Vietnam to develop new breeds until 2020

A board scheme to develop new breeds for the Vietnamese agriculture, forestry, livestock and fishery sector until 2020 has been approved by the Prime Minister.

The project estimated to cost VND69.9 trillion (US$3.78 billion) aims to improve output and competitiveness of key export items including rice, vegetables, coffee, shrimp, and tra fish because new disease resistant breeds of plants and animals for agriculture are still needed to suit Vietnam's environmental conditions.

Through research and restructuring under the scheme, locally-produced seed supplies for agriculture and forestry would gradually replace imported ones.

All economic sectors, both at home and abroad, would be encouraged to invest more in scientific research and breed selection to raise productivity output and increase worker's wages. Key production regions will benefit the moist from the scheme.

Three modern forestry seed production zones will be built in three regions. It will provide subsidies to develop hybrid strains and build infrastructure for seed production.