After returning to Vietnam following one year of participation in the Vietnam–Cuba Rice Production Development Cooperation Project (Phase V, 2019–2025), Dr. Tran Vu Hai, a specialist from the Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute, resumed his regular work at the Department of Genetics and Breeding.

I had the opportunity to meet him on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Cuba. He immediately shared the good news that four Vietnamese rice varieties—OM8017, OM6976, OM5451, and LTH31—have been recognized and approved by Cuba for large-scale production. Among them, three varieties from the Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute, namely OM8017, OM6976, and OM5451, were bred by Dr. Tran Thi Cuc Hoa and her collaborators.

These rice varieties stand out for their high yields, short growth duration, strong resistance to pests and diseases, and adaptability to Cuba’s challenging climatic conditions such as intense heat and heavy rainfall. Notably, they also produce high-quality rice that suits consumer preferences.

Dr. Hai said that under the fifth phase (2019–2025) of the Vietnam–Cuba Rice Production Development Cooperation Project, the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS) transferred 25 rice varieties to Cuba starting in 2019 for trials across diverse ecological zones throughout the country, from the eastern to the western regions.

After a rigorous evaluation process, four Vietnamese rice varieties proved well-suited to Cuba’s ecological and soil conditions and were officially approved for large-scale production in June 2025. To facilitate dissemination and commercialization, the Cuban side renamed these varieties as VIBA17, VIBA76, VIBA51, and VIBA31, respectively.

The name VIBA is formed from “VI” (Vietnam) and “BA” (Cuba), symbolizing the connection in rice breeding cooperation and serving as evidence of the traditional friendship between the two countries. At the same time, VIBA marks sustainable collaboration in agriculture and joint efforts toward food security and sustainable development. It is also an important milestone affirming the quality of Vietnamese rice varieties on the international stage.

This achievement is the result of many years of dedication by Vietnamese experts working alongside local farmers in the windy fields of central Cuba. They not only brought high-yield rice varieties, but also conveyed sincerity, commitment, and the spirit of international solidarity that has bound the Vietnamese and Cuban peoples for decades.

As Cuba faces significant food security challenges due to harsh climate conditions, saline soils, and prolonged droughts, introducing Vietnamese rice varieties for trials there is considered a strategic move.

The report of the Cuban Institute for Seed Research at the 5th International Online Fair on Agricultural and Food Biodiversity (October 11–16, 2025) shows that VIBA17 yielded 8.28 tons/ha in the winter crop and 7.13 tons/ha in the spring crop. VIBA76 recorded winter yields of about 9.14 tons/ha and spring yields of 7 tons/ha. VIBA51 achieved 7.18 tons/ha in winter and 5.56 tons/ha in spring.

At the Matanzas site—where Dr. Hải previously worked—field results show that these three rice varieties demonstrated outstanding yields and strong disease resistance when tested in the provinces of Matanzas, Cienfuegos, and Mayabeque. Many farmers in Matanzas expressed their surprise and delight when trial harvests produced yields 20–30% higher than local varieties.

Specifically, VIBA17, VIBA76, and VIBA51 recorded an average yield of 6.15 tons/ha, three times higher than Cuba’s national average yield in 2025 (about 2.12 tons/ha).

Notably, these varieties have a growth duration of only 100–110 days, significantly shorter than local Cuban varieties, which typically take 120–125 days to harvest. The shorter production cycle helps farmers reduce cultivation costs, lower the risk of yield losses under adverse weather conditions, increase the number of cropping seasons per year, and improve land-use efficiency.

The differences in both yield and growth duration highlight the great potential of Vietnamese rice varieties in ensuring food security for Cuba, a country with a population of about 10 million people.

According to Dr. Hải, the recognition and large-scale cultivation of four Vietnamese rice varieties in Cuba will open opportunities for rice export enterprises to access Caribbean markets and for agricultural technology transfer. This also demonstrates the effectiveness of the Vietnam–Cuba rice cooperation project in particular, and agricultural cooperation projects in general.

Notably, the transfer of these rice varieties is not only part of a broader cooperation program between the two countries, but also carries significance beyond agriculture. He shared that in many trial-growing areas, Cuban farmers voluntarily formed harvest support teams, cooked traditional dishes to welcome Vietnamese experts, and some families even treated Vietnamese engineers like their own children. Images of lush green rice fields in Cuba’s dry tropical climate have thus become symbols of the blossoming “Vietnam–Cuba Friendship.”