HCMC plans to clear barriers to develop high-quality seedlings

Nguyen Thien Nhan, a Politburo member cum the Party Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, highlighted the pivotal role of seedling in an agricultural country like Vietnam which has earned revenues of around $30 billion from export.
Mr.Nhan at the seminar ( Photo: SGGP
Mr.Nhan at the seminar ( Photo: SGGP
Mr. Nhan yesterday made the statement at a seminar on application of technology to push Ho Chi Minh City into a seedling hub in the Asian region.
Residents make a living from the land and Ho Chi Minh City has advantages in produce seedlings to contribute to the country’s agriculture security.
At the seminar, participants reviewed the program to develop seedling in term of how much percentage of seedling it has provided to countries in the region.
To facilitate the sector, the government should take heed to relation between scientists and farmers, enterprises to clear barriers.
According to the Department of Plant Protection Department, most challenging matter is to research and grow vegetable, flower because in 2016, Vietnam spent $550 million to buy vegetable and flower seedlings.
Professor Bui Chi Buu, former head of the Southern Agricultural Sciences Institute said the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in agriculture plays an important role in seedling manufacturing.
On theory, HCMC is qualified to become a hub to provide seedling for the South and the country.
Experiences of Thailand, South Korea and Japan showed that to become a hub of seedlings for the country, it is needed to have enterprises to produce seedling and the government, institutions give favorable condition to support them. Accordingly, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in seedling production is one of good solution for the city. Proper investment in research and development will be undertaken as well as connection between farmers and scientists by the government while enterprises will sell it to markets.
Chief of the seedling association in southeast Nguyen Van Thanh said the association has over 200 enterprises which do research, production and sale of seedlings yet they must hire land in neighboring provinces to plant; accordingly, he petitioned city administration to give special treatment in hiring land for seedling production in 25 – 50 years.
President of Vietnam Seed Association said HCMC should have law on seedlings and intellectual property rights.

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