Soybean Planting in Vietnam to be Given a Boost

In a seminar organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development last 17 August, 2011, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Bui Ba Bong encouraged stakeholders to focus on the intensive cultivation of soybeans. Soybean is a traditional crop of farmers not only in Vietnam but in many countries around the world. Global area and production of soybean has been increasing, and 77% of world soybean crops are genetically modified. Demand for soybeans is increasingly diverse and abundant.

According to the Association of Vietnam Feed industry, Vietnam's annual import of 2.5 million tons of soybean meal (about 3.5 million tons of soybean grain, worth $1.2 billion, mainly from United States, Argentina and Brazil) is required to serve the processing of animal feed. It is expected that in 2015 the demand for soybean seeds in Vietnam could reach 5.5 million tons. While soybean acreage in Vietnam is about 200 thousand hectares with production of about 300 thousand tons, it is only able to supply 7.5% of domestic demand for food and feed. Therefore the development of soybean plants to increase production is urgent.

Bong recommended strategies for a competitive soybean industry that include development of mechanized soybean agricultural production system and a large model farm in Vietnam that could prove high economic efficiency to encourage the increased production in soybean growing areas in the country.

Details on the seminar can be obtained from Agbiotech Viet at hientttm@yahoo.com.