The Cửu Long Delta Rice Research Institute and Lộc trời Group sign an agreement to jointly develop new rice varieties on December 24. — Photo courtesy of Lộc Trời Group

CẦN THƠ — The Cửu Long Delta Rice Research Institute and agricultural company Lộc trời Group on Tuesday (December 24) signed a five-year agreement to jointly develop new rice varieties.

“I believe the co-operation will make an important contribution to the sustainable development of national rice varieties and brands,” head of the CLRI, Trần Ngọc Thạch, said.

Experts from the two organisations would work together to research and create at least one new rice variety for production and providing seeds, he said.

They also planned to regularly organise training courses in rice seed selection, maintaining the purity of seeds and producing seeds, he said.

Huỳnh Văn Thòn, chairman and general director of Lộc Trời Group, said the group had collaborated effectively with the institute to build value chain models for sustainable rice production for many years.

The institute had transferred many high-quality rice varieties such as OM 5451, OM 9577 and OM 18 to the company to grow crops and supply seeds for farmers, he said.

With more than 1,000 agricultural professionals, the company has developed many new varieties of rice.

Lộc Trời 28 won the first prize among fragrant rice varieties at an international rice convention in China in 2018. — VNS