Saline Resistant Rice Varieties Planted in Vietnam

Farmers in Soc Trang Province's Hong Dan District were used to planting water coconut palm and cajutput in their area because of the high saline content of the water. However, since 2009, farmers were provided by Can Tho University a saline tolerant rice soi variety which can survive with 0.1 percent salinity content and produce more than 4 tonnes per hectare in 150 days of maturity. Another salt tolerant fragrant rice ST was also developed in Soc Trang which can thrive in saline water and in rice-shrimp fields.

In 2011, the Mekong Delta officially planted 15 new saline-resistant rice varieties which can produce high yield at a water content of 0.4 – 0.6 percent salt. These varieties were planted in Kien Giang, Ca Mau and Bac Lieu provinces. From a few thousand hectares in 2005, saline tolerant lines were planted in 160,000 ha in 2012, according to the Plant Cultivation Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

More on this news can be viewed at  http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Salineresistant-rice-varieties-improve-profits/20133/32981.vnplus.