NOMAFSI

The Northern Mountainous Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute (NOMAFSI) is a research institute under the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), dedicated to scientific research and technology transfer in agriculture and forestry. Its mission is to support agricultural and rural development in the midlands and mountainous regions of North Vietnam.

In tea research and development, NOMAFSI conserves and utilizes a collection of nearly 200 tea accessions from major tea-producing countries. The institute has played a key role in developing and releasing high-quality tea varieties, such as LDP1, LDP2, TRI 777, Phuc Van Tien, Keo Am Tich, Hung Dinh Bach, PT95, Bat Tien, Kim Huyen, Thuy Ngoc, Shan Chat Tien, and Shan Tham Ve. These varieties now account for over 40% of Vietnam’s tea-growing areas.

For fruit tree research, NOMAFSI conserves 20 fruit tree species with 244 accessions and has selected 20 new varieties authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) for large-scale testing. These include three varieties each of pineapple, banana, and litchi; four persimmon (Kaki) varieties; three grapefruit (pomelo) varieties; one mango variety; and one passion fruit variety. Cultivation protocols for these crops have been developed and recommended to farmers to enhance productivity and sustainability.

In Arabica coffee research, NOMAFSI has established a collection of 180 accessions and identified 10 promising varieties that demonstrate high yield, export quality, and rust resistance. Among these, TN1 and TN2 stand out for their superior yield, growth vigor, and grain weight compared to the Catimor variety, making them valuable for breeding and commercial production.

The institute also has a strong focus on sustainable sloping land agriculture, working closely with CIRAD, IRRI, and IRD to implement innovative farming techniques. These include direct sowing mulch-based cropping systems, permanent soil cover techniques, mini-terraces with soil mulch, intercropping, and crop rotation. These practices have significantly increased crop yields—by up to 70–75% in some cases—while contributing to hunger eradication, poverty reduction, and improved food security in mountainous regions. Additionally, NOMAFSI has introduced food crop varieties adapted to local conditions, including conventional and hybrid rice, maize, cassava, soybean, and peanuts.

In agroforestry research, NOMAFSI is developing integrated models that combine short-term crops, long-term trees (fruit and forest trees), and fodder crops to balance agricultural, forestry, and livestock production. The institute has identified several promising fodder crops, including elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum), Guatemala grass (Tripsacum fasciculatum), and multiple Brachiaria species, along with Paspalum atratum and Panicum maximum. These agroforestry systems are designed to enhance animal production while minimizing competition for agricultural and forestry land.