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Global

Facilitation
Unit
for Underutilized
Species

UNDERUTILIZED SPECIES
POLICIES AND STRATEGIES

Analysis of existing national policies that enable
or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant
species in Vietnam






Report

Presented by
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Dinh
Hanoi Agricultural University
Vietnam










Commissioned by
Global Facilitation Unit for Underutilized Species (GFU)
Via dei Tre Denari, 472/a, Maccarese (Fiumicino), Italy





iii
Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of
underutilized plant species in Vietnam
_____________________________________________________________________

Table of Contents
Page
Abbreviations and Acronyms iv
Abstract v
I. Introduction 1
Activities 2
Significance of Underutilized Species for the purpose of this study 2
II. Review of policy documents related to underutilized plant species (UPS) 2
Source of documents 2
Methodology adopted 3
List of policy documents related to UPS 5
Documents supportive of UPS 10
Documents considered to be neutral towards UPS 11
III. Questionnaire to establish scientists and managers involvement
with/utilization of UPS 12
Respondents areas of activity 12
Areas of involvement of organizations/institutions 13
Scope of organizations 13
Scientists and managers views on the importance/role of underutilized plant
species 14

Entities dealing with UPS 14
Policies involving the development of UPS 15
Points emerging from responses to the questionnare 17
The Project workshop 17
IV. Conclusions and Recommendations 19

ANNEXES
ANNEX 1: Project Study Work Plan (October 2005 September 2006) 25
ANNEX 2: Questionnaire on Underutilized Plant Species 27
ANNEX 3: Seminar on Underutilized Plant Species List of Participants 30



iv



Abbreviations and Acronyms

PGR Plant Genetic Resources

GRPI Genetic Resource Policy Initiative

TF Task Force

GFU Global Facilitation Unit for Underutilized Species

MARD Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

VAAS Vietnam Academy for Agricultural Science

VACVINA Vietnam Gardening Association

UPS Underutilized Plant Species






v


ABSTRACT


During the past 30 years (1975-2005), Vietnam suffered from food shortage. The
Government made considerable efforts to increase food production for the population - the
main food staple being rice and thanks to their policy, Vietnam is now the second largest
rice-exporting country in the world.

In October, 2005, a one-year project study was undertaken in Vietnam to identify and
analyze existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant
species (UPS) there. This study was implemented by the Task Force of the Genetic
resource policy initiative/Vietnam component, and led by Dr. Nguyen Van Dinh, Dean of
the Faculty of Agronomy, Hanoi Agricultural University.

During the project period, 120 policy-related documents were collected and reviewed.
Seventy-six of these were found to be concerned with promoting or inhibiting the
advancement of UPS, at different levels.

Twenty-two researchers and policy-makers concerned with these species were then asked to
provide their views on the selected documents and their comments were collected and
analyzed. A project workshop was then held to share the results of the analysis.
Recommendations were made, followed by a discussion to determine the best means of
exploiting UPS.

The participants in the workshop showed strong interest in the work concerning UPS, as
these species represent a new venture for Vietnamese Agriculture. Moreover, there is a
recognized potential for increasing their contribution to Vietnams economy, food security
and poverty alleviation.









vi

Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food and
agriculture in Vietnam
__________________________________________________________________________________________

1

I. INTRODUCTION

Asia is considered to be one of the worlds richest and most prosperous regions in plant genetic
resources (PGR). Vietnam possesses not only the great wealth of such resources common to most of
the countries in Southeast Asia, but it also enjoys some additional advantages in that it has both
temperate and tropical PGR. These are divided into three main species: indigenous species, introduced
species from South China and introduced species from South Asia.

Over the past 30 years (1975-2005) Vietnam has suffered a food shortage. The government made
considerable efforts to increase the production of food in the country, rice being the main food staple.
Attempts to achieve food security were very successful, so much so that in the past 10 years Vietnam
has become the second largest rice exporter in the world.

The history of Vietnams food security problems is that in the past, food security was addressed
mainly through the package approach, meaning hybrid varieties and management practice aimed at
obtaining the highest yields: this also involved a massive utilization of water (irrigated land),
fertilizers and pesticides. Such approach introduced oil-based products into agriculture, transforming
it from a labour-intensive economic activity into a capital-intensive one (to buy seeds and external
inputs), while accepting the farmers choice as to what should be planted in their fields. As a result,
both water and soil became polluted. Moreover, many farmers - particularly in the marginal areas -
were unable to benefit from this green revolution due to lack of capital to buy the package. In the
case of Vietnam, while in the short-term this approach has brought about an increase in yield and
helped provide food security, in the longer term it may create environmental and social side effects
that must be addressed in order to guarantee future food security, a safe environment, and an equitable
share of benefits deriving from agriculture.

It must also be stressed that in the past particular attention was given to only a few staple crops that
were producing the majority of the food supply. Consequently, the contribution of many minor
species to food security and health was greatly underestimated.

In the autumn of 2005, the study on which this paper is reporting was commissioned by the Global
Facilitation Unit for Underutilized Species (GFU) in Rome, to analyse existing national policies in
Vietnam that enable or inbibit the wider ust of underutilized plant species for food and
agriculture.Thanks to the first phase of the Genetic Resource Policy Initiative (GRPI)/Vietnam
component, which was completed in December, 2005, a number of documents on GR policy had been
collected in order to develop a background paper, the survey opinions of stakeholders in 6 provinces,
and researchers and administrators at the central level. Policy issues were discussed and clarified, as
was the general situation regarding underutilized plant species (UPS). It was felt that not only had we
gained knowledge on GR policy but also on UPS in general.

This report deals with the implementation of the study, which was carried out between the
period 1 September 2005 and 31 August, 2006. The activities were implemented as described in the
work plan (see Annex I).


Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food and
agriculture in Vietnam
__________________________________________________________________________________________

2

Activities: Identification of existing national policies in the areas of agricultural research, rural
and national development, health and nutrition, rural investment and microfinance, education,
marketing, exports, biodiversity conservation, and the environment that deal with biodiversity
in the wider sense.

Several meetings were held in October and November 2005, between the Coordinator of the GRPI-
Vietnam Task Force (TF), and Mr. Dung, Department of Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development (MARD); Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hue, Plant Resource Center; Mr. Ngo Quoc
Luat, Institute of Medical Materials; and five members of the TF, to identify the extent of existing
national policies in the above-mentioned fields that deal with biodiversity.

Finally, there were two meetings of the GRPI TF (Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Kinh; Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc
Hue; Dr. Nguyen Thi Kinh Oanh; Eng. Vu Ngoc Thang;, Ms. Nguyen Viet Ha and Dr. Nguyen Van
Dinh), to clarify the intended significance of the term underutilized plant species(UPS) for the
purposes of this study, and to identify the sources and accessibility of the relevant documentation.

Significance of Underutilized Species for the purpose of this study

The term Underutilized plant species is very new to Vietnam. The definition of this term, which was
provided to the Task Force by the GFU programme coordinator, Dr. Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon, is
very comprehensive and was acknowledged by the researchers and policy-makers interviewed, as well
as those involved in the Project workshop. It should be mentioned that the Vietnamese equivalent to
describe underutilized plant species is Loai cay chua khai thac het tiem nang (meaning potentially
under-exploited), which was agreed on by the participants.

It was felt to be somewhat inappropriate to indicate UPS as being those species not included in
Vietnams Book of Statistics (General Statistics Office (1975-2000)) because even some of the good
features of local rice have not yet been fully exploited as functional food or fashion material
(cosmetics), and so they too could be considered underutilized if the criterion were to relate to the
simple fact that they are not yet listed in the Book of Statistics. According to the Book, the important
(and utilized) plant species comprise 4 staple crops (rice, corn, sweet potato, cassava); 14 industrial
crops (cotton, rush, jute, cashew, coffee, cinnamon, sugar cane, ground nut, soybean, tobacco, tea,
rubber, black pepper and coconut); 6 fruits (oranges, mango, pineapples, dragon fruit, litchi, bananas);
3 vegetables (cabbage, tomatoes, potatoes) and 3 flowers (the rose, chrysanthemum and gradiolus).


II. REVIEW OF POLICY DOCUMENTS

Source of documents

Most of the documents relating to underutilized plant species can be accessed in the libraries of
MARD, the Vietnam Academy for Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), and the Institute of Medical
Materials (Ministry of Health). As indicated in lessons learned from the first phase of GRPI, the local
authorities play an important role not only in the development of higher-level policies but also in
issueing regulations within their territory. It was thus decided to collect policy documents from three
sample provinces: Son La, Quang Ninh and Nam Ha.






Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food and
agriculture in Vietnam
__________________________________________________________________________________________

3
Methodology

In all, a hundred and twenty texts and documents issued by Government agencies
1
were collected and
analyzed as part of the Study. Of the total number analyzed, seventy-six were considered to be of
direct relevance to Vietnams underutilized plant species.

Forty-seven documents were considered as being supportive to the promotion of underutilized
species while the remaining 29 were not and were indicated as being either neutral or non-
encouraging.

The documents were evaluated according to their degree of relevance to the study, and graded as
being highly, fairly, or likely to be relevant. The identification of UPS and the evaluation of the
relevance of the individual documents were based on GFU concepts. The graded relevance of these
texts, dates of issue and areas of relevance are indicated in Tables 1, 2 and 3. It should be noted that,
at present, Vietnam has no legal documents dealing exclusively with UPS

Table l: Relevance of documents to underutilized plant species
Relevance Supportive* Non-supportive*
Highly relevant 25 18
Fairly relevant 7 2
Likely to be relevant 15 9
Total 47 29
*The grouping of documents into 2 categories, according to their relevance, was approximate.

Note: Non-supportive indicates texts that are neutral or slightly inhibiting the promotion of underutilized species.


Table 2: Dates of issue of legal documents
National Assembly Government Ministry Peoples provincial
committee
Year
Supportive Neutr
.
Supportive Neutr Supportive Neut
r.
Supportive Neutral
1965-1975 4
1975-1985 2
1985-1995 1 1 4 1
1995-2006 7 15 10 12 14 5
Total 7 1 16 14 19 14 5
Note: This grouping was simply relative. For example, in some cases, tax on land utilization has a promotional effect
towards fully exploiting plant/crop potential.

In addition to policy-related documents, there were also many books on underutilized plant species.
These were presented in the form of an extension guide to planting in home gardens or to the
utilization of UPS as agricultural plants as well as medicinal herbs. Most of these books were issued
by the Vietnam Gardners Association (VACINA) and the Ministry of Health






1
Documents issued by Government agencies included those emanating from the National Assembly, the Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Fisheries, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry
of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Planning and Investment,
the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Industry, and Peoples committees in Son La, Quang
Ninh and Ha Nam.


Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food and
agriculture in Vietnam
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Table 3. Areas of relevance of documents

Field

No


Policy documents
Agriculture Forestry Aqua-
culture
Health Economic Other
1 Highly supportive to underutilized plant species 14 0 1 6 3 4
2 Supportive to underutilized plant species 5 3 0 0 2 0
3 Slightly supportive to underutilized plant species 2 3 6 2 4 1
Total supportive 21 6 7 8 9 5
4 Non promotional towards underutilized plant
species
11 3 0 0 5 0
5 Neutral-to-non-promotional towards
Underutilized plant species
1 0 0 0 1 0
6 Neutral towards underutilized plant species 3 2 2 0 5 2
Total neutral or non-promotional 14 5 9 0 11 2

There was no policy document that specifically addressed UPS. Most of the texts are aimed at the
integrated utilization of all species. However, a few emphasized the promotion of high yielding
(hybrid) rice, which could lead to ignoring the local species. Such policy documents are therefore
considered to inhibit the promotion of underutilized species.

The largest number of policy documents on UPS are to be found in the fields of agriculture,
economics and aquaculture, in that order.

Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food and
agriculture in Vietnam
__________________________________________________________________________________________

5

List of policy documents related to underutilized plant species
Field

No.


Policy documents
Agricu-
lture
Fores-
try
Aqua-
culture

Health Econo-
mics
Other
4.1 List of documents that are highly supportive to
underutilized plant species

A National Assembly
1 Ordinance No. 15/2004/PL-UBTVQH11 on plant varieties X
2 Ordinance No. 18/1999/PL-UBTVQH10 on commodity quality X
3 Intellectual Property Law No. 50/2006/QH11 was approved by
the 8
th
Session of 11
th
National Assembly on 29/11/2005 and
came into force after 01/7/2006
X
B Government
1 Decree No. 57/2005/N-CP dated 27/4/2005 by Government
on penalties for administrative violation in the field of crop
varieties
X X
2 Decision No. 199/2001/QD-TTg dated 28/12/2001 by the Prime
Minister on tax exemption in agricultural land utilization
X X
3 Instruction No. 210/TTg dated 6/12/1966 by the Prime Minister
on exploitation and development of medicinal plants and
animals
X
C Ministries
1 Decision No. 68/2004/QD-BNN dated 24/11/2004 by the
Minister, MARD, on the addition of 10 crop species to the list
of protected crop species.
X
2 Decision No. 653/2000/QD-TDC dated 12/12/2000 by the
Directorate for Standards and Quality on Guideline for content
and procedure of basic standard development.
X
3 Decision No. 2424/2000/QD-BKHCNMT dated 12/12/2000 by
the Minister, Ministry of Science Technology and Environment,
on Temporary regulations for the announcement of appropriate
standardizing of commodity
X
4 Decision No. 2425/2000/QD-BKHCNMT dated 12/12/2000 by
the Minister, Ministry of Science, technology and environment
on Temporary regulation on commodity quality standard.
X
5 Decision No. 143/2002/QD-BNN dated 06/12/2002 by the
Minister, MARD, on branch standards.
X
6 Inter-ministerial Circular No. 06-TT/LB dated 12/2/1968 by the
Ministry of Health and MARD on the implementation of
Directive No. 210-TTg/VG on growing medicinal plants in
agricultural cooperatives under MARD management.
X
Agricult
ure
Forest
ry
Aqua-
culure
Health Economi
cs
Other
7 Inter-ministerial Circular No. 26 dated 12/8/1968 by the
Ministry of Health and the General Directorate of Forestry on
the implementation of Directive No. 210-TTg/VG on
exploitation and development of medicinal plants and animals.
X
8 Inter-ministerial Circular No. 28/TTLB dated 27/12/1990 by the
Red Cross and the Ministry of Health on encouraging the use of
Vietnamese traditional medicine in health care.
X
9 Inter-ministerial Circular No. 21-TTLB dated 26/8/1977 by the
Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education and Training on
(the introduction of) Vietnamese traditional medicine at all
levels of schooling.
X
Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food and
agriculture in Vietnam
__________________________________________________________________________________________

6
10 Directive No. 01-BYT/CT dated 15/1/1969 on encouraging the
growing Vietnamese traditional medicinal plants in the winter-
spring seasons (1968-1969)
X
11 Five-year plan on agricultural and rural development (2001-
2205) by MARD
X
12 Decision No. 19/2006/Q-BNN dated 21/03/2006 by MARD
on testing, field trials, approval, release and naming of new crop
varieties
X
13 Decision No. 67/2006/Q-BNN dated 24/11/2004 by MARD
on selection, recognition, management and utilization of mother
stocks of industrial crops and perennial fruit trees.
X
14 Decision No. 05/2006/Q-BNN dated 20/01/2005 by MARD
on regulations regarding standards of product quality and
agricultural commodities.
X
D Provincial peoples committees
1 Decision No. 1190/QD-CT dated 22/7/2005 by Ha Nam
Peoples committee on provincial agricultural development to
2010
X
2 Decision No. 526/QD-UB dated 20/5/2003 by Ha Nam Peoples
committee on project approval for developing shifting models
of cropping and animal husbandry patterns in low-lying fields
X X
3 Report on agricultural and rural economic transformation from
2001 to 2004, development orientation to 2010 (No. 2014/BC-
UB dated 26/4/2005 by Quang Ninh Peoples committee).
X X
4 Decision No. 257/QD-UB dated 31/01/2005 by Son La Peoples
committee on encouraging agricultural commodity production
in the province (from 2005 to 2010).
X
Subtotal 14 0 1 6 3 4

4.2

List of documents fairly supportive to underutilized plant
species


A Government
1 Decision No. 149/1998/QD-TTg dated 21/8/1998 by the Prime
Minister on forestry developing projection for the Northeastern
wood zone to the year 2010.
X
2 Decision No. 253/1998/QD-TTg dated 29/12/1998 by the Prime
Minister on changing Tram Chim submerged zone of natural
conservation in Dong Thap into Tram Chim national park and
approval of Tram Chim construction investment project (
from1999 to 2003)
X
3 Decision No. 80/2002/QD-TTg dated 24/6/2002 by the Prime
Minister on supportive polices on agricultural production
consumption through contracts.
X X
4 Decree No. 13/2001/ND-CP dated 20/4/2001 by Government
on the Protection of new plant varieties.
X
B Ministries
1 Circular No. 2/NN-KNKL/TT dated 1/3/1997 by MARD
providing guidelines for Government Decree No. 7/CP dated
5/7/1996 on crop variety management.
X
2 Decision No. 714/QD-BNN-TT dated 14/3/2006 by MARD on
approval of project proposal Survey on current status of rice
production, utilization and management nation-wide.
X
C

Provincial Peoples committees
1 Political report dated 14/6/2005 of Quang Ninh Party Executive
Board in the 12
th
Provincial Party Congress.

X X X


Subtotal 5 3 0 0 2 0
Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food and
agriculture in Vietnam
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4.3 List of documents slightly supportive to underutilized plant
species

A National Assembly
1 Ordinance No. 42/2002/PL-UBTVQH10 on self-defence in
foreign commodity importation into Vietnam
X
2 Ordinance No. 22/2004/PL-UBTVQH11 by the Standing
Committee of the National Assembly against subsidization of
imported commodities into Vietnam.
X
3 Law No. 29/2004/QH11 dated 03/12/2004 of the Social
Republic of Vietnam on forestry protection and development.
X
4 Fishery Law No 17/2003/QH11 X

B


Government

1 Decision No. 26/2005/QD-TTg dated 1/6/2005 by the Prime
Minister on supportive policies on aquaculture development.
X
2 Decision No. 112/2004/QD-TTg dated 23/6/2004 by the Prime
Minister on approval of the aquaculture development
programme to 2010.
X
Agricult
ure
Forest
ry
Aqua-
culture
Health Economi
cs
Other
3 Decision No. 131/2004/QD-TTg dated 16/7/2004 by the Prime
Minister on programme approval of aquatic product protection
and development to the year 2010
X
4 Directive No. 34/ 2004/CT-TTg dated 14/10/2004 by Prime
Minister on coordination strengthening in management,
sovereignty defense and national security of Vietnams sea and
continental shelf.
X
5 Ordinacne No. 59/2005/ND-CP dated 24/5/2005 by
Government on the production and business conditions of some
aquatic professions.
X
6 Decree No. 150/2003/ND-CP dated 8/12/2003 by Government
particularly stipulates the implementation of ordinance on self-
defence in foreign commodity importation into Vietnam.
X
7 Decision No. 17/2006/QD-TTg dated 20/01/2006, on
continuation of Decision No. 225/1999/QD-TTg dated
10/12/1999 on programmes of plant varieties, animal breeds and
forest varieties to 2010.
X X x
8 Decision No. 225/1999/QD-TTg dated 10/1999 by the Prime
Minister on approval of 12 programmes for crop varieties,
animal breeds and forestry varieties from 2000 to 2005.
X X x
C Ministries
1 Directive No. 27-BYT/CT dated 7/9/1972 on strengthening
Vietnamese traditional medicine development and utilization in
communes.


X
2 Circular No. 27-BYT/TT dated 30/VII-76 on implementation of
the directive on Vietnamese traditional medicine utilization and
acupuncture in districts and communes


X
Subtotal 2 3 6 2 4 1
Total 4.1-4.3 (supportive) 21 6 7 8 9 5

4.4

List of documents inhibiting towards underutilized plant
species


A


National Assembly










1 Law on agricultural land utilization tax dated 10/7/1993 X
Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food and
agriculture in Vietnam
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B



Government

1 Decree No. 02/CP dated 15/1/1994 by Government on allotting
land to organizations, households and individuals who
consistently and permanently utilize it for forestry purposes.
X
2 Decree No. 163/1999/ND-CP dated 16/11/1999 by Government
on allotting and renting land to organizations, households and
individuals who consistently and permanently utilize it for
forestry purposes.
X
3 Decree No. 85/1999/ND-CP dated 28/8/1999 by Government
on regulation amendment for allotting agricultural land to
households and individuals who stably and permanently utilize
it for agricultural production and amendment for allotting land
to households and individuals utilizing it for salt making.
X
4 Decree No. 73/CP dated 25/10/1993 by Government on land
classification and tax on agricultural land utilization
X
5 Decree No. 84-CP dated 8/8/1994 by Government on the
implementation of amended ordinance to households utilizing
agricultural land over area limitation.
X
6 Decision No. 182/1999/QD-TTg dated 3/9/1999 by the Prime
Minister on project approval for vegetable, fruit tree and
ornamental plant development from 1999 to 2010.
X
7 Decision No. 120/1999/QD-TTg dated 7/5/1999 by the Prime
Minister on approval of project on cashew nut development to
2010.
X
8 Directive No. 24/2005/CT-TTg dated 28/6/2005 by the Prime
Minister on the implementation of the 5
th
Resolution by the 9
th

Central Communist Party on agricultural and rural
industrialization and modernization.
X
9 Resolution No. 03/2000/NQ-CP dated 2/2/1999 by Government
on farm economy.
x
10 Decision No. 17/2002/ QD-TTg by the Prime Minister on
development orientation of cotton from 2001-2010.
X
B Ministries
1 Decision No. 54/2001 dated 7/4/2003 by the Minister, MARD,
on the list of crops that need to announce quality standards.
X
2 Decision No. 69/2004/QD-BNN dated 03/12/2004 by the
Minister, MARD, on the list of rare crops prohibited for export.
X
3 Decision No. 52/2003/QD-BNN dated 2/4/2003 by the
Minister, MARD, on testing, field trials, approval, release and
naming of new crop varieties.
X
4 Decision No. 1213/2002/QD-BNN-KHCN dated 8/4/2002 by
the Minister, MARD, on the list of protected crops.
X
5 Decision No. 59/2004/QD-BNN dated 04/11/2004 by the
Minister, MARD, on the list of crops that need approval of
quality standards.
X
6 Decision No. 60/2004/QD-BNN dated 03/11/2004 by the
Minister, MARD, requiring the Ministry of Agriculture to
develop a set of criteria/standards to be met with regard to
quality etc. of seed/seedlings.
X
7 Joint Circular No. 62/2000/TTLT-BNN-TCDC dated 6/6/2000
by MARD and the General Directorate of Land Administration
on guidelines for land allotment and rent and on issuing license
for forestry land utilization.
X x
Subtotal 11 3 0 0 5 0
4.5 List of documents neutral-to-inhibiting towards
underutilized plant species

A Ministries
Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food and
agriculture in Vietnam
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9
1 Decision No. 56/2001/QD/BNN-BVTV dated 23/5/2001 by the
Minister, MARD, on the list of items under plant quarantine.
X
2 Decision No. 34/2001/QD-BNN-VP dated 30/3/2003 by the
Minister, MARD, regarding regulations on THE business
conditions of plant production and animal husbandry.
x
Subtotal 1 0 0 0 1 0



4.6 List of documents neutral to the underutilized plant species
A Government
1 Decision No. 150/2005/QD-TTg dated 20/06/2005 by the Prime
Minister on planning approval of agricultural, forestry and
fishery pattern-shifting nation-wide to 2010 and vision 2020.
X X x
2 Decree No. 74/1993/ND-CP dated 25/10/1993 by Government
on implementation of the law on agricultural land tax
x
3 Decree No. 56/2005/ND-CP dated 26/4/2005 by Government
on agricultural and fishery extension
X x x
4 Decree No. 06/2005/NQ-CP dated 06/5/2005 by Government
on regularly governmental in April, 2005.
x
B Ministries
1 Decision No. 30/2002/QD-BNN-TCCB dated 26/4/2002 by the
Minister, MARD, on the establishment of the Central
Agricultural Extension Center
X
2 Decision No 118/2003/QD-BNN dated 03/11/2003 by Minister
of MARD on function, mandate and structure of Agricultural
Extension Center
X
3 Joint Circular No. 69/2000/TTLT/BNN-TCTK dated 23/6/2000
by MARD and the General Directorate of Statistics on
guidelines on farm economy criteria.
x
4 Circular No. 82/2000/TT-BTC dated 14/8/2000 on financial
guidelines of farm economy development.
x
5 Directive No. 66/2000/CT-BNN-KH dated 14/6/2000 by the
Minister, MARD, on planning of rural, agricultural, forestry and
irrigation development from 2001 to 2005.
X X
Subtotal 3 2 2 0 5 2
Total Neutral or inhibiting 14 5 9 0 11 2




Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food and
agriculture in Vietnam
__________________________________________________________________________________________

10

Documents supportive to UPS

Related to crop germplasm/ crop genetic resources conservation

Decree No 15/2004/PL-UBTVQH 11 dated 24/3/2004 on plant varieties defines crop germplasm as
national property, managed exclusively by the State; Section 2 of Art. 1 of Decision No 17/2006/QD-
TTg dated 20/1/2006, a continuation of Decision No. 225/1999/QD-TTg dated 10/12/1999 on
programmes of plant varieties, animal breeds and forest varieties to 2010, mentions that the
Government provides capital and budget for material facility enhancement to institutions that
conserve genetic resources. Besides, Decision No. 253/1998/QD-TTg dated 29/12/1998, on changing
the Tram Chim submerged zone of natural conservation in Dong Thap into the Tram Chim national
park, as well as approval of the Tram Chim construction investment project 1999-2003, indicated the
importance of conservation, development and sustainable utilization of genetic resources, including
underutilized plant genetic resources. MARDs five-year agriculture and rural development plan
(2001-2005) also mentioned the conservation and utilization of diversified genetic resources.

Addition of some valuable underutilized plant species to the list of interested crop varieties

Protection of plant varieties is an incentive to the breeding and development of new varieties.
Consequently, Art. 1 of MARD Ministerial Decision No. 68/2004/QD-BNN dated 24/11/2004,
indicated an additional 10 crop varieties for insertion in the list of protected crops (potato, rose,
chrysanthemum, watermelon, cucumber, cabbage, kohlrabi, grape, cotton and tea) of which, in the
Vietnam context, watermelon, cucumber, cabbage, kohlrabi and grapes are considered to be
underutilized species. This is an advantage for the development of underutilized plant species in the
future. Furthermore, Prime Ministers Instruction No. 210/TTg dated 6/12/1966, on exploitation and
development of medicinal plants and animals and the Inter-Ministerial Circular of the Red Cross
Ministry of Health No. 28/TTLB dated 27/12/1990, on encouragement of the use of Vietnamese
traditional medicine in health care, has made the medicinal plant species, which were hitherto little-
known or used, much more important and led to an increase in the number of underutilized plant
species. Besides, a report on agricultural and rural economic transformation (2001-2004) and
development orientation to 2010 provided by the Quang Ninh peoples committee mentioned the
development and rapid expansion of some underutilized plant species, such as anise and cinnamon,
which are commodities of high economic value.

Policies supportive to product consumption

One of the factors supportive to the development of UPS is that Government policy encourages
farmers to consume their products, and enhance the quality. Thus, Ordinance No. 04PL/CTN dated
4/1/2000 (comprising 8 chapters and 38 articles) on Commodity Quality was issued in order to:

- increase commodity quality, production and business efficiency;
- protect the legal rights and benefits of production and business
organizations and individuals and consumers;
- utilize natural resources and labour in a reasonable manner;
- protect the environment;
- enhance advanced science and technology;
- strengthen the effectiveness of State management; and
- create favourable conditions for international technical, economic and
trading cooperation.

Moreover, Decision No. 257/QD-UBND of Son La province dated 31/01/2005, was a policy
supportive to the development of agricultural commodity production through subsidized prices for
Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food and
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11
seeds (including main crops and some underutilized plant species such as mulberry, barley, safe
vegetables and high quality flowers), involving support for food processing operations and providing
investment credit.

Supportive policies on production
Three documents concerning the provinces of Son La and Ha Nam (Decision No. 1190/QD-UBND of
Ha Nam dated 27/7/2005, Decision No. 526/QD-UBND of Ha Nam dated 20/05/2003, and Decision
No. 257/QD-UBND of Son La dated 31/01/2005) are supportive to the production of underutilized
plant species. Besides the main crops, the provinces localize and expand the production of other crops
such as kohlrabi, shallot, garlic, melon, luffah, water spinach, French beans, and pawpaw.and
concurrently undertake initiatives such as investment in field-levelling work, irrigation systems and
post harvest and food processing, as well as preferential interest loans to scale-up production models
assisting in the development of underutilized crop species.

Documents considered to be neutral towards UPS

Tax on underutilized plant species production

Tax on agricultural production limits the development of crops that are not of high economic value to
farmers. Art. 1 of Government Decree No. 73/CP dated 25/10/1993, on the tax classification of
utilization of agricultural land has resulted in areas specializing in crops of high economic value, with
the consequent reduced cultivation of those crops that are considered to be of lower economic return.

Similarly, Art. 2 of Government Decree No. 84/CP dated 8/8/1994, stipulated the implementation of a
tax amendment for farmer households utilizing agricultural land, as did Art. 5 and 10 of Government
Decree No. 163/ND-CP dated 16/11/1999 on forestry land allotment and hire to organizations,
households and individuals who consistently utilized the land. This resulted in people being interested
only in crops that yielded high economic returns to maximize the effectiveness of capital usage.
Consequently, the underutilization of certain plant species was further exacerbated by this approach.

Supportive or incentive documents on new, high yielding and high economic value crop varieties

Besides agricultural land tax, other governmental policies, such as the development of farm economy,
and strengthening of agricultural and fishery extension are also constraints to the full development of
underutilized species. The concept of farming economy contained in Government Decree No. 3 dated
2/2/1999, is that of agricultural commodity production, effective utilization of land, capital, technique
and management experience, movement of agricultural labour to non-agricultural labour, and the
promotion of industrialization in agriculture and rural development. This indicated that underutilized
plant species of low economic value were being replaced by main crops of high international and
national trading value.

Art. 2 of Government Decree No. 56 dated 26/4/2005, defined that agricultural extension objectives
were promoting the structural movement of the agricultural economy and rural development,
increasing yield, eradicating hunger and alleviating poverty, as well as promoting industrialization
and modernization of agriculture and rural areas. Those objectives showed that agricultural extension
provides farmers with advanced technology and boosts agricultural production. However, many
farming households replace old and local varieties with new varieties, due to the introduction of new
crop varieties and cultivation technology. As a result, many stable landraces are in danger of
extinction. Thus, if agricultural extension focuses only on crop varieties of high yield or profit, the
development of underutilized plant species will be blocked. In order to speed up agricultural and rural
industrialization and modernization from 2005 to 2010, Prime Ministers Directive No. 24 clearly
defined MARDs responsibility as being that of continuously introducing and transferring good crop
varieties, focusing on advantageous and marketable crops and intensifying agricultural extension.
Art.1 of Government Decision No. 182/1999/QD-TTg dated 3/9/1999, mentioned that the
Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food and
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12
development of vegetable, flower and fruit trees were associated with market demand and intensive
cultivation of gardens specializing in the production of main crops, all of which limited the
development of underutilized plant species.

Policies on land reclamation

The underutilized plant species grow in many regions, especially in the upland, forests and remote
areas. Policies on land allotment for agricultural and forestry purposes partially restricted the
development of underutilized plant species. Section 5 of Article 7 on the allotment of forestry land to
organizations, households and individuals enclosed with Decree No. 02 - CP dated 15/1/1994 by the
Government declared that it allotted land to organizations, households and individuals in combination
with forestry, agricultural and fishery business. On the other hand, the State rents forestry land to
organizations, households and individuals for agro-forestry and agro-forestry-fishery business
(Circular No 62/2000/TTLT-BNN-TCDC dated 6/6/2002 by MARD and the General Bureau of Land
Administration; Section 3 of Art. 10 of Government Decree No. 163 dated 16/11/1999). As business
targets are associated with economic efficiency, some underutilized plant species will be replaced by
other economically viable crops.

QUESTIONNAIRE TO ESTABLISH SCIENTISTS AND MANAGERS INVOLVEMENT
WITH OR UTILIZATION OF UPS

The Task Force of the GRPI project developed a questionnaire on underutilized plant species in
Vietnam (see Annex 2) which was sent to 22 researchers and policy makers (scientists and
managers?) in order to identify their involvement with or utilization of UPS and the importance they
gave to same.

Respondents areas of activity

The largest number of responses (31.8%) came from representatives of public research institutes
involved in crop specialization, followed by national policy planners, non-governmental offices and
social organizations (27.3% and 22.7 % respectively) and public service suppliers (13.6%). Those
representing provincial policy planning, private companies, and provincial unions and communities
accounted for the smallest portion of responses, while institutes engaged in other activities and not
specializing in crops, accounted for only 4.55%.







Table 1: Type of organization providing responses
Type %
Governmental policy planners 27.3
Provincial policy planners 4.55
Public research institutes 31.8
Private companies 4.55
Public services (agricultural extension) 13.6
Local unions and communities 4.55
Crop-specific
Non-governmental and social organizations 22.7
Governmental policy planners 0
Provincial policy planners 0
Non crop-specific
Public research institutes 4.55
Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food and
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Private companies 0
Public services (agricultural extension) 4.55
Local unions and communities 4.55
Non-governmental and social organizations 0

Areas of involvement of organizations/institutes

The organizations/institutes were involved in a variety of activities pertinent to UPS. Those involved
in research (54.55%) constituted the largest portion, followed by those involved in conservation and
rural development (40.91%), then training (36.3%) and, lastly, policy management and
development.(see Table 2, below)

Other related tasks undertaken by the institutes were: transfer of advanced science and technology; the
establishment of typical models of fruit orchards in the VAC ecosystem; policy campaigns;
consultation, planning and support to research and development of crop variety documents; and
production transfer and expansion. The latter tasks accounted for only 18.18%.

Table 2: Organizations/Institutes involvement with crops
Involvement
%
Education 13.64
Research 54.55
Training 36.36
Conservation 40.91
Management 22.73
Rural development 40.91
Policy/law developing (laws on protection of plant variety, plant variety, and bio-safety...) 27.27
Other*

18.18

Note: * This includes the list of activities indicated in the previous para.


Scope of organizations/institutes

The survey carried out on 22 people indicated that the scope of most of the institutes represented is
nation-wide (95.45%), while that of just a few institutes is local (accounting for 9,091%). Over half of
the institutes involved have also a broader (international-regional) scope (59%).




Table 3: Main scope of institutes
Main scope of the orga izations/institutes %
Local 9.09
Nation-wide 95.45
International Regional 59


Organizations/Institutes demanding access to and utilization of underutilized plant species
Institutes gain access to and utilize UPS germplasm for various purposes, such as new variety
breeding and multiplication (36.36% and 31.82% respectively), and access and utilization (54.55%
and 45.45% respectively). However, the number of institutes accessing and utilizing these plant
species for the purpose of collection and research is even greater (59.09%), whereas the number of
institutes using them for training and trading is very low, varying from 9.09% to 18.18%. Institutes
Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food and
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utilizing UPS for other purposes - such as pre-processing at production units; a cooperative project
with Souchamtou University, United Kingdom; management and policy recommendations; and
conservation regulations are quite few (18.18%).

Table 4: Purpose of utilization of UPS

Purpose %
Collection 27.27
Research 27.27
Crop breeding 36.36
Multiplication 31.82
Training 13.64
Marketing 13.64
Need to utilize UPS for

Collection 59.09
Research 59.09
Crop breeding 54.55
Multiplication 45.45
Training 18.18
Marketing 9.09
Have accessed and utilized UPS for



Scientists and managers views on the importance/roles of underutilized plant species

The survey on the importance of UPS indicated that most scientists and managers are in agreement
that these species constitute rare genetic resources (86.36%) and are a significant to the development
of sustainable agriculture. More than a half of the respondents (59.09%) involved in the survey reckon
that UPSs have local economic value. There were not many views (22.73%) expressed with regard to
their value in the national economy and landscape.

Other activities in which UPS are efficacious relate to erosion prevention, land improvement,
conservation and maintenance of vegetative cover and, in some cases, even people survival, breeding
and multiplying materials, valuable medicine for public health, traditional culture, value to the
environment, and especially as a source of energy in the future, as petroleum and coal become more
and more exhausted (accounting for 22.73%).

Table 5: Importance of UPS

Importance of UPS %
Important to the national economy 22.73
Important to the local economy 59.09
Provides valuable genetic resources 86.36
Has landscape/amenity value 22.73
Is of value to agricultural sustainable development 81.82


Entities dealing with UPS

Entities involved in research or extension for the development of UPS include institutes, the general
directorate, ministries, unions, cooperatives and companies. The center of plant genetic resources
(The Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences/VAAS) is the institution most closely related to
these species (90.91%), followed by the Institute of Materia Medica in Hanoi (86.36%). Five other
Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food and
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institutions (the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment, the Vietnam gardeners association
VACVINA, local communities, Hanoi Agricultural University, and MARD) are fairly closely
involved with these plant species (varying from 50% to 63.564%), while the remainder are only
slightly involved (accounting for 9.091% - 40.1% only).

Table 6: Types of Institutions closely involved with UPS

Institutes
%
Crop department 40.91
Plant protection department 27.27
National center for agricultural extension 13.64
Department of animal husbandry 9.091
Food Crops Research Institute 36.36
Fruits and Vegetables Research Institute 40.91
Plant protection Institute 31.82
Center of genetic resources (Vietnam Academy of Agriculture and Science) 90.91
Institute of Materia Medica, Hanoi 86.36
Hanoi Agricultural University 54.55
Womens union 9.091
Youth union 0
Vietnam gardeners association VACVINA 50
Vietnamese farmer union 22.73
Ministry of Agricultural and rural development 63.64
Ministry of natural resources and environment 50
Ministry of Health 40.91
Ministry of Science technology and environment 31.82
Vietnam Union of the association of Science and Technology 18.18
Industrial corporation 0
Seed companies 22.73
Local communities 54.55
Cooperatives 22.73


Policies involving the development of underutilized plant species
The survey shows that protection of biodiversity and landrace utilization for hunger eradication and
poverty alleviation are policies that involve the development of UPS. The latter aims account for the
highest percentage (86.36% and 81.82% respectively). In addition, policies concerning the
development of landrace production and trade marks are also involved in the development of these
species (68.18%). Other polices, such as support to new varieties, and forestry protection and
development have a similar percentage of 59.09%.


Table 7: Policies supportive/non supportive of underutilized plant species

Polices
%
Protection of biodiversity 86.36
Forestry protection and development 59.09
Landrace utilization for hunger eradication and poverty alleviation 81.82
Development of landrace production and trade marks 68.18
Supportive policies on new variety (improved varieties, hybrid rice) for food security 59.09

Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food and
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Impact of supportive polices for underutilized plant species (such as sale of seed/seedlings at
subsidized prices)

In order to ensure food security for the whole population, the Government has issued supportive
policies on subsidies for some seeds (for example, covering 20-30% of the cost of new and high-
yielding rice and hybrid rice). However, the disadvantage of such policies is their impact on
underutilized plant species. According to 90.92% of managers and scientists, these policies are a
constraint to the species. Only 9,09% believe that these policies are supportive.

Table 8: Impact on UPS of supportive seed policies (seed subsidies/ sale at subsidized prices)
Apparent impact
%
A Constraint 90.91
Supportive 9.09

Knowledge of related decisions or circulars that are an incentive or a constraint to the underutilized
plant species

Generally, managers and researchers have little knowledge of policies concerning underutilized plant
species. Of the 22 participants in the survey, only 7 (31.82%) were aware of some related polices. The
policies they cited included 9 Decisions by the Ministry of Science and Technology, MARD and
Government. These decisions account for only 10% of the total documents issued.

Conservation and utilization of underutilized plant species

In order to conserve and utilize the underutilized plant species, it is necessary to develop and
implement policies on their conservation and utilization. Most of the survey respondents reckon that
fair benefit sharing is the most important (86.46%) issue, followed by 77.27% who think that these
plant species need to be placed in a national gene bank and conserved in-situ. Other policies are also
mentioned, over average: policies supportive to institutes and organizations developing underutilized
plant species (68.18%); policies considering these plant species important to agricultural sustainable
development (63.64%); policies concerning research on their rare and valuable characteristics
(63.64%); policies encouraging community participation in production each local has one product
(54.55%). Leaving aside policies on subsidies for new and high-yielding varieties, and also the
establishment of a Center for underutilized plant species, research and development is not highly
supportive (36.36%). In addition, others (22.73%) are of the view that what is required is:

An annual budget (from the national budget) to maintain, discover, collect, conserve and develop rare
species (the budget is balanced to cater for other crops such as hybrid rice).
Investment in research, surveys, evaluation, conservation and utilization of these plant species.
Policies and regulations that associate the development of these plant species with their trade marks.
Development and reasonable exploitation of the genetic resource management system at local and
national levels. For example: companies accessing genetic resource should need to get permission, give
noticing and pay. The payment is used for the maintenance of the genetic resource conservation and
management system and to help the community to conserve and develop these plant species.

Establishment of an Institute for medicinal plants.

Survey of elements, distribution and local experience regarding the utilization of underutilized plant
species, with farmer participation.
Establishment of a conservation and evaluation network, including environmental institutes, locals and
other institutes and centers.
Undertaking research on the utilization of some potential plant species for food, bio-energy and
medicine.
Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food and
agriculture in Vietnam
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Table 9: Action required in order to conserve and utilize UPS

Action %
Supportive policies on the development of underutilized plant species for
organizations and institutes 68.18
Develop and implement policy regarding benefit sharing of gains from the utilization
of UPS 86.36
Consider the underutilized plant species important to agricultural sustainable
development 63.64
Include in the national gene bank 77.27
In-situ conservation 77.27
Encourage community participation in production each locality has one product 54.55
Exclude policies on the subsidizing of new and high yielding varieties 36.36
Research rare and valuable characteristics of UPS 63.64
Establish a Center of for research and development of UPS 22.73

Points emerging from responses to the Questionnaire

The main points emerging from the responses are:

1. In general, it was stated that the reason for accessing underutilized plants species (UPS) is
mainly that of research and for breeding purposes, with a lower percentage for education,
marketing, and conservation needs.

2. Most of the comments stated that UPS represent a rare genetic resource (86.36%), are a
contribution to sustainable agriculture (81.36%) and also to the local economy (59.09%). In
addition, many stated that UPS can be utilized for poverty alleviation (>80.0%).

3. An important Government policy in favor of hybrid rice (meaning that 30-50% of the seed
price is covered by the local government) was considered by 90.92% of the respondents as
inhibiting the promotion of UPS.

4. For conservation and utilization of UPS, the majority of the respondents (86.46%)
emphasized the need for equal benefit sharing, and placement in the national gene bank and
in-situ conservation (72.27%); 63.64% of the respondents supported research to identify the
positive features of UPS; while 36.35% favoured limitation and were of the view that policy
favours only the new and high-yielding varieties.

A project workshop was then held at Hanoi Agricultural University on 23 August 2006, at which 15
persons participated (see list of participants, Annex 3). Participants assessed the points emerging from
the responses to the questionnaire and reached the following conclusions:
a) The term underutilized plant species is very new to Vietnam. This reflects the economic
development during the recent past. Recently, the country has paid considerable attention to
the conservation of biodiversity and the environment.
b) Participants agreed that the term non-encouraging/non-promotional should be used to
replace inhibiting in relation to policy documents.
c) It was considered appropriate that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development
(MARD) set up a strategy to identify plant genetic resources throughout the country and in
locals for ex-situ and in-situ conservation.
d) It will be necessary to evaluate the potential (scientific or utility) of underutilized plant
species (UPS) and to divide them into two groups (one for intensive farming to obtain
products for business purposes and one for conservation within the community). For those
Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food and
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plants conserved within the community, the State needs to develop a policy to ensure that
they are conserved in an adequate manner.
e) MARD should have a specific policy on UPS (study, conservation, potential, traditional
knowledge, market, production and utilization - avoiding over-exploitation).
f) A more in-depth study is required, concentrating on those policy documents that are effective
not only in theory but, above all, in practice.
g) There was a felt need for awareness-raising on UPS, directed at the local people (farmers)
related stakeholders, such as government ministries, regional directorates, etc.
h) There is also a need to strengthen the national park and natural conservation area.

i) It was considered that a policy on benefit-sharing with the community should be developed
and applied as soon as possible.

j) It was stated that a small project dealing with underutilized plants species would be very
useful, in cooperation with GFU.




Reference: General Statistics Office. 2000. Statistical data of Vietnam. Agriculture, forestry and fisheries
(1975-2000). Statistical publishing house.





19
1
9



CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The conclusions reached were as follows:

Institutes need to gain access to and use underutilized plant species germplasm for
the purpose of breeding and multiplication (36.36% and 31.82% respectively), and
access and utilization (54.55 % v 45.45% respectively).

The importance of underutilized plant species as valuable and rare genetic resources
(86.36%) needs to be emphasized, as well as their value in agricultural sustainable
development (81.82%) and in the local economy (59.09%).

The two main research institutes involved in the development of a collection of
plant species (in particular, but not only, UPS) are The Center of Plant Genetic
Resources ( very closely involved with UPS (90.9%), followed by the Institute of
Materia Medica (86.36%). The entities involved with underutilized plant species
include, in addition to research institutes, departments, ministries, unions,
cooperatives and companies.

It is recommended that policies be introduced concerning biodiversity protection
and landrace utilization for hunger eradication and poverty alleviation (86.36% and
81.82%) - all linked to the development of underutilized plant species.

It is felt that existing policies on seed and the sale of certain crops at subsidized
prices are a constraint to the underutilized plant species (90.91%).

In order to conserve and utilize underutilized plant species, it is recommended that
policies be introduced and implemented with regard to fair and equitable benefit
sharing as a result of their utilization (86.46%) that such species be included in the
national gene bank and in-situ conservation (77.27%).



The following recommendations were advanced, with a view to encouraging the
development of underutilized plant species:

that removal of the levy/ tax on agricultural production be considered, especially for
regions where people live mainly by such production. Specifically, Art.1 of
Government Decree No. 73 should be amended to state that land classification is
for the cultivation of suitable crops and no tax is applied.

that a policy be issued to encourage the development and conservation of
underutilized plant species. At present, most documents focus only on the
development of productivity crops of high economic value and high returns on
capital.

that arbitrary land reclamation be strictly forbidden because in this way many
underutilized plant species get replaced by other crops of short-term benefit.

Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food
and agriculture in Vietnam
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that policies be developed to encourage people in remote areas to conserve the
underutilized plant species, propagandize traditional knowledge and improve
peoples knowledge of the value (medicinal, cosmetic, nutritional, cultural) of such
species and of their cultivation techniques.

that supportive policies be developed both public and private research institutes to
conduct research on local underutilized plant species with farmer participation
(regarding their potential utilization, seed production and market, and other).

that local underutilized plant species be collected and identified and that an
inventory be created for the listing of these species. The species are divided into 2
groups:
Group 1 is of scientific value and needs to be included in the genetic
esource list of ex-situ or in-situ conservation for breeding materials; and
Group 2 is of economic value and requires multiplication, as well as
intensive cultivation techniques to increase yield, quality and economic
efficiency and to develop trade marks or geographical indications.

that policies be developed with regard to an equitable sharing of benefits arising
from the use of underutilized plant species, with the communities concerned.
Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food
and agriculture in Vietnam
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Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food
and agriculture in Vietnam
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Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food
and agriculture in Vietnam
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ANNEXES







ANNEX I: Study Work Plan (Oct. 2005 - Sept. 2006)



ANNEX II Questionnaire on Underutilized Plant Species


ANNEX III Seminar on underutilized plants species,
Hanoi Agricultural University, 23 August, 2006
List of Participants

Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food
and agriculture in Vietnam
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Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food
and agriculture in Vietnam
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ANNEX 1

Project Study Work Plan (October 2005 - September 2006)

Oct.-Dec.
2005
Jan.-Mar
.2006
Apr-
June
2006
Jul-Sept.
2006
I Research Activities
1 Section 1.01 Identification of existing national
policies in the areas of agricultural research, rural and
national development, health and nutrition, rural
investment and microfinance, education, marketing,
export, biodiversity conservation and the environment,
dealt with in terms of biodiversity.
X X
2 Section 1.02 Collection of relevant policy and
legal documents in the above-mentioned areas
X X X
3 Review of policy documents related to underutilized
species and evaluating the policies regarding their
impact on same.
X X X
4 Screening of identified policies for explicit references
to underutilized species
X X
5 Identifying whether these policies support or inhibit the
broader use of underutilized plant species.
X
6 Interviews with policy makers and practitioners X
7 Section 1.03 Small workshop on recommend-
ations for the most relevant policies
X
II Institutional activities
8 Presenting the results of the project to the Task Force
Meeting
X X
9 Meeting of project participants (5 meetings) X X X X
10 Planning of meetings and reviewing reports X X
11 Preparing interim and final technical/financial reports X x

Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food
and agriculture in Vietnam
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Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food
and agriculture in Vietnam
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ANNEX 2

Questionnaire* on Underutilized Plant Species

Please, answer the questions in the following questionnaire. If you do so by computer,
please insert new lines, if necessary. Or if you do so on paper, please use additional sheets
as needed.

Thank you very much for your cooperation and help.

Date of interview:

Name of interviewer:

1. Information of your agency
1.1. Name of agency:
1.2. Name and position of person interviewed:

1.3. Address
Email:
Telephone:
Fax:

1.4 Your agencys field of work

Plant specific Non plant specific
National policy-maker
Local policy-maker
Public research institute
Privite sector (company)
Extension service
Associaltion, community
NGO

1.5. Your agencys involvement with plants

1 Education E Research E Training E Conservation
2 Management E Rural development
3 Policy development (PVP, Seed law, Bio safety..... )
4 Other

l.6. ELocal E National E International, Regional

1.7. Does your agency need/access and utilization of underutilized species for:
1 Collection E research E Breeding E training E Selling
2 Other (Clearly note)



*Questionnaire sent to 22 researchers and policy makers.

Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food
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Issues related to the underutilized plant species (please read the definition
provided by GFU, attached)

1.8. Your opinion on Underutilized Plant Species:

E High value to national economy
E high value to some local
E Valuable gene
E Good for landscape
E Significance for sustainable agriculture
E Other (Clearly note)




1.9. Among the agencies listed below, which of them are closely related to
underutilized plant species?


E crop production dept
E Plant protection dept
E National extension
center
E Animal dept
E Food and foodstuff
research institute
E Horticulture
E Plant protection institute
E Plant gene centre
(VAAS)
E Medical material institute
E Hanoi Agricultural
University


E. Women
Union
E Youth union
E.Association of
gardeners/
VACVINA






E. Ministry of
Agriculture and Ruural
development
E Ministry of Natural resource
and environment
E Ministry of Health
EMinistry of Science and
Technology
E Union of Scientific and
technology association
E: Industrial group
El Seed company
E Community
E Cooperative farm



In your opinion, the policies promoting or inhibiting underutilized plant species
relate mainly to:
Biodiversity protection in general
Forest protection
Use of local species for hunger alleviation
Development of indigenous species and promotion of trade mark
Policy supporting new variety (Improved variety, hybrid rice) to ensure food security
E Other (Clearly note) ........

Policy influence favourable to the new variety (support to seed prices or support to sales) in
the production of some plant species (hybrid rice) on underutilized plant species
E Has inhibiting influence
E Has promotional influence
E Has no influence
Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food
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Do you know of any specific policy documents?
- Number .. issued by..
- Number .. issued by..
- Number .. issued by..

How to conserve and utilize underutilized plant species
E Create a Policy supporting those agencies that are developing available underutilized
plant species
E Develop and apply a benefit-sharing policy when using underutilized plant species
E Consider underutilized plant species as an important factor in developing sustainable
agriculture
E Place underutilized plant species in the national gene bank
E Community conservation
E Encourage the local people/farmers to participate in One Product One Community
(An initiative aimed at encouraging the local stakeholders in any village to join together and develop one
product specifically for themselves).
E Limit or discontinue support to high-yielding varieties, so as to further the utilization of
UPS
E Study and list important features of underutilized plant species
E Set up a research center for underutilized plant species
E Others

(Thank you very much)


Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food and agriculture in Vietnam
__________________________________________________________________________________________

30
Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food and agriculture in Vietnam
__________________________________________________________________________________________

31

ANNEX 3
Seminar on Underutilized Plants Species
Hanoi Agricultural University
23 August, 2006
List of Participants

No
Article II. Name Office Email, Handphone/Home
1 Dr. Chu Van Chuong

Dept. Foreign Relations, MARD
/C: 2 Ngoc Ha, BaDinh, Hanoi
T: 04 8459671 Fax: 04 7330752
Chuongcv.htqt@mard.org.vn

DD: 0989891118/ T: 04 5760444
2 Dr. Nguyen Tat Canh Hanoi Agricultural University.
/C: Trau Qui, Gia Lam, Ha Noi
T: 04 8765588; Fax: 048765588
tatcanh@vnn.vn /
NR: 04 8765725
DD: 0912144589
3 Ms. Nguyen Thi Viet Ha Dept. Foreign Relations, Vietnam Farmers Union
C: 103 Quanthanh, Hanoi
T: 04 8457775; Fax: 04 7334031
pmqt-ndvn@fpt.vn
0983197665
04 6752054
4 Mr. Trinh Van Thien Dept. of Legislation, MARD
C: 2 Ngoc ha, Ba inh, Hanoi
T: 04 8438811
Trinhxuanthien_ha@yahoo.com;
04 7611060
5 Prof. Hoang Thi Tuyet Minh Vietnam Seed Associasionx
C: 20/283 Doi Can, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
tdlong@fpt.vn
0904213883 / 04 7623641
6 Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thi Kim
Oanh
Hanoi Agricultural University.
/C: Trau Qui, Gia Lam, Ha Noi
T CQ: 048768039 , NR: 048294313, Fax:048276473
Ntkoanh2002@yahoo.com;
DD: 0915257857
04 8294313
7 Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Van
Dinh
Hanoi Agricultural University
/C: Trau Qui, Gia Lam, Ha Noi
T CQ/Fax: 04 8276473
Dinhnguyenvan2003@yahoo.com
0912280190
8 Dr. Pham Van Cuong Hanoi Agricultural University.
/C: Trau Qui, Gia Lam, Ha Noi
cuongphamvan@yahoo.com
0912907621/04 8767384
9 Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hue Plant Genetic Resource, VAAS, An Khanh, Hoai Duc Ha Tay ngochue@yahoo.com 0904560482
10 Dr. Hoang Ngoc Thuan Dept. of Horticulture, Hanoi Agricultural University
/C: Trau Qui, Gia Lam, Ha Noi T CQ/Fax: 04 8276473, Handphone:
0913082483
11 Dr. Nguyen Thi Viet Nga Dept. of Botany, Hanoi Agricultural University, /C: Trau Qui, Gia Lam, Ha Noi
12 MSc. Le Thi Tuyet Cham Dept. of Plant Genetic and Breeding, Hanoi Agricultural University
/C: Trau Qui, Gia Lam, Ha Noi
0915588795
13 Ms. Vu Thi Thu Hang Dept. of Plant Genetic and Breeding, Hanoi Agricultural University
/C: Trau Qui, Gia Lam, Ha Noi
0989291725
14 MSc. Nguyen Trong Mai Research Institute of Horticulture, Trau Qui, Gia Lam, Hanoi
15 Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Kinh Vice Chairman of Vietnam Seed Association, 2 Ngoc Ha, ba Dinh, Hanoi, nnkinh@hn.vnn.vn 0913239429

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