7 things about Võ Tòng Xuân, who gave Vietnam its famous rice varieties – Firstpost

Professor Vo Tong Xuan, Vietnam's leading agricultural scientist, passed away on Monday. Xuan, who was known worldwide for his contributions to agriculture, was 84. Xuan succumbed to illness at 7 a.m. in an HCMC hospital in Hanoi.

As a leading expert in agricultural science, Xuan made significant contributions to international research, particularly in the field of rice cultivation and ensuring food security for rice-dependent populations. He is known as the inventor of several Vietnamese rice varieties in the Mekong Delta.

2. Short biography: Professor Xuân was born in 1940 in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang. In 1961, he received a scholarship to study at the Philippine Agricultural University in Los Banos. He proved to be an outstanding international student.

3. Academic Excellence: In 1966, he obtained a bachelor's degree in agricultural chemistry from the Philippine University and in the same year, he enrolled as a doctoral student at the famous International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

4. Homecoming: In 1971, he returned to Vietnam at the invitation of the director of Can Tho University, who wrote to him: “The country really needs people like you.” Xuan had returned to train agricultural engineers in his home country.

5. Off to Japan: In 1974, he went to Japan to defend his doctoral thesis. He soon compiled several valuable textbooks, books and reference works that served as a basis for increasing agricultural production not only in Vietnam but throughout the world.

6. Awards and recognitions: Xuan was awarded the honorary title of Professor of Agricultural Sciences in 1980 and the Labor Hero Award in 1985. He served as a delegate to the National Assembly for three terms.

7. Rice safety: Xuan played a key role in ensuring food security by popularizing the IR36 rice variety in the Mekong Delta, where the crop was often attacked by pests. He worked with farmers and trained them in advanced grafting techniques.

8. Last public appearance: Xuan's last public appearance was on June 29, when he attended a workshop on water safety in the Mekong Delta. His funeral is likely to be held at the Can Thơ Funeral Hall in Can Thơ City.