Cuba and Vietnam focus on science for food production

Food production in pursuit of food sovereignty is becoming a priority for the Camagüey Territorial Grain Station, in charge of validating rice varieties in Cuba.

According to a report published by the website of the Adelante newspaper, the project is directly advised by specialists from Vietnam, who already have experience in programs with Cuba to develop this crop in provinces such as Sancti Spíritus, Pinar del Río, Granma and Havana.

According to Amalia Moredo, director of the Territorial Grain Station, the techniques used are “all the sowing of the grain and advice on the production of those seeds, through mechanized and manual transplanting technologies, this on a smaller scale”.

“Regarding research, the main lines cover the genetic improvement of rice, use of bioproducts in this crop, genetic-phytotechnical improvement of corn, beans, chickpeas, weed control in rice and other grains, integrated management of weedy rice, and intelligent agriculture,” the newspaper reported.

For almost five years, Vietnam has increased its support for Cuba in the development of the rice agroindustry, focusing on guaranteeing food security.

With this goal in mind, the sustained increase of research capacities and yields is a priority, which is fundamental to collaboration between the two countries.