High-quality planting material key to boosting agricultural exports

Dong Nai is one of Vietnam's localities with large areas under industrial crops and fruit trees, many of which are key export products. For crops with long growth cycles, high-quality varieties determine productivity, product quality, and the competitiveness of agricultural products in the market.

A company showcases disease-free tissue-cultured banana seedlings at the 2026 Dong Nai Banana Export and Agricultural Export Promotion Ceremony.

Developing a reliable supply of high-quality planting material while strengthening market oversight and improving transparency in the planting material market has therefore become an urgent priority for achieving sustainable crop production.

High-quality planting material in demand

A Vietnamese proverb says, "First comes water, second fertilizer, third diligence, and fourth seed." While farming practices have evolved significantly, the saying continues to underscore the importance of quality planting material in determining agricultural productivity and product quality. In recent years, the market for seedlings, including those for industrial crops and fruit trees, has continued to face problems with products of unclear origin and inconsistent quality. For many farmers, gaining access to reliable, high-quality planting material remains a major concern.

Nguyen Ba Thang, a farmer in Phu Rieng commune, said fruit trees, rubber and cashew are among the locality's major cash crops, and growers generally expect to cultivate them over the long term.

"Take cashew, for example. Although its economic returns are lower than those of some other crops, many farmers continue to grow it because it is well-suited to local soil conditions. Today, many grafted cashew varieties deliver excellent yields. The problem is that farmers have limited access to certified planting material from research institutes and are often left to navigate a confusing marketplace filled with numerous varieties," he said.

"Most of us can only buy seedlings from commercial nurseries. Whenever a particular cashew variety becomes popular, it quickly floods the market, increasing the risk that farmers will unknowingly purchase poor-quality or mislabeled seedlings," Thang added.

Nguyen Thanh Van, another cashew grower in Phu Rieng commune, said some newly introduced cashew varieties produce high yields but remain vulnerable to pests and diseases.

"We hope research institutions will continue developing new varieties that combine high productivity with stronger disease resistance. Demonstration orchards showcasing these new varieties would also help farmers evaluate them before making the switch," he said.

Many fruit growers share the same view, particularly those cultivating export-oriented crops such as bananas and durians.

Tran Ngoc Tu, Director of the Trang Bom Agricultural Trade and Services Cooperative in Bau Ham commune, said Dong Nai offers favorable soil conditions for banana cultivation.

"Bananas destined for export must meet stringent quality and appearance standards. Farmers have made considerable efforts to maintain production records and ensure product traceability. However, Panama disease (Fusarium wilt) continues to spread rapidly and poses a serious threat to production. Farmers hope to gain access to new disease-resistant banana varieties so they can invest in production with greater confidence," he said.

Long-term investment needed

Dong Nai has one of Vietnam's largest perennial crop-growing regions. Its cashew plantations cover more than 176,000 hectares, accounting for approximately 58 percent of the country's total cashew-growing area. In recent years, farmers have invested in rejuvenating aging orchards by replacing old trees with higher-yielding grafted varieties while adopting mechanization and improved cultivation techniques. Nevertheless, a substantial proportion of plantations still consists of old, low-yielding trees. This is one reason Vietnam's cashew processing industry continues to rely heavily on imported raw materials, exposing processors to supply risks. Replacing aging orchards with improved varieties is therefore regarded as a key solution for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the sector.

According to Le Thi Anh Tuyet, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Department of Agriculture and Environment, the department has worked with researchers, businesses and cooperatives to develop strategies for the sustainable development of cashew and fruit production. Developing high-quality planting material has been identified as the critical first step. The city is also promoting integrated value chains, linking seedling development, cultivation and deep processing to enhance the value and competitiveness of agricultural exports.

Le Thi Kieu, Head of the Plant Genetics and Breeding Division at the Cashew Research and Development Center under the Southern Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology in Ho Chi Minh City, pointed out that many cashew-growing areas in Dong Nai have become old, with yields below 1 tonne per hectare, resulting in low economic efficiency.

The first solution is to improve seed quality. The center currently has several new varieties that deliver high yields, good quality, and sustainable value for cashew trees. According to Le Thi Kieu, cashew is a perennial crop with a long harvesting period, so choosing the wrong poor-quality variety can cause significant losses. Farmers should therefore pay attention to selecting the right high-quality varieties.

In addition to the varieties already put into production, the center is continuing research on wide new varieties with higher yields and better quality.

To Thi Nha Tram, Director of Vietnam Plants Biotechnology Joint Stock Company in Ho Chi Minh City, said tissue culture technology has become an essential tool for improving planting material. Her company was among the first in Vietnam to commercially produce tissue-cultured planting materials. Equipped with modern laboratories, it supplies disease-free, uniform and high-quality planting material to the market. The company is currently developing new banana varieties with more than 90 percent resistance to Panama disease while working with farmers to expand the cultivation of high-quality export banana varieties, helping strengthen the competitiveness of Vietnamese bananas in international markets.

By B. Nguyen – Translated by M.Nguyet, Minho