Need to preserve and develop rare plant and animal genetic resources
Nghe An is recognized as one of the regions with high biodiversity in Vietnam, with many types of ecosystems, rich, diverse and endemic biological resources. Realizing the importance of genetic resources in preserving rare indigenous plant and animal varieties, Nghe An has soon considered the conservation and preservation of genetic resources an important task...
(Baonghean)Nghe An is recognized as one of the regions with high biodiversity in Vietnam, with many types of ecosystems, rich, diverse and endemic biological resources. Realizing the importance of genetic resources in preserving rare indigenous plant and animal varieties, Nghe An has soon considered the conservation and preservation of genetic resources an important task...
Determining genetic resources is a very important issue in the development of local agriculture and forestry. In recent times, Nghe An has conducted many studies on genetic resources in Nghe An through scientific topics such as: Conservation of Vietnamese livestock genetic resources, Investigation of rare and precious seedlings in Nghe An; Biodiversity of Mat Island, Ngu Island and coastal waters; Biodiversity of Phuxalaileng Area; Biodiversity of Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve; Survey, assessment, and proposal of registration forms for protection of products bearing the geographical names of Nghe An...
In addition, institutes and schools in the province also have many research topics, collecting genetic resources such as Phu Quy Fruit and Industrial Tree Research Center has built fruit tree groups including: citrus fruit groups, lychee, longan, mango, persimmon, dragon fruit, passion fruit groups... very diverse and rich; Vinh University has implemented a ministerial-level genetic resource conservation topic in 2012: Collecting, preserving and evaluating genetic resources of upland rice varieties in mountainous districts of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh.
Scientific topics and projects have investigated, surveyed and synthesized a fairly rich number of plant and animal varieties in the province. Regarding plant varieties, Nghe An currently has the following groups: Group of upland rice in the highlands (Ky Son, Tuong Duong, Con Cuong district, Que Phong, Quy Chau, Anh Son): has 79 varieties, including 4 rice varieties and 75 local glutinous rice varieties; Group of specialty rice in the lowlands and plains (Yen Thanh, Thanh Chuong, Quy Hop and Nghi Loc): has 12 specialty varieties, including 2 rice varieties and 10 glutinous rice varieties; Group of vegetables and tubers: has 4 local potato varieties (black taro, Ky Son taro, black yam, purple yam); Group of citrus trees: has 63 varieties, including 12 grapefruit varieties, 24 orange varieties, 17 tangerine varieties and 10 lemon varieties; Specialty fruit tree group: 9 varieties (Oi pomelo, Tuong Duong mango, Xa Doai orange, Nam Anh persimmon, Nam Dan lemon, Nhut jackfruit, fragrant sugarcane, pink melon, Sy pomelo); Industrial and forestry tree group: 7 varieties (Nam Dan soybean, lotus peanut, black sesame, Dien Chau yellow sesame, Gay Do Luong tea, Quy cinnamon, Lung tree); Specialty vegetable tree group: 3 varieties (upland squash, Ky Son mustard greens, cucumber). Of which, the gene source of 10 upland rice varieties, 20 grapefruit varieties, 21 tangerine varieties, 10 lemon varieties and rootstock trees are being preserved and conserved.
Regarding livestock, the survey results in the province have identified 8 breeds of buffalo, cows and horses: Phu Quy buffalo, Thanh Chuong buffalo, Nghe An yellow cow, U Dau Ax cow, H'mong cow (Cat cow), Lai ZeBu cow, Vietnamese horse, H'mong horse; 4 breeds of goats and deer: grass goat, Bach Thao goat, sika deer, Vietnamese rabbit; 3 breeds of pigs: Meo pig (H'mong pig), Van Trang Nghe An pig, Sao Va pig; 7 breeds of chicken, duck and goose: Nghe An local chicken, H'mong chicken, Thanh Chuong local chicken, grass duck, Quy gourd duck, grass goose, buffalo goose. Of which, the genetic resources that have been preserved and conserved include: U Dau Ax cow, sika deer, Nghe An grass pig, Meo pig, Sao Va pig, Quy gourd duck.
Raising ducks in Quy Chau. Photo: Pham Bang.
The above figures show that, compared to the number of valuable plant and animal varieties currently available in Nghe An province, the number of genetic resources preserved and conserved is still too small. Meanwhile, specialty seedlings are being overexploited every day and every hour, making them at a higher risk of extinction than regular seedlings. And more deeply, if specialty seedlings are lost, the intellectual and cultural values associated with them will also be lost.
In Nghe An and other localities, the conservation of genetic resources is mainly from a cultural perspective, and genetic resources are not yet recognized as means of production, as raw materials for agricultural production, and the conservation of many breeds/lines/populations is very important in the development of the national economy and people's lives.
Therefore, the Ministry of Science and Technology has issued a number of documents to further promote the work of building and preserving gene funds nationwide. Circular No. 18/2010/TT-BKHCN dated December 24, 2010 on Regulations on the management of scientific and technological tasks on gene funds clearly stipulates that the task of preserving gene resources is a scientific and technological task of carrying out research activities, collecting, preserving, evaluating biological indicators and documenting gene resources. Official dispatch No. 3514/BKHV-CNN dated November 29, 2012 of the Ministry of Science and Technology on the development of a framework project for scientific and technological tasks on provincial gene funds from now until 2020 has been received and implemented by localities in the country in general and Nghe An province in particular.
However, in order to propose a comprehensive and reasonable list of conservation of native plant genetic resources, it is necessary to have the cooperation of all levels and sectors in the province and the attention of the people and society, and to implement many synchronous solutions such as: Building an apparatus and an organizational system to conserve plant and livestock genetic resources that are scattered in residential communities throughout Nghe An province, in the plains, midlands and mountainous areas. There must be a strong and widespread management system and network in all regions of the province; Organizing the conservation and evaluation of native plant and livestock genetic resources; Organizing the construction of a database and information on genetic resources as well as exploiting and using plant and livestock genetic resources in a reasonable and effective manner.
It can be said that the protection of rare and precious specialty seedlings not only contributes to the protection of biodiversity but also contributes to the preservation and promotion of the cultural identity of the local community of each ethnic group. Therefore, in order to implement the policy of the Ministry of Science and Technology on the task of gene pool, and at the same time meet the practical requirements of the locality, the development of a framework project for the tasks of conserving provincial gene pools for the period 2013-2020, including the gene pool of crops and livestock, is really necessary in the current period, contributing to the basis for the development and selection of gene pool tasks for the annual plan.
Le Hien (Nghe An Center for Science, Technology and Informatics Information)
