To meet this goal, large enterprises are encouraged to produce hybrid rice seeds to reduce the import volume of this kind of seeds, standing at 13,000 tonnes at present. In addition, the country will have to increase by 1.5 times the current acreage of rice fields.

According to Nguyen Tri Hoan, deputy director of the Food Crops Research Institute, this task is too difficult to achieve as the timeline set is too short and enterprises producing rice seed have not expressed any interest in hybrid rice.

The Cultivation Department says that domestic enterprises are currently capable of producing between 3,500-4,000 tonnes of hybrid rice seed each year whereas the country needs between 15,000-18,000 tonnes.

Nguyen Tri Ngoc, head of the Cultivation Department says that the acreage under hybrid rice cultivation is expected to reach 1,200ha this year, which is only 50 percent compared to the previous years’ figures.

The productivity of hybrid rice seed is 10 to 20 percent higher than pure rice seed. In addition, this kind of rice can adapt to weather changes and can be grown in different areas, from mainland to midland and mountainous areas.

The Vietnam Seedlings Association says it will invite enterprises from India and the Philippines to take part in hybrid rice seed producing projects in the country.

The MARD has asked the Government to support enterprises that produce this kind of seed over three years, starting in 2009.

Meanwhile, the MARD and relevant ministries have agreed to maintain at least 3.5 million hectares of land for rice cultivation, including 3.1 million hectares for wet rice cultivation. The MARD has also asked the Government to limit the use of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes, including building additional industrial parks.