Improving potato crop's yield, quality, and resiliency

According to Mr. Hugo Campos, CIP has collaborated with Vietnam since 1982, and the forty-year cooperation has garnered a number of outcomes for not potato and other plant species.

"Except for fifty percent of our study on potatoes, we also focus on sweet potatoes and other plants, including ways to increase their yield and nutritional content. For instance, boosting the amount of vitamin A in orange," stated Hugo Campos.

Presently, CIP research has helped significantly to the development of food crops across the world, particularly 45 different varieties planted in Africa.

CIP has executed a project in Da Lat that is showing promising signs with regard to the quality and output of sweet potatoes and potatoes in Vietnam. In addition to disease resistance, the yield and nutritional value of this potato are also excellent, satisfying the needs of the processing sector, which includes the production of potato chips and potato chips.

CIP, on the other hand, is collaborating with other Vietnamese authorities to implement a research study examining the effect of the production process on biodiversity, therefore bringing up appropriate solutions for farmers to protect their livelihoods and preserve the environment's biodiversity.

Also, the International Potato Center collaborated with the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Science (VAAS) to study the genetic resources of several crops in Lao Cai and Son La.

In 2022, according to Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the CIP-led cross-border seed agreement was signed by six Asian nations, including Vietnam. The ministry is eager to develop and implement the commitments outlined in this agreement via the CIP bridge in order to carry out follow-up activities on cultivation in general and potato and sweet potato development activities in particular.

In addition, the Ministry is prepared to collaborate with CIP partners to identify sources of assistance for implementing programs and projects on sweet potato and potato breeding, enhancing potato production and processing capacity, and sweet potatoes for Vietnamese farmers and enterprises.

Moreover, he urged CIP to give technical assistance, scientific research, and advanced models for application in Vietnam; collaboratively create and deploy pilot models; and improve the ability of various entities throughout the industrial value chain.

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien stated that the CIP has implemented a number of plant health programs through research and that it is necessary to strengthen these activities because this is one of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's priority areas under the One Health Partnership Framework. To guarantee human health in the connection between humans, livestock, and plants, especially food crops, plant health is as essential as animal and environmental health. food safety for both humans and animals

"It is proposed that CIP expand collaboration with the One Health Partner in this sector (the lead agency is the One Health Coordination Office, Department of Foreign Cooperation) in order to carry out the following actions," he stated.

In Vietnam, potatoes are primarily consumed fresh, with just a small portion transported to Indonesia, resulting in a modest yield. In the past, potatoes were grown over an area of around 100,000 hectares, but because the potato variety is susceptible to weather and pests, its economic efficiency is decreasing as climate change becomes more prevalent. Clearly, the planted potato acreage has decreased to fewer than 20,000 acres. The potato production ranges from 13.5 to 15.9 quintals per hectare.

Increasing demand for potato chips for fast food processing (snacks) such as french fries necessitates imports from various nations, mostly China. According to the report, the annual demand for raw potatoes by processing companies is around 180,000 tons, but only 30-40% of this need is supplied domestically; the remainder must be imported.

There are not many potato-supporting enterprises and activities. Presently, a number of initiatives in conjunction with corporations/private firms are being implemented on a modest and fragmented scale directly with the local community.