9309.9
2009 508.8 16.8 8556.9
2009 vs 2000, % 214.0 202.0 431.0

4) White potato
Years Area Yield Production
2010 254.3 6.33 1611.3
2011 244.6 6.76 1653.5
2012 237.7 7.16 1703.7
2013 219.6 7.17 1576.6

2014 201.8 7.49 1512.3
2015 185.3 7.78 1443.1
2016 181.2 8.06 1460.9
2017 175.5 8.19 1437.6
2018 162.0 8.18 1325.6
2019 146.4 8.24 1207.6
2009 vs 2000, % 58.0 130.0 79.0


5) Sugarcane
Years Area Yield Production
2000 302.3 49.8 15044
2001 290.7 50.4 14657
2002 320.0 53.5 17120
2003 313.2 53.8 16855
2004 286.1 54.7 15649
2005 266.3 56.1 14949
2006 288.1 58.0 16719
2007 293.4 59.3 17397
2008 270.7 59.6 16145
2009 260.1 58.6 15246
2009 vs 2000, % 86.0 118.0 101.0


6) Groudnut
Years Area Yield Production
2010 244.9 1.45 355.3
2011 244.6 1.48 363.1
2012 246.7 1.62 400.4
2013 243.8 1.67 406.2

2014 263.7 1.78 469.0
2015 269.6 1.81 489.3
2016 246.7 1.87 462.5
2017 254.5 2.00 510.0
2018 255.3 2.08 530.2
2019 249.2 2.11 525.1
2009 vs 2000, % 102.0 146.0 148



7) Soybean
Years Area Yield Production
2000 124.1 1.20 149.3
2001 140.3 1.24 173.7
2002 158.6 1.30 205.6
2003 165.6 1.33 219.7
2004 183.8 1.34 245.9
2005 204.1 1.43 292.7
2006 185.6 1.39 258.1
2007 187.4 1.47 275.2
2008 192.1 1.39 267.6
2009 146.2 1.46 213.6
2009 vs 2000, % 118.0 121.7 143.0


8) Cotton
Years Area Yield Production
2000 18.6 1.01 10.1
2001 27.7 1.21 12.1
2002 34.1 1.17 11.7

2003 27.8 1.26 12.6
2004 28.0 1.00 10.0
2005 25.8 1.30 33.5
2006 20.9 1.37 28.6
2007 12.1 1.33 16.1
2008 5.8 1.38 8.0
2009 8.0 1.25 10.0
2009 vs 2000, % 43.0 124.0 99.0


10) Tea
Area Years
Planted Harvested
Yield Production
2000 87.7 70.3 4.48 314.7
2001 98.3 74.4 4.57 340.1
2002 109.3 77.2 5.49 423.6
2003 116.3 86.1 5.21 448.6
2004 120.8 92.4 5.56 513.8
2005 122.5 97.7 5.83 570.0
2006 122.9 102.1 6.36 648.9
2007 126.2 107.4 6.60 705.9
2008 125.6 108.8 6.86 746.2
2009 128.1 111.6 7.16 798.8
2009 vs 2000, % 147.0 159.0 160.0 254.0


11) Coffee
Area
Years

Planted Harvested
Yield Production
2000 561.9 477.0 1.68 802.5
2001 565.3 473.5 1.78 840.6
2002 522.2 492.5 1.42 699.5
2003 510.2 480.5 1.65 793.7
2004 496.8 479.1 1.75 836.0
2005 497.4 483.6 1.55 752.1
2006 497.0 483.2 2.04 985.3
2007 509.3 488.9 1.87 915.8
2008 530.9 500.2 2.11 1055.8
2009 537.0 504.1 2.07 1045.1
2009 vs 2000, % 96.0 106.0 123.0 130.0

12) Rubber
Area
Years
Planted Harvested
Yield Production
2000 412.0 231.5 1.26 290.8
2001 415.8 240.6 1.30 312.6
2002 428.8 243.3 1.23 298.2
2003 440.8 266.7 1.36 363.5
2004 454.1 300.8 1.39 419.0
2005 482.7 334.2 1.44 481.6
2006 522.2 356.4 1.56 555.4
2007 556.3 377.8 1.60 605.8
2008 631.5 399.1 1.65 660.0
2009 672.4 421.6 1.72 723.7
2009 vs 2000, % 163.0 182.0 137.0 249.0

13) Pepper
Area
Years
Planted Harvested
Yield Production
2000 27.9 14.9 2.63 39.2
2001 36.1 17.5 2.54 44.4
2002 47.9 25.1 1.86 46.8
2003 50.5 30.6 2.24 68.6
2004 50.8 36.6 2.01 73.4
2005 49.1 39.4 2.04 80.3
2006 48.5 40.5 1.95 78.9
2007 48.4 41.1 2.17 89.3
2008 50.0 42.4 2.33 98.3
2009 50.5 44.3 2.38 105.6
2009 vs 2000, % 181.0 297.0 90.0 269.0

14) Cashew
Area Production
Years
Planted Harvested
Yield

2000 195.6 145.8 0.46 67.6
2001 199.2 149.9 0.49 73.1
2002 240.2 173.2 0.75 128.8
2003 261.5 184.2 0.89 164.4
2004 295.9 204.3 1.00 204.7
2005 348.1 223.7 1.07 240.2

2006 401.8 276.8 0.99 273.1
2007 439.9 302.8 1.03 312.4
2008 406.7 321.1 0.96 308.5
2009 398.1 340.4 0.86 293.5
2009 vs 2000, % 204.0 233.0 187.0 433.0

15) Coconut
Area
Years
Planted Harvested
Yield Production
2000 161.3 140.0 6.32 884.8
2001 155.8 137.1 6.51 892.0
2002 140.4 126.0 7.26 915.2
2003 133.6 120.3 7.40 893.3
2004 133.1 120.7 7.95 960.1
2005 132.0 119.3 8.21 977.2
2006 133.9 119.7 8.35 1000.7
2007 135.3 119.3 8.69 1034.5
2008 138.3 121.1 9.05 1095.1
2009 139.3 121.5 9.28 1128.5
2009 vs 2000, % 0.86 87.0 147.0 127.0

17) Sedge
Years Area Yield Production
2000 9.3 6.60 61.4
2001 9.7 6.65 64.5
2002 12.3 7.16 88.1
2003 14.0 6.84 95.8
2004 13.0 6.91 89.8

2005 12.5 6.44 80.5
2006 12.3 7.32 90.0
2007 13.8 7.16 98.8
2008 11.7 7.25 84.8
2009 10.3 7.35 75.7
2009 vs 2000, % 111.0 111.0 123.0


Table 2. GDP Structure 2000-2009
(%, Current prices)

Năm Agriculture-Forestry-Fishery Industry-Construction Services
2000 24.53 36.73 38.74
2001 23.24 38.13 38.63
2002 23.03 38.49 38.48
2003 22.54 39.47 37.99
2004 21.81 40.21 37.98
2005 20.97 41.02 38.01
2006 20.04 41.54 38.06
2007 20.34 41.48 38.18
2008 22.21 39.84 37.95
2009 20.91 40.24 38.85


Table 3. Agricultural GDP Structure 2000-2009
(%, Current prices)
Years Crops Production Livestock Services
2000 78.2 19.3 2.5
2001 77.9 19.6 2.5
2002 76.7 21.1 2.2

2003 75.4 22.4 2.2
2004 76.3 21.6 2.1
2005 73.5 24.7 1.8
2006 73.7 24.5 1.8
2007 73.9 24.4 1.7
2008 71.4 27.1 1.5
2009 71.4 26.9 1.7
Table 4. State budget expenditure for Science, Technology and Environment)

Years State Budget Expenditure for Science &
Technology and Environment
Expenditure for Science & Technology and
Environment in MARD
Billions VND % of total Billions % of total
1996 530 0,78 69.5 13.1
1997 626 0,79 79.2 12.6
1998 794 1,14 80.5 10.1
1999 722 1,13 84.9 12.0
2000 1.350 2,00 123.4 9.1
2001 1.600 2,00 175.7 11.0
2002 1.810 2,13 171.8 9.5
2003 2.012 2,10 197.5 9.8
2004 2.296 1,99 219.8 9.6
2005 2584 0.98 244.0 9.4
2006 2540 0.82
Source: MOF, MPI and MARD


Table 5. Investment in Agriculture
(Agricultural Share in GDP 2009: 20,91%)

Years % of total Investment
2000 13,85
2005 7,50
2008 6,45
2009 6,26
Nguyễn Đăng Vang, People newspaper online, 01/11/2010
Two groups of vegetables and fruits although not important for export but having high domestic
demand and large production area, influencing social likelihood and having future market potentials.
These crops are therefore classified in the high prioritised group.

Comments (Keith):
This is one argument – but another might be that these crops with already high investment in research
are at the point of diminishing returns. Also it neglects the profitability motive – farmers simply will
not produce if they are not making good profits – e.g. cashews and to some extent vegetables
substituting rice?

What is the impact of the increase in the area of paddy land irrigated – leading to 2 and 3 crops per
year?