Vietnam National University of Agriculture to welcome Myanmar Rice Federation

On May 22^nd, 2019, Prof. Dr. Pham Van Cuong, Vice President of Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA) hosted the welcome meeting with the delegation of Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) led by Mr. Aung Than Oo, Vice Chairman of the Federation.  VNUA also welcomed Mr. Thet Zin Muang, Deputy Director, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation and other members of the Federation. From VNUA’ side, there were the representative leaders from the Faculty of Agronomy, the Institute of Crops Research and Development, Rice R&D group, and the International Cooperation Office. Mr. Nguyen Dang Khoa, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam - Myanmar Friendship Association, and other members of the Association also attended the meeting.

At the meeting, after the overall introduction about VNUA and the training programs offered by the university, Prof. Dr. Pham Van Cuong emphasized the research achievements of the University in breeding and producing high-yielding rice varieties which are able to withstand the adverse conditions of weather and land. Vietnam and Myanmar are the two countries of which the economies depend largely on agricultural production, especially rice production, and are located in the in areas which are the most affected by climate change. In addition, global rice demand is changing quickly when consumers are increasingly concerned about product quality. Therefore, the two parties agreed that it is important for the two countries to create new rice varieties which produce high-quality rice and are able to adapt to the climate to keep up with the market trend.

Mr. Thet Zin Muang paid much attention to the cooperation potential in training between Myanmar and VNUA in the field of agriculture, especially in the production of rice seeds and rice cultivation techniques. The two parties hoped that the Vietnamese and Myanmar governments would soon develop schemes to support training cooperation between VNUA and Myanmar in general and the staff of MRF in particular.

Prof. Dr. Pham Van Cuong gives VNUA’s souvenir to the representative leaders of the Federation

After the meeting, MRF and the representatives of the Vietnam - Myanmar Friendship Association paid a visit to the laboratories of the Center for International Plan Research Vietnam and Japan and the Institute of Crops Research and Development where many commercial high-value rice varieties are being researched and produced. The meeting opened up opportunities to promote collaboration between VNUA and MRF in research and training in the fields of rice crops in particular and in agriculture in general.

The Myanmar delegation visit the Institute of Crops Research and Development