In an interview with Guamá Radio (Cuba), Mr. Jesús Roberto Miranda Pérez expressed his astonishment at the remarkable yield and quality of Vietnamese rice varieties—a feat unprecedented on the red soil fields of Cuban farmers.
On his nearly 2-hectare plot, Mr. Pérez received direct guidance from Vietnamese experts, who introduced advanced rice cultivation techniques.
“They provided us with exceptional seeds, achieving yields of approximately 8 tons per hectare. The agricultural supplies from Vietnam are also of high quality. Previously, we faced severe shortages of essential materials for production, but now, thanks to the support of Vietnamese experts, everything is running smoothly,” shared Mr. Jesús Roberto Miranda Pérez.
Mr. Pérez is just one of many Cuban farmers benefiting from the Vietnam-Cuba Cooperation Project for Rice Production Development in Calimete District, Matanzas Province. Within a short implementation period, remarkable achievements have emerged on the red soil fields of this Caribbean nation.
The Rice Variety Making Waves in Cuba
Among the high-yielding varieties in Cuba, CT16 stands out. According to the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, CT16 was recognized as a new plant variety in 2011 and extended until 2032 under Decision No. 520/QĐ-TT-CLT by the Department of Crop Production (now the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection). This variety was bred from the combination of the maternal line Nhi 32A and the paternal line R16, then transferred to Cuong Tan LLC in 2014 for mass production.
CT16 is a three-line hybrid rice variety, suitable for two crops per year, with yields reaching 7–8 tons/ha/crop. It is resistant to lodging and cold, with moderate natural pest resistance. In F1 hybrid seed production, yields range from 3–3.5 tons/ha.
When trialed in Cuba, the Vietnamese rice variety quickly demonstrated its superiority. Vietnamese experts cultivated CT16 in Los Palacios, Pinar del Río Province—a key agricultural region in Cuba—on 16 hectares. Applying synchronized technical processes, the first harvest yielded 7–8 tons/ha, double Cuba’s average of 3–4 tons/ha.
To date, 25 rice varieties have been introduced to project areas in Cuba, with four officially registered under the name “ViBa,” symbolizing the collaboration between Vietnam and Cuba.
Beyond economic benefits, the Vietnam-Cuba Rice Cooperation Project exemplifies solidarity, experience-sharing, and mutual support between the two nations amidst global food security challenges.
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