Cassava industry overcoming challenges: Prospects of the HL-RS15 cassava variety

Outstanding advantages of the HL-RS15 cassava variety

In previous years, cassava mosaic disease was a “nightmare” for growers in Tay Ninh. The mosaic virus weakened plants and reduced yields by 20-90%, leading to prolonged losses. At one point, the risk of “wiping out the raw material region” became real, leaving both farmers and processing enterprises deeply concerned.

However, instead of giving up, the agriculture sector and farmers in Tay Ninh chose to seek new, adaptive varieties and embrace change proactively. Through collaboration with the Hung Loc Agricultural Research Center and other scientific institutions, several promising cassava varieties have been tested and expanded. Following varieties such as HN1, HN3, and HN7, the HL-RS15 cassava is now receiving high praise in Tay Ninh Province.

Initial results show that the HL-RS15 variety is 100% resistant to mosaic disease, grows well in Tay Ninh’s soil, yields 40-45 tons per hectare, and maintains a stable starch content. This is considered a breakthrough, opening a sustainable development path for the province’s key crop.

“The HL-RS15 cassava variety has several outstanding advantages, including high yield (30-52.7 tons/ha), high starch content (28-31%), strong resistance to major diseases (mosaic disease, witches’ broom, mealybug, and root rot), a suitable growth duration (8-10 months), and a long starch retention period. These features give farmers peace of mind in cultivation and help stabilize the raw material supply for processing,” said Pham Thi Nhan, Deputy Director of the Hung Loc Agricultural Research Center.

One of the first farmers to access the new variety, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Vinh from Tan Hoi Commune, shared: “Having cultivated cassava for over 20 years, I’ve experienced many ups and downs. A few years ago, mosaic disease caused great concern to us. But since introducing the HL-RS15 variety into production, I’ve felt much more at ease. The plants are healthy, yields are stable, and with the support of agricultural extension officers, my family’s livelihood has improved significantly.”

In addition to adopting new varieties, Mr. Vinh and many other farmers have also applied modern techniques such as solar-powered irrigation, organic cultivation, and cooperation through the Farmers’ Association to share experiences. As a result, production costs have decreased, efficiency has improved, and farmers’ spirits are noticeably higher than before.

Mr. Duong Thanh Phuong, Head of the Tan Chau Agricultural Extension and Agricultural Services Station, added that thanks to favorable natural conditions and improved farming techniques, the total cassava cultivation area in the former Tan Chau District has exceeded 18,500 hectares - the largest in the province. In the summer-autumn crop 2025, local farmers planted 12 hectares of the HL-RS15 cassava variety. By March 2026, the seed multiplication area is expected to reach over 120 hectares, ready to support large-scale production in Tan Chau and neighboring areas.

“The introduction of the HL-RS15 cassava variety not only helps diversify the cassava seed structure but also opens up opportunities to increase economic efficiency, reduce pest and disease risks, and ensure yield and quality, giving farmers greater peace of mind in cultivation. The Tan Chau Agricultural Extension Station is actively working with local households to expand planting areas, monitor varietal characteristics, and finalize technical procedures for widespread transfer in the near future,” emphasized Mr. Phuong.

Continuing breeding efforts to develop new varieties

Over the years, cassava has become a key crop in Tay Ninh, helping to establish the province’s position as the “cassava capital” of Vietnam. With over 60,000 hectares under cultivation, producing millions of tons of roots yearly for starch processing and export, cassava provides livelihoods for tens of thousands of farming households. However, behind these impressive figures lie growing challenges: soil degradation, declining varietal quality, recurring disease outbreaks, and the looming threat of an unsustainable raw material base.

According to agricultural experts, the biological characteristics of cassava and the farming methods used are key factors contributing to soil degradation. Cassava’s deep root system absorbs large amounts of nutrients, especially potassium and nitrogen, which quickly deplete the soil. Continuous cultivation with little crop rotation and insufficient application of organic fertilizers has led to declining soil fertility and a sharp reduction in organic matter.

Research by the Soils and Fertilizers Institute indicates that after three to four consecutive cassava crops, the organic matter content in cassava-growing soil can drop by as much as 50%. During the rainy season, cassava’s sparse canopy provides little ground cover, leaving the soil vulnerable to erosion and nutrient runoff. Crop residues are rarely used to replenish nutrients and are often discarded or burned, further exhausting the soil.

Soil degradation not only reduces yields but also leads to varietal deterioration, creating favorable conditions for the spread of diseases. For instance, cassava mosaic disease, caused by a virus for which there is no specific treatment, weakens the plant’s resistance. As a result, a range of secondary infections such as stem rot, witches’ broom, mealybug, and root rot can easily attack, lowering tuber quality and reducing yields by 20% to 90%.

In this context, the key “lifeline” solution for Tay Ninh’s cassava sector is to breed and select new varieties that are disease-resistant and well adapted to local soil conditions.

Speaking about the process of testing and developing new cassava varieties, Ms. Pham Thi Nhan, Deputy Director of the Hung Loc Agricultural Research Center, shared that creating an outstanding new variety requires a long and rigorous research process, involving multiple stages of trials and evaluations. On average, it takes at least three to five years to select and certify a new cassava variety.

In recent years, the Institute has actively collaborated with domestic agencies and international organizations to select six cassava varieties resistant to mosaic disease, which have been officially recognized in the Southeast region. Alongside these efforts, the HL-RS15 variety continues to demonstrate its advantages and is being widely multiplied. It is expected to serve as a “shield” to help Tay Ninh protect its 62,000 hectares of cassava and maintain its position as the country’s cassava capital. This also lays a solid foundation for the starch processing and cassava export industries to stabilize raw material sources and move toward sustainable development.

“Cassava varietal degeneration” refers to the phenomenon in which cassava varieties experience reduced yield, quality, and disease resistance due to the accumulation of genetic defects through prolonged vegetative propagation using infected cuttings. To address this issue, measures such as selecting and multiplying planting materials from disease-free sources, harvesting and storing seed tubers properly, and rotating crops to minimize soil-borne pathogens should be applied.