Vinh Long to establish an agricultural seed bank

Mr. Chau Van Hoa, Vice Chairman of the Vinh Long Provincial People's Committee, recently chaired a meeting to hear a report on the project to establish the "Vinh Long Provincial Agricultural Seed Bank."

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the project aims to establish a center for researching, conserving, collecting, preserving, evaluating, breeding, developing, and supplying genetic resources and varieties of crops, livestock, aquatic species, and ornamental plants in the province.

The project also seeks to develop a digital database of genetic resources and apply biotechnology, tissue culture technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation to the management, utilization, and development of varieties. Through these efforts, the province aims to conserve specialty and rare indigenous varieties while supporting the development of key agricultural sectors, including coconut, fruit trees, ornamental plants, rice, and aquaculture.

Building on the seedling and ornamental plant industry

Vinh Long has a long-standing tradition of producing seedlings and ornamental plants. The province has identified this as one of its key sectors, with competitive advantages and high economic value, contributing to restructuring the agricultural sector toward higher added value and sustainable development.

Production is concentrated in Cho Lach, Vinh Thanh, Hung Khanh Trung, Phu Phung, and Long Duc. Among them, Cai Mon is known as one of the major centers for producing seedlings and ornamental plants, supplying products to many provinces and cities nationwide while gradually expanding into export markets.

By 2025, the province's area of perennial crop seedling and ornamental plant production had reached approximately 3,497 ha, involving around 8,155 households. A wide range of high-quality crop varieties is produced and stably supplied to the market, including durian, coconut, jackfruit, pomelo, longan, rambutan, plum, guava, king orange, mango, and several rice varieties. These seed sources serve local production, the Mekong Delta region, and many provinces and cities across the country.

The seedling and ornamental plant industry not only generates high economic value per unit of land but also contributes to crop restructuring, household economic development, and the building of distinctive agricultural brands for Vinh Long.

Alongside production development, state management of crop varieties has also been strengthened. In 2025, the Department of Agriculture and Environment issued 30 decisions recognizing standards for elite trees, elite orchards, and mother plants. The unit also provided guidance to organizations and individuals on the proper management, protection, and utilization of genetic resources.

To date, the province has recognized 190 elite trees and 1,021 elite orchards containing 136,756 trees, along with 110 mother coconut orchards containing 10,171 trees, 14 mother mangosteen orchards containing 1,003 trees, and three mother ambarella orchards containing 472 trees. These resources constitute important planting material for maintaining, selecting, and developing high-yielding, high-quality crop varieties that meet the requirements of commercial production and adapt to climate change.

Toward a regional seed supply center

At the meeting, delegates focused on providing input on the objectives, orientations, and solutions for establishing the seed bank, with priority proposed for the development of key crop, livestock, and aquatic species varieties.

They also called for stronger coordination among universities, research institutes, businesses, and cooperatives in research, breeding, preservation, propagation, and the transfer of science and technology, while promoting the role of cooperatives in replicating seed production models.

Mr. Chau Van Hoa said that in the Mekong Delta provinces, agriculture still accounts for a large share of the economic structure. To develop agriculture in a more intensive and sustainable manner, localities must be able to proactively secure their own seed sources.

According to the Vice Chairman of the Vinh Long Provincial People's Committee, establishing a seed bank is important for conserving, preserving, and developing the province's specialty varieties, gradually reducing reliance on external sources, particularly in areas where self-sufficiency remains limited, such as rice and aquaculture.

Mr. Chau Van Hoa requested the Department of Agriculture and Environment to fully incorporate the feedback and review and finalize the submission and project outline in a concise and clear manner while ensuring feasibility.

The Department should review the objectives, scope, and implementation timeline for each phase in line with the province's planning; add specific targets for the ability to proactively secure seed stock for crops, livestock, and aquatic species; and clearly define the functions of the seed bank in conservation, preservation, research, and production of seeds.

The leader of the Provincial People's Committee also requested the inclusion of solutions for research and the application of new technologies in seed production; the conservation, utilization, and development of genetic resources; and the collection, testing, and diversification of seed sources.

In addition, the project should focus on market development, digital transformation, the establishment of a product display center and an e-commerce platform, traceability, and planting area codes while strengthening cooperation with universities and research institutes in human resource training and scientific research.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment will continue to review infrastructure, funding, capital sources, the implementing agency, and the project completion timeline, providing a basis for submission to the competent authorities for consideration and approval.