Not Missing the Chance: How Gm Maize Changed the Life of a Vietnamese Farmer and his Community

Well into his senior years, Vietnamese farmer, Hoang Trong Ngai, 69, reflects on how adopting genetically modified (GM) maize has benefited not just him but his community as well.

Ngai first heard about GM maize in 2015, when he attended a farmer's conference organized by the provincial government. Back then, Vietnamese farmers were still hesitant to adopt GM crops since they knew little about it.

However, among the technologies presented during the event, it was GM maize that caught Ngai's attention. So much so that he quickly began testing several varieties and finally settled on a GM hybrid which is one of the widely adaptable varieties in Vietnam. According to Ngai, the crop produced higher yield and had better resistance to pests and diseases compared with the conventional variety. It was also suitable for local soil conditions.