HANOI - VIETNAM will put some genetically modified (GM) crops on experimental production from now to 2010, said Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat before the National Assembly on Tuesday.

Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported that under a plan approved by the Government, those crops will be grown on a wide scale from 2011.

To facilitate the introduction of biotechnology into agriculture, the Agricultural Genetics Institute has prepared a set of regulations on assay and assessment of GM crops.

According to experts, the use of biotechnology in Vietnam may increase the corn output up by 28 per cent from 4.5 tonnes per hectre currently, while lowering the cost of insect and disease prevention by US$100 (S$150) per ha.

The Ho Chi Minh City Biotechnology Centre said it plans to buy insect and disease-resistant corn seeds from the Philippines , whose natural conditions are similar to Vietnam's.

GM crops have been permitted in 23 countries with productivity proved much higher than traditional crops. -- BERNAMA