A seminar is held in Cần Thơ City to dicuss opportunities to develop climate change-resilient rice varieties. VNA/VNS Photo

CẦN THƠ — Cần Thơ University in collaboration with the Global Crop Diversity Trust held a seminar in the Mekong Delta city of Cần Thơ on Monday to discuss biodiversity for opportunities, livelihoods and development in Việt Nam.

The theme of the event was also part of a project that will be launched in Việt Nam during 2023-2024, with a budget of US$477,460 funded by the Norwegian Government and $310,000 from institutes and universities.

The project aims to establish a rice seed bank, develop new rice populations, create rice genetic diversity from superior hybrid rice and wild rice as the basis to produce high-yield rice varieties that well adapt to climate change. It will be carried out in eight Vietnamese cities and provinces, namely Lào Cai, Yên Bái, Phú Thọ, Hà Nội, Phú Yên, Gia Lai, Vĩnh Long and Cần Thơ.

Local farmers harvest rice in Tam Bình District in Vĩnh Long Province. VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Minh Tuấn

Attendees at the event suggested that apart from developing new rice varieties, the project should study solutions for climate change adaptation and efficient use of resources such as changing crop structure, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving water resources.

They proposed the establishment of an information system to support early warning, weather forecasting and disaster prevention and control, as well as enhancing training for officials and farmers to select appropriate rice varieties and cultivation techniques suitable for different regions. — VNS