Mungbean research collaboration across Asia was recently strengthened by the visit of two high-level delegations from China and Vietnam to WorldVeg South Asia in Hyderabad, India on 7 August 2018.

Thirteen representatives from Vung Tau Province in Vietnam led by Deputy Party Secretary Mrs. Nguyen Thi Yen and accompanied by Mr. T. Sudaka from the Indian Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority were keen to understand WorldVeg’s work on home gardens, postharvest management, reducing pesticide use, and mungbean breeding.  Regional Director Warwick Easdown briefed the visitors on ongoing regional activities.

A delegation of six senior scientists and leaders of the Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences in China led by Academy President Dr. Lao Hongwu were particularly interested in collaboration on mungbean breeding and viewing the performance of the mini-core collection in the field.

Both delegations strengthened the existing connections made by Dr. Ram Nair, Global Plant Breeder – Legumes during previous visits to China and Vietnam, as well as WorldVeg’s long-term collaboration on mungbean viruses in Vietnam.

Story and photos: Warwick Easdown and Ram Nair