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Chapter 5 Voices from CTU’s Staff and Students

5.2 Voices on Joint Research Program

5.2.1 Overview from a Leader of Model Joint Research (TC-2)

Associate Prof. Dr. Le Van Vang

Dean
College of Agriculture
Email: lvvang@ctu.edu.vn

The MD is the key rice production region of Viet Nam, annually producing more than 50% of the
national rice product, from which supplies about 90% quantity for the exported rice. However, due to
production being heavily focused on producing yield, the farming technique has been highly intensive
with too much agrochemical, especially synthetic pesticides. In the long run, this practice has made
production unsustainable and created a mental habit of cultivating with over-reliance on synthetic
chemical pesticides. In addition to cost application, the extensive volume usage of synthetic pesticides
had negatively affected the health of producers and consumers, leading to resistance and impulses the
resurgence and replacement of pests. Additionally, pesticide residues pollute soil and surface water
and significantly affect rice products’ quality, decreasing their value and competition on domestic and
international markets. Establishing and developing an effective and resilient method to alternate or
replace the overuse of synthetic chemical pesticides are not only adequate support for approaching
sustainable agriculture, adapting to the climate change impacts and quality requirements of the
markets, but also being a good enhancement for the capacity in the linkage between rice production
with other socio-economic sectors in the region. To achieve this goal, obtaining a knowledge base on
the application of environmentally friendly crop protection methods such as biological control and
training human resources in the field is necessary.

Following this theme, our research project entitled: “Study on application of biological control
agents for the management of important insect pests and diseases in paddy fields in the MD of Viet
Nam” was financially supported by the Project for Building Capacity for CTU to be an Excellent
Institution of Education, Scientific Research and Technology Transfer. Under the administration of JICA
and CTU, with the kind and helpful supports from JICA officers and Japanese professors, the Project
was successfully conducted. Within the scope of the Project, four teaching staff of Plant Protection
Department of CTU were trained techniques for carrying out intensive researches on biochemical,
biomolecular, and biotechnology at TUAT and KIT; 5 master's theses and 34 Bachelor theses in the
field of biological control at CTU were successfully defended; furthermore, two PhD theses at the same
field study shall be defended in 2022; two international papers (ISI) and seven national papers were
published; four application principles were accepted by the scientific committee; one conference was
organized with the attendance of more than 100 participants; more than 20 agricultural technicians

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