MANAGER Director: Lai Van Lam Deputy Director:                      Nguyen Ngoc Truyen                      Phan Thanh Dung    History Established in 1941 as I’Institut des Recherches sur le Caoutchouc en Indochine (IRCI), the Rubber Research Institute of Vietnam (RRIV) had seen its ups and downs during the Vietnam War until its activities were in 1975. It is now an R-D arm of the Vietnam General Rubber Corporation (GERUCO). Organisation The RRIV presently has 70 researchers and over 380 supporting staff serving in 5 divisions, namely Plant Breeding, Soil Science, Crop Protection, Exploitation & Physiology and Rubber Processing, and 2 research centres: Natural Rubber Quality Control Centre and Rubber Technology together with 2 regional research centres for Smallholding Development and Rubber Development in Highland. The RRIV’s 4 experimental station, covering over 900 hectares, are located in main rubber-growing regions across the country. Mission The overall commitment of the RRIV is to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the rubber industry of Vietnam in the global environment through focused R-D and effective transfer of technology.

Research priorities

For the continuous improvement of the productivity of rubber plantations, various research projects have been launched in breeding and selection of high-yielding latex and latex-timber clones, planting recommendations for various rubber-growing regions, and shortening immaturity period through soil classification, appropriate nutrition and water management as well as advanced planting materials and control of weed and disease.

Other project for the continuous enhancement of sustainability of rubber plantation bring about appropriate farming system in the immature period for smallholders, low intensive tapping systems and stimulation, latex diagnosis, nutrition diagnosis and disease management in the mature period. Activities in the post-harvest sector include improving processing technologies for diversified rubber types and grades, appropriate processing technologies for smallholdings, improving quality of Vietnam NR, effluent treatment and development of rubber-based products.

Transfer of technology and services

 Training on various aspects for estates and smallholdings is amongst the main services provided by RRIV. Smallholders also benefit from RRIV’s through extension service. As to estates, RRIV’s technical services include latex diagnosis and tapping system recommendations, nutrition diagnosis and fertiliser recommendations. Disease control, rubber testing, and the provision of planting materials, stimulants and other technical articles are RRIV’s supports to industry.International Cooperration

International Cooperation

The RRIV is a member of the International Rubber Research and Development Board (IRRDB) and an associate member of the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG).