Farmer-Breeders in Viet Nam
Transcript
Viet Nam has undergone a remarkable transformation in sustainable agricultural productivity in recent years.
One of the most important factors has been the contribution of new plant varieties.
Thanks to the introduction of a plant variety protection (PVP) system people now have an incentive to invest in developing new varieties that improve the livelihood of farmers and provide better food quality and choice for consumers.
This video will look at two examples of farmer-breeders in Viet Nam who had new business opportunities and contributed to development in rural areas.
Mr. Pham Huu Hien, Longan farmer-breeder, Dong Thap Province
I'm Pham Huu Hien, I live in Chau Thanh, Dong Thap Province. I've been a farmer growing longan for decades. The reason I am also a breeder, is because of the needs of real life and the need of the local farmer community here.
This is a very important need of farmers in my locality. They need a new plant variety that produces high yields and can meet the development requirements for their family's economy.
Mr. Pham Thanh Nguyen, Local farmer who grows Mr. Hien’s new longan variety
I see that Mr. Hien's new variety produces a high yield. It performs better than the variety I had before. It also allows us to sell at a higher price, so, as farmers, we are very happy.
Currently, Mr.Hien's longan variety is exported to two markets: the United States of America and Japan.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Thoa, Director of Hoang Phat Fruits Company, (Fruits Exporter)
Consumers highly appreciate Mr. Hien's longan variety. His new longan variety enables our company's products to become more diversified. The company pays Mr. Hien a price that is 20% higher than the normal market price.
Viet Nam recognized that it needed to provide incentives to encourage the development of new varieties of plants and decided to introduce a system of plant variety protection according to the UPOV Convention.
The UPOV system encourages plant breeding by granting breeders of new plant varieties an intellectual property right: the breeder's right.
Viet Nam became a member of UPOV in 2006.
I learned about this plant variety protection system through social media. After my new longan variety was protected it brought great opportunities for my family and my business. Overall, our income is much higher than it was before my varieties were protected. When the variety is protected, it helps to increase the value and quality of the product. It also helps to protect the originators of Vietnamese plant varieties and fruit brands in the international market. Finally, it helps to create more jobs for workers.
The plant variety protection system has also produced important results in the development of new varieties of rice.
Mr. Dang Duc Ninh, Rice farmer-breeder, Thai Binh Province
My name is Dang Duc Ninh. I am a farmer in Thai Binh Province.
I've been a breeder for over 20 years. The reason is that the requirements for agricultural production are getting higher and higher.
We also need better rice varieties that can serve our needs.
So far, I have developed about 20 varieties of rice. It starts with a good vision, combined with good observation. Those skills need to be built on experience, mixed with talent and mistakes. We also need to be very patient. Therefore, this is not a job that everyone is able to do.
Plant variety protection has been an important basis for Mr. Dang Duc Ninh’s rice breeding.
Through the mass media, I learned that the government has a Plant Variety Protection Program. So I went to the Plant Variety Protection Office to protect my plant varieties and since then my efforts have been recognized, along with the benefits that come when I can use the plant breeeder's right for commercial purposes.
I have been granted breeders’ rights for 14 varieties.
Once I protect my new rice varieties my first benefit is that I can get an income when I sell my ownership rights to rice production companies.
From the sale of my plant breeders’ rights, I bought a house and land, sent my children to a good school and my family feels happier too.
What does the future hold for plant breeding?
In the future, I want to continue working as a breeder and sell the results of my research to production companies because I am just a farmer-breeder, not a businessman, manager or economist.
The job as a breeder is very difficult but if I have the opportunity, I still want to do this job. And my two sons are following my profession; they are also working on fruit tree development and are continuing my work.
Viet Nam has undergone a remarkable transformation in sustainable agricultural productivity in recent years.
One of the most important factors has been the contribution of new plant varieties.
Thanks to the introduction of a plant variety protection (PVP) system people now have an incentive to invest in developing new varieties that improve the livelihood of farmers and provide better food quality and choice for consumers.
This video will look at two examples of farmer-breeders in Viet Nam who had new business opportunities and contributed to development in rural areas.
Mr. Pham Huu Hien, Longan farmer-breeder, Dong Thap Province
I'm Pham Huu Hien, I live in Chau Thanh, Dong Thap Province. I've been a farmer growing longan for decades. The reason I am also a breeder, is because of the needs of real life and the need of the local farmer community here.
This is a very important need of farmers in my locality. They need a new plant variety that produces high yields and can meet the development requirements for their family's economy.
Mr. Pham Thanh Nguyen, Local farmer who grows Mr. Hien’s new longan variety
I see that Mr. Hien's new variety produces a high yield. It performs better than the variety I had before. It also allows us to sell at a higher price, so, as farmers, we are very happy.
Currently, Mr.Hien's longan variety is exported to two markets: the United States of America and Japan.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Thoa, Director of Hoang Phat Fruits Company, (Fruits Exporter)
Consumers highly appreciate Mr. Hien's longan variety. His new longan variety enables our company's products to become more diversified. The company pays Mr. Hien a price that is 20% higher than the normal market price.
Viet Nam recognized that it needed to provide incentives to encourage the development of new varieties of plants and decided to introduce a system of plant variety protection according to the UPOV Convention.
The UPOV system encourages plant breeding by granting breeders of new plant varieties an intellectual property right: the breeder's right.
Viet Nam became a member of UPOV in 2006.
I learned about this plant variety protection system through social media. After my new longan variety was protected it brought great opportunities for my family and my business. Overall, our income is much higher than it was before my varieties were protected. When the variety is protected, it helps to increase the value and quality of the product. It also helps to protect the originators of Vietnamese plant varieties and fruit brands in the international market. Finally, it helps to create more jobs for workers.
The plant variety protection system has also produced important results in the development of new varieties of rice.
Mr. Dang Duc Ninh, Rice farmer-breeder, Thai Binh Province
My name is Dang Duc Ninh. I am a farmer in Thai Binh Province.
I've been a breeder for over 20 years. The reason is that the requirements for agricultural production are getting higher and higher.
We also need better rice varieties that can serve our needs.
So far, I have developed about 20 varieties of rice. It starts with a good vision, combined with good observation. Those skills need to be built on experience, mixed with talent and mistakes. We also need to be very patient. Therefore, this is not a job that everyone is able to do.
Plant variety protection has been an important basis for Mr. Dang Duc Ninh’s rice breeding.
Through the mass media, I learned that the government has a Plant Variety Protection Program. So I went to the Plant Variety Protection Office to protect my plant varieties and since then my efforts have been recognized, along with the benefits that come when I can use the plant breeeder's right for commercial purposes.
I have been granted breeders’ rights for 14 varieties.
Once I protect my new rice varieties my first benefit is that I can get an income when I sell my ownership rights to rice production companies.
From the sale of my plant breeders’ rights, I bought a house and land, sent my children to a good school and my family feels happier too.
What does the future hold for plant breeding?
In the future, I want to continue working as a breeder and sell the results of my research to production companies because I am just a farmer-breeder, not a businessman, manager or economist.
The job as a breeder is very difficult but if I have the opportunity, I still want to do this job. And my two sons are following my profession; they are also working on fruit tree development and are continuing my work.
August 18, 2023