National Agricultural Policy 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, there has been investment in the development of new varieties, that improve the livelihood of farmers and result in better food quality and choices to consumers.
According to the World Bank, in Viet Nam in 2019 employment in agriculture represented 37% of total employment, with agriculture, forestry and fishing accounting for 12.6% of the total GDP in 2021.
In 2022, Viet Nam was the world’s third largest rice exporter and a leading producer and exporter.
Mr. Nguyen Nhu Cuong, General Director of the Department of Crop Production (DCP), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)
In Viet Nam up to 60% of the population currently lives in rural areas.
A new variety that can produce a good crop and is resistant to pests and diseases will help farmers reduce costs.
For example, it helps to reduce the amount of and reduce the amount of fertilizers. That helps farmers to increase the competitiveness of their products.
At the same time, new varieties greatly contributed to the development of a more sustainable agriculture. Since this helps to stabilize the economy for farmers, it also leads to better social stability.
Viet Nam recognized that it needed to provide incentives to encourage investment in the development of new varieties of plants and decided to introduce a system of PVP 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.
Becoming a member of UPOV has brought benefits and contributed to great developments in the farming industry.
For example, before UPOV membership in 2006, the average rice yield of Viet Nam was less than 5 tons/ha and the yield has since increased by 24% to more than 6 tons/ha.
How has the seed sector changed since Viet Nam became a UPOV member?
Since Viet Nam became a UPOV Member in 2006, the Vietnamese seed industry has undergone many changes which are reflected in the following aspects:
Firstly, the private sector has been strongly involved in the selection and development of new plant varieties. They have invested a lot in research and development work.
Secondly, diversity of plant varieties in agricultural production has increased.
Previously, the selection and breeding of new plants only focused on food crops and vegetables, but now there are more than 200 different plant species in which there has been breeding. As such, it helps to enrich the agricultural production structure of the country.
Finally, when the private sector is involved in breeding, they make breeding more professional, from the research to the final product for the farmer.
In the past, only government research institutes developed plant varieties.
When the private sector develops a new plant variety, they deliver it directly to farmers for production.
Since plant variety protection has been available the process has become more professionalized.
Breeders can register their variety for protection with a breeder’s right, then they can transfer or license that right to seed production companies.
Those seed companies organize production and distribution of the seed of new plant varieties to farmers.
This process results in better seed quality because the seed companies have better seed production capabilities.
In the end, this change allows more and more new varieties to be developed.
What is the impact of PVP on the economy in Viet Nam?
Plant variety protection has the following economic impacts in Viet Nam.
Firstly, it increased GDP for the agricultural sector. The study on the socio-economic benefits of UPOV membership in Viet Nam after 10 years calculated the overall impact from plant breeding activities on GDP at around 5 billion USD, which is more than 2.5% of their GDP.
Secondly, because of plant variety protection, there are many sectors of society involved in the development of new plant varieties. PVP facilitates investment from the private sector so the government doesn't have to invest as much as before.
Ultimately, PVP has resulted in diversified products for export and for local consumers. That gives domestic consumers more choices.
There are many new varieties of plants that can be processed for medicinal purposes, suitable for farmers in the remote north of Viet Nam and which offers new job opportunities for them.
There are many new varieties of vegetables and flowers appearing, which increases possibilities for export of the production and helps to increase the work for farmers. That also gives domestic consumers more choices.
How has the UPOV PVP system supported Viet Nam’s policy on agriculture and rural development?
Currently, the Vietnamese government has 4 major policies on agriculture: First, consolidation and exchange of land to facilitate agricultural production: Second, production along the value chain; Third, changing the crop rotation and Fourth, safe crop production.
Plant variety protection is important for these policies for businesses to invest in activities that support the government policies.
We believe that plant variety protection contributes to the success of government agricultural policies.
In the future, the Vietnamese government will continue to update laws and policies to serve the development of agriculture and rural areas in Viet Nam.
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, there has been investment in the development of new varieties, that improve the livelihood of farmers and result in better food quality and choices to consumers.
According to the World Bank, in Viet Nam in 2019 employment in agriculture represented 37% of total employment, with agriculture, forestry and fishing accounting for 12.6% of the total GDP in 2021.
In 2022, Viet Nam was the world’s third largest rice exporter and a leading producer and exporter.
Mr. Nguyen Nhu Cuong, General Director of the Department of Crop Production (DCP), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)
In Viet Nam up to 60% of the population currently lives in rural areas.
A new variety that can produce a good crop and is resistant to pests and diseases will help farmers reduce costs.
For example, it helps to reduce the amount of and reduce the amount of fertilizers. That helps farmers to increase the competitiveness of their products.
At the same time, new varieties greatly contributed to the development of a more sustainable agriculture. Since this helps to stabilize the economy for farmers, it also leads to better social stability.
Viet Nam recognized that it needed to provide incentives to encourage investment in the development of new varieties of plants and decided to introduce a system of PVP 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.
Becoming a member of UPOV has brought benefits and contributed to great developments in the farming industry.
For example, before UPOV membership in 2006, the average rice yield of Viet Nam was less than 5 tons/ha and the yield has since increased by 24% to more than 6 tons/ha.
How has the seed sector changed since Viet Nam became a UPOV member?
Since Viet Nam became a UPOV Member in 2006, the Vietnamese seed industry has undergone many changes which are reflected in the following aspects:
Firstly, the private sector has been strongly involved in the selection and development of new plant varieties. They have invested a lot in research and development work.
Secondly, diversity of plant varieties in agricultural production has increased.
Previously, the selection and breeding of new plants only focused on food crops and vegetables, but now there are more than 200 different plant species in which there has been breeding. As such, it helps to enrich the agricultural production structure of the country.
Finally, when the private sector is involved in breeding, they make breeding more professional, from the research to the final product for the farmer.
In the past, only government research institutes developed plant varieties.
When the private sector develops a new plant variety, they deliver it directly to farmers for production.
Since plant variety protection has been available the process has become more professionalized.
Breeders can register their variety for protection with a breeder’s right, then they can transfer or license that right to seed production companies.
Those seed companies organize production and distribution of the seed of new plant varieties to farmers.
This process results in better seed quality because the seed companies have better seed production capabilities.
In the end, this change allows more and more new varieties to be developed.
What is the impact of PVP on the economy in Viet Nam?
Plant variety protection has the following economic impacts in Viet Nam.
Firstly, it increased GDP for the agricultural sector. The study on the socio-economic benefits of UPOV membership in Viet Nam after 10 years calculated the overall impact from plant breeding activities on GDP at around 5 billion USD, which is more than 2.5% of their GDP.
Secondly, because of plant variety protection, there are many sectors of society involved in the development of new plant varieties. PVP facilitates investment from the private sector so the government doesn't have to invest as much as before.
Ultimately, PVP has resulted in diversified products for export and for local consumers. That gives domestic consumers more choices.
There are many new varieties of plants that can be processed for medicinal purposes, suitable for farmers in the remote north of Viet Nam and which offers new job opportunities for them.
There are many new varieties of vegetables and flowers appearing, which increases possibilities for export of the production and helps to increase the work for farmers. That also gives domestic consumers more choices.
How has the UPOV PVP system supported Viet Nam’s policy on agriculture and rural development?
Currently, the Vietnamese government has 4 major policies on agriculture: First, consolidation and exchange of land to facilitate agricultural production: Second, production along the value chain; Third, changing the crop rotation and Fourth, safe crop production.
Plant variety protection is important for these policies for businesses to invest in activities that support the government policies.
We believe that plant variety protection contributes to the success of government agricultural policies.
In the future, the Vietnamese government will continue to update laws and policies to serve the development of agriculture and rural areas in Viet Nam.
August 18, 2023