CLRRI transfers new rice varieties to Loc Troi Group

CAN THO - The Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute (CLRRI) last weekinked a contract to transfer exclusively two new rice varieties to Loc Troi Group, taking the total number of rice varieties the group has received from the institute to six.

A technician is seen working inside a lab of CLRRI to develop new rice strains. The Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute transfers exclusively two new rice varieties to Loc Troi Group - PHOTO: LOC TROI GROUP

According to a press release of Loc Troi Group, the two rice varieties are OM 18 and OM 9577 and the four rice varieties transferred earlier are OM 5451, OM 2514, OM 2517 and OMCS 2000.

The contract value, time to hand over rice varieties and duration for the exclusive use of rice varieties are not revealed.

The rice institute developed and put the two new rice varieties into trial farming in 2011. They can be cultivated in all three crop seasons in the year in areas with high salinity intrusion.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development last year recognized and allowed the trial farming of the two rice varieties in the Mekong Delta and southeastern provinces.

OM 9577, a high-yield rice variety, is highly resistant to salinity at 0.4% concentration and a short duration of 100-107 days, and brown plant hoppers and rice blast disease. Meanwhile, OM 18 can tolerate salinity of 0.3-0.4% and be resistant to diseases, especially rice blast disease.

In the context that salinity intrusion is greatly affecting the farming of rice and other farm produce in the Mekong Delta, the transfer will help boost the rice production and raise income for farmers.

Loc Troi Group expected the deal would help meet the demand for high-quality rice varieties of farmers. Particularly, new rice strains rapidly launched in the market will contribute to the sustainable agricultural production.

CLRRI has developed more than 180 rice varieties including at least 82 varieties recognized as national ones.

From 2011 to 2016, CLRRI allowed seven State management agencies and enterprises to exclusively commercialize its 14 rice varieties.

Loc Troi Group is one of leading traders of seeds and makes up some 10% of the rice seed market in the Mekong Delta. The group is also developing other agricultural products such as cross-bred corn, watermelon and vegetables.

With a 500-hectare rice research and production center and 10,000-hectare rice farm, Loc Troi Group annually supplies to the market 60,000-80,000 tons of rice.

Last year, the group obtained VND805 billion (US$35.3 million) in revenue from seeds out of the total revenue of nearly VND9 trillion. The group has set a target to generate VND974 billion from seed sales including VND663 billion from rice seeds this year.