Seed Supply System in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam
|
The research on seed supply systems in the
Mekong Delta was carried out in 1996 to study the quality of seeds
and criteria for seed selection, production and exchange at both
formal and informal seed supply systems.
Results of the study were based on general
information gathered through 15 community meetings (with
participation of key farmers and resource persons) in 11 provinces
in the saline zones of the Mekong Delta. A field survey and seed
sampling were conducted in four typical transects. A total of 127
households at the rainfed saline zone, 30 households in irrigated
area, four seed companies and organizations involved in seed
supply in the Delta were interviewed. Seed quality of the formal
and informal seed supply systems was determined by laboratory
analyses and field tests.
To strengthen the role of seed
supply systems in the Mekong Delta, both systems should be
improved and linked closely. Establishment of farmer groups for
selecting and distributing seeds at the community level can
improve farmers’ role in the seed supply system. Also, the
government should recognize farmers’ right and the role of the
informal seed supply system in providing seeds for farmers in the
Mekong Delta. |
The Mekong Delta is one of the two
large, fertile plains and comprises the 11 southernmost provinces of
Vietnam. It has more than 2.5 million hectares for agricultural
cultivation. For a long time, rice is the major staple food crop grown in
this delta. Due to the need to increase the agricultural production for
Vietnam’s population of more than 70 million, and due to the export of
agricultural produce for much needed foreign exchange, rice cultivation in
the Mekong Delta is changing fast with new cropping techniques, hybrid
varieties and genetic uniformity.
This development has quickly increased the production
of rice as well as other crops, and has led to the requirement of more
seeds. The seed is supplied by the formal and informal seed supply
systems. The formal system consists of research institutions, seed
companies and agriculture breeding centers that are supported by
governmental policies and monopoly. The informal system consists of
farmers and farming communities. The contribution of the latter seems to
be overlooked. The role of both systems and the seed quality they provide
to their clients has not been studied.
A research on seed supply systems was conducted in the
Mekong Delta in June 1996. The research studied (1) which system had the
most important role and (2) what problems both systems face.
-
To identify the amount of rice seeds as well as other seeds
supplied by the formal system in the Mekong Delta.
- To evaluate the quality of seeds from both the formal
and informal system through laboratory analysis and field evaluations.
- To study the criteria for seed selection and
production, interactions between both systems and the problems faced by
both systems.
Surveying and sampling seed
Formal system
Data of rice varieties from all seed companies, seed
production stations, research institutions, state farms, Provincial
Agricultural Organizations’ Agricultural Extension Centers, and Plant
Protection Departments in the Mekong Delta were collected and sampled in
the dry season of 1996.
Informal system
A total of 127 randomly selected households in the rainfed zones of Long
An, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Minh Hai and Kien Giang province and 30
households in the irrigated zone of An Giang province were surveyed to
relate information concerning the seeds they use for cropping.
Laboratory analysis
All seeds sampled were tested and compared with national standards on
seed quality in terms of germination (%), weed seed ratio (%), and
dust ratio (%). Seed born diseases on rice test: Twenty random seeds
of each collected sample was placed in a Petri dish which was then
placed in an oven of 30° C for 5 days. After that, all occurring
spores on the grains were further cultured in a solution made of agar,
sweet potato and sugar. Microscopic observation was done for
classification of pathogens.
Field test
All sampled seeds were planted in a 10 m² plot per sample
at one seedling/hill with 20 x 20 cm distance for high yielding varieties
(HYV) and 20x30 cm for traditional rice (TR). The number of off-type
plants (mixed plants) and purity on morphological and grain color were
observed and compared to the national standards.
The national standards on rice seed quality (field trials)
|
Standard |
Breeder seed |
Grade 1 |
Grade 2 |
Grade 3 |
|
Mixed or off-type plants (%) |
0.05 |
0.30 |
0.40 |
0.50 |
|
Seeds of hardly distinguishable different species
(%) |
0.01 |
0.50 |
0.50 |
0.50 |
|
Weeds and harmful plants (%) |
0.01 |
0.02 |
0.04 |
0.06 |
|
No. of plants infected by disease (%) |
0.10 |
0.50 |
1.00 |
1.50 |
Source: Plant handbook, 1983. Central Seed Company
Data analysis
All data were analysed using Quatttro Pro program.
Agricultural land area in Mekong Delta
Information from the Agricultural Offices of the 11
provinces of the Mekong Delta showed that the total rice cultivated area
of the delta is 3,057,400 hectares (1995). Traditional rice occupies 19.3%
of this area. In addition, 113,984 hectares are used for vegetables and
root crops.
Requirements for seeds and seed supply systems in the
Mekong Delta
Rice
In the Mekong Delta, rice is the main crop. The total land
area for HYV increased from 1.9 million hectares in 1991 to 2,467 million
hectares in 1994. These 2,467,000 hectares required 4,934 million tons of
rice seed with a seeding rate of 200 kg/ha
Seed requirement for HYV and amount supplied by the
formal sector in the Mekong Delta
|
Seed requirement |
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
|
Planting area of improved rice(1000 ha) |
1 909 |
1 992 |
* |
2 467 |
* |
|
Amount of rice seeds required (ton) |
381 800 |
398 400 |
* |
493 400 |
* |
|
Amount of rice seeds supplied 1 |
3 162 |
3 601 |
7 033 |
7 297 |
6 610 |
|
Ratio supplied and required (%) |
0.83 |
0.90 |
* |
1.48 |
* |
Note: The seed requirement is estimated at a seeding
density of 200kg/ha (direct seedling)
* Data not available
Only 1.48% of the seed requirement was provided by the
formal sector. This meant that over 98% of the total requirement of HYV
were supplied by the informal system. Moreover, the latter also provided
all the four traditional rice seed requirement.
The formal system only supplied HYVs. Meanwhile, the
informal seed system provided 136 different varieties: 48 traditional rice
varieties and 88 high yielding rice varieties. Hence, the results show
that the informal seed supply system provides a more diversified range of
varieties than the formal system.
Root crops
For root crops, most farmers keep their own seeds for the next
planting season and also farmers exchange seeds. This means that the seeds
and planting materials for at least 50,000 hectares (1995) of root crops
are provided by the informal system.
Vegetable and hybrid seeds
Farmers had to buy vegetable and hybrid seeds (such as corn) from seed
companies because they can not keep the seeds themselves for the next
season. The number of seeds imported in Vietnam was at its peak in 1993
(167,027 tons). Comparing this with other Asian countries, Vietnam is now
the second largest importer after Korea.
Importation of vegetable seeds (tons) by some Asian
countries
|
Country |
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
|
Vietnam |
10 304 |
23 955 |
167 627 |
124 036 |
|
Philippines |
112 498 |
110 443 |
115 484 |
|
|
Indonesia |
10 317 |
40 122 |
|
|
|
Korea |
|
|
1 411 200 |
1 407 400 |
Source: Asian seed and planting material, Asia and
Pacific Seed Association Volume, 1 and 2, 1994
Quality of seed
Laboratory analysis
Moisture content/(MC), germination rate and mixed
materials
Moisture content. All the rice seed samples from both
supply systems had appropriate moisture content. For high yielding rice
varieties (HYVs), advanced farmers from the informal seed supply system
were the best seed producers in terms of seed moisture content. 93.1% of
the collected samples from this group attained 12.8 % MC.
Germination rate. Germination percentage is one of the
most important criteria of seed quality. This depends on many pre- and
post-harvest factors such as moisture content. The average germination
rate of most of the samples was high ranging from 93% to 98%. The national
standard on rice seed quality must meet a germination rate of over 85%.
Seeds from formal system had 91.1-100% germination and seeds from the
informal system had 94.1-100% germination. These results indicate that the
farmer kept seeds that could germinate more than those from seed companies
did.
Mixed materials. Most samples contained 0.15% dust.
The number of weed seeds contained in the seed samples of ordinary farmers
was 28 grains/kg. In the formal system, it was only 20 grains/kg. All
samples from research institutes (formal system) and all traditional rice
seed samples from ordinary farmers (informal system) had no weed seeds.
Seed - borne diseases
field diseases
There were 8 kinds of fungal diseases that affected the rice seeds in
the field. Most of them caused discoloration of the rice seed. A high
percentage of the seeds were infected with Trichinosis padwickii
(71.9%) and Nigrospara spp. (45.2%). Ustilaginoidea
virens was the lowest (1.1%).
The results showed that Aspergillus spp. was
present in the HYV samples of the formal system (0 - 36.3%) and informal
sector (17.2-45.6%). Only 17.2% of the traditional rice samples were
infected. The seed samples from the research institutes contained no Aspergillus
spp. but up to 40% of samples contained three kinds of fungi: Penicillium,
Mucor racemosus and Rhizopus.
Field testing
In Mekong Delta, the informal seed supply system
(farmer-to-farmer exchange) is an effective system 98% of the seed
requirement. Farmers can provide high quality seed without the rigid seed
quality tests required by the formal system. Furthermore, the national
seed certification system requires that before a variety can be released
to farmers, it should be uniform, stable and distinct. Phenotypic
uniformity is a primary concern. Results clearly show that uniformity is
not a major concern for the informal system even for the HYVs.
Variation within population was also much higher in
traditional varieties compared to HYV, especially for culm length and seed
coat color.
Ratio of mixed plants within seed samples collected,
1996
|
Standard |
Formal system |
Informal system |
|
|
|
Ordinary farmer |
Advanced farmer |
|
No. mixed varieties |
Ratio (%) |
No. mixed varieties |
Ratio (%) |
No. mixed varieties |
Ratio (%) |
|
High yielding rice |
|
Growth duration |
16 |
17.0 |
13 |
11.0 |
9 |
19.6 |
|
Cuml length |
24 |
25.5 |
54 |
45.8 |
13 |
28.3 |
|
Seed coat color |
- |
- |
7 |
5.9 |
- |
- |
|
Grain shape |
- |
- |
16 |
13.6 |
- |
- |
|
Grain color |
- |
- |
8 |
6.8 |
- |
- |
|
Awn |
- |
- |
7 |
5.9 |
- |
- |
|
Traditional rice |
|
Growth duration |
- |
- |
8 |
8.6 |
- |
- |
|
Cuml length |
- |
- |
30 |
3.2 |
- |
- |
|
Seed coat color |
- |
- |
13 |
14.0 |
- |
- |
|
Grain shape |
- |
- |
6 |
6.5 |
- |
- |
The comparison of the seed quality from both supply
systems shows that the seed samples from the advanced farmers were the
best (39.1% of them were mixed), followed by the formal system (43.8%),
and the ordinary farmers (61.8%).
General comparison of purity of HYV seed samples from
the formal and informal seed supply systems
|
Seed supply system |
Total sample |
No. of mixed sample |
Mixed ratio (%) |
|
Formal system |
|
|
|
|
Seed companies & others organization |
89 |
39 |
43.82 |
|
Research Institute |
5 |
0 |
0.0 |
|
Informal system |
|
|
|
|
Advanced farmer |
46 |
18 |
39.1 |
|
Ordinary farmer |
48 |
73 |
61.86 |
Seed supply system in the Mekong Delta
Scientists, specialists and researchers in plant breeding
usually do the first phase of new seed production. Trials are done at the
experimental station or research institutes. On-farm testing programs are
really farmer-participatory research programs.
Formal seed supply system
The role of the formal seed supply system
Although the formal system contributes a small amount of
seeds to the large- scale production, it is still very essential for
scientific and technical varietal improvement (producing new varieties,
mutants, breeder seeds, and hybrid lines). Farmers cannot do all of
activities since they have limited skills and facilities.
The formal system (government organizations, research
institutes, and seed companies) is a complimentary but important seed
supply system in the Mekong Delta since it is the main source of new
seeds.
Seed quality
Poor quality seeds could limit food production. The subject has therefore
received considerable attention. Purity and germination have been the basic
qualities subjected to intensive investigations in the past. However,
because seed-borne organisms can affect seed quality and the ultimate
seedling development, attention must be given to the movement of good
quality seeds. The factors considered to play an important role in any
seed certification scheme are analytical purity, weed content, viability,
freedom from disease, moisture content, and trueness to variety. When a
seed sample exhibits a satisfactory level in all these aspects, it can be
considered of high quality (Singh 1987).
According to Singh, it was difficult to call the seeds of
this study (even the seeds of the formal system) "high quality
seeds." Thus, using the government standard for rice seed, it was
found out that almost all the seeds from formal system do not satisfy the
requirement for "quality seed". This is because:
- checking the seed was not done correctly
- the seed requirement (planting material) increases yearly
- the price of seed and benefit of seed companies affected seed quality
- the government has not monitored seed activity yet
The tendency of formal seed supply system
In the Mekong Delta, the kind of variety of rice seed is
usually changed to solve new variety requirement of farmer. Furthermore,
the formal seed supply system must be based on farmer’s interest and
depend on the domestic and foreign market. However, this tendency will be
developed strongly if the seed organizations appreciate adaptability with
cultural condition of seed in each region.
Informal seed supply system
The role of the informal seed supply system
In general, 99% of the HYVs were provided through the informal
system (about 1% through companies or governmental organizations). It
means that the community system takes the main role in providing rice
seeds for agricultural production in the Mekong Delta.
Especially in the rainfed saline area, the data collected
from 127 households proved that farmers provided their own traditional
rice seeds (96%) and root crops (88.6%). If farmers in this area wanted to
grow an HYV with short growth duration, they had to buy or exchange seed
with farmers in other places. In these areas, farmers only grow and
harvest rice in the rainy season. Since they lack drying facilities, it is
very difficult for them to store their own seed for the next season,
except for plants with long dormancy such as traditional rice or yam.
Seed sources used by farmers in the rainfed saline areas
of the Mekong Delta
|
Kind of crop |
Buying from |
Self-producing |
Exchange |
|
formal system |
informal system |
for own use |
among farmers |
|
Local rice |
0 % |
1.5 % |
96 % |
2.5 % |
|
HYV rice |
42.5 % |
|
46.5 % |
11 % |
|
Root crop |
|
11.4 % |
88.6 % |
0 |
Source: Data from random interview of 127 households in
the rainfed saline area of Mekong Delta by CBDC project, August 1995
Activities of the informal seed supply system.
Survey results showed that the informal seed supply system
has been existing for a long time in the Mekong Delta. It has the
following activities:
- the system focuses on exchanging seeds among farmers
in the community.
- some farmers in the community select good varieties
(high yielding, disease tolerant, with good quality) and continue to
multiply these. These seeds attract the attention of neighboring
farmers who also try to plant these. Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa, (Tran Van
Thoi district, Minh Hai province) for example, selected one new IR42
variety (the Bay Hoa variety) and exchanged it with other farmers in
his community. About 50 tons of seed spread in 5 years. Also, other
varieties were released in the same way like Mot Bui, Tai Nguyen and
Lun Can.
- In the last step, some farmers in the area select good
varieties or received seeds from the formal system and re-select,
multiply and sell them to other farmers or seed companies at the local
level. For example, the KSC350 variety was selected by Mr. Tran Minh
Canh (Ke Sach district, Soc Trang province). He re-selected it from
MTL119 (introduced by Cantho University). An IR50404 variety with no
chalkiness was also re-selected from IR50404 by Mr. Nguyen Van Huu
(Thu Thua district, Long An province).
Aside from the formal and informal seed supply system,
there is another form of seed distribution in the rainfed saline area. In
this form, farmers do not produce the seeds but only buy and sell these
again to other farmers. For example, the floating seed at the Ca Mau
Island distributes large amount of rice seeds for farmers in this area.
The standard and quality of seed
Farmers’ criteria of seed quality are high productivity,
good adaptability and good grain quality (which can give higher market
value). Uniformity and seed viability are also concerns of some farmers
for new seeds, but these are not important to others because farmers can
correct them technically. In short, seeds from the informal system have no
exact quality criteria. For rootcrops or other planting materials, quality
differed from region to region.
Seed production of the communities
There are many ways of seed distribution in the informal system.
Farmers can produce seeds for their own use (by groups to select and
multiply), exchange seeds with others, or buys from their neighbors.
However, this is very difficult in areas where cultivation is based
completely on rainfed water, because they only plant once a year. In
addition, farmers also have the tendency to select modern varieties
according to the wishes of the market or consumers. This means that the
kind of rice seeds they use changes frequently.
For HYVs, farmers are not only testing new varieties
selected from local landraces but they can also re-select and improve
breeding materials from research institutes and local agricultural
organizations for their specific environmental conditions. Finally farmers
multiply and distribute this seed to farmers within their community.
Traditional rice is not supplied by the formal seed supply
system so farmers have to produce the seeds for their own use. In the seed
production process, farmers also select (by pure-line and mass selection
techniques) and multiply these varieties to exchange them with farmers
within and outside their community.
The role of seed supply systems
Two seed supply systems (formal and informal) affect the selection
and distribution of rice seeds in the Mekong Delta.
- Although the formal system only contributes a small
amount of seed in contrast to the informal seed system’s large
amount of seed contribution, it is very essential for scientific and
technical varietal improvement. Therefore, the formal system is
complimentary to the informal system.
- The formal seed supply system only pays attention to
main crops and provides only modern varieties.
- Farmers help on seed selection and multiplication
methods at the community level by local agricultural organisations,
research institutes and universities.
Quality of seed
- The quality of seeds from advanced farmers was the best.
In general, the quality of seed from the formal system was better than
that from the informal system in terms of moisture content, germination
and purity.
- Most rice seed samples were mixed with seeds of other
varieties. The ratio of pure seeds was rather high; the minimum was 1.1%
(traditional rice).
- Seed samples from both seed supply systems have high
ratio for seed-borne diseases. However, samples from the informal system
have lower ratio than those of the formal system
Tendency of development
- Exportation of rice had been affected directly by the
objective of seed selection and seed supply of both systems in the
Mekong Delta. Seed selection was based on export standards such as long
grain, non chalkiness, etc.
- High yield is the most important criteria of seed
selection. Farmers are less interested in other seed quality standards
when they exchange seeds.
- Community-based seed selection and distribution is being
encouraged by the agricultural extension center in the Mekong Delta.
- The informal seed supply system has an important role in
the selection and distribution of seeds in the Mekong Delta. To
strengthen its role, this system should get more attention from the
government.
- The government should have a policy to defend the
interests of the informal system in the Mekong Delta.
- The research organizations, Agricultural Extension
Center etc, should be strengthened and should develop relationships with
the informal systems for seed selection and plant genetic resource
development with the participation of farmers/communities. Workshops and
field training courses should be organized on the technology of
producing quality seed.
- The local government should build farmer groups or
communities (clubs) for selecting seed to maintain and increase the
adapted varieties using their cultural practices, to diversify a
variety, and limit the damage in production.
Asian seed.1994-1995. Vol 1 and 2.
Central Seed Company. 1983. Plant handbook.
Nguyen Ngoc De, 1996. Seed supply systems and
Participatory Plant Breeding in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. Paper
reported at the 4th International Plant Genetic Resources
Conference, Leipzig, Germany.
Plant Quarantine Center. 1976-1995. Technical requirement
of rice seed. TCVN. Vietnam.
Singh, K.G.. 1987. ASEAN plant quarantine systems in
Rice Seed Health: Proceedings of the International Workshop on Rice Seed
Health 16-20 March 1987, IRRI, Manila, Philippines, p. 49-56
|
|