Tiếng Việt
On the 18th of April, 2018, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) organized a conference on fostering longan and lychee consumption in some central provinces in the North. Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong participated and led the conference.
Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong had a speech in the conference
According to Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong, vegetable and fruit planting area is around 1.8 million ha, export turn-over in 2017 was $ 3.45 billion. The total international trade on vegetables and fruits yearly was around $ 230 billion. The speed of global trade development on vegetables and fruits was from 3 to 5%. Therefore, fruit and vegetable development area still has potential space. Fruit tree is bringing up economic benefits, in which, longans and lychees are the main plants in Northern provinces like Hung Yen and Hai Duong.
Weather this year is very favorable for longan and lychee development. According to the national weather forecast center, from December 2017 to the mid-February 2018, cold periods with lowest temperature in the low land vary between 8 and 12 cencius degrees, this is the favorable temperature for bud differentiation. Percentage of fruit production is high. However, Minister warned that, different sectors in different provinces have to be aware of complicated weather changes. Minister highly appreciated the sense of initiative of provinces in longan and lychee consumption and care. Minister also congratulated scientists in cross-breeding new longans and lychees with high quality and production. Minister also wanted scientists, enterprises to participate in choosing and creating longans and lychees compatible to each area.
Conference background
Mr Nguyen Hong Son, Head of Planting Department ( Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) stated that the weather from March to May this year is forecasted to be favorable for longans and lychees to bloom, produce and develop. The percentage of plants to bloom, produce gains more than 90 % bringing a promising longan and lychee season.
Percentage of longan and lychee consumption in national market accounted for 50% and has a tendency to grow. The main consumption markets are Hanoi and HCMC. At the moment, fresh lychees are exported to many markets such as China, the U.S, EU, Japan, Korea, Australia, Malaysia, ASEAN and Middle East. Among these markets, China informed to strengthen original management of imported fruits and vegetables, in which Vietnam is one of these exporters. Since the first of April, 2018, Chinese enterprises had to ask for import licenses and provided traceable image package of origin. Therefore, origin package as Chinese requirement needs to be paid attention.
In the conference, Mr Nguyen Van Phong, Chairman of Hung Yen People’s Committee, proposed that communication agencies should strengthen promotion on these two special fruits, supporting farmers to consume them well. He also wished MARD and MOT (Ministry of Trade) to support provinces in market forecast in order to avoid surplus in supply in the coming years. According to Mr Phong, the province will organize a conference to connect supply to demand, promote trade, invite enterprises to come to Hung Yen and discuss issues on consumption solutions and fairs.
Mr Nguyen Van Phong, Chairman of Hung Yen People’s Committee had a speech in the conference
Mrs Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, Vice-chairwoman of Bac Giang People’s Committee shared that the main lychee harvesting season is between 15 June to 25 July. This year is forecasted to be bumper crop, creating pressure on Bac Giang in searching for lychee consumption market. In order to support farmers, besides frequent communication, Bac Giang will organize promotion conferences: Promotion conferences in Bang Tuong (China in May 2018), Bac Giang ( June 2018), Lychee Week in Hanoi. Moreover, Bac Giang will pay attention to new policies on fruit and vegetable import. The province proposed that MARD will negotiate and have detailed guidance for lychee farmers in Bac Giang. The province did not have opportunities to access big business, nor giant contracts either. Therefore, Bac Giang congratulated big enterprises investing in this province to sign consumption contracts.
As the vice-chairperson of Hai Duong People’s Committee stated, the total lychee area in 2018 is around 10,500 ha, estimated capacity is round 45,000 tons (in which early lychee accounts for 2,500 ha and lychee accounts for 8,000 ha). The total lychee area granted VietGAP is 300 ha. At the moment, Vietnamese lychee is provided area code and certified by Plant Variety Protection Office, USA, it can be exported to the US, Australian and European Union markets. The total 131.68 ha can produce 1000 tons for export. Hai Duong province needs scientist’s participation in order to help it have longer preservation of lychees to export to many places. Hai Duong will organize Thanh Ha lychee festival in the end of May in 2018. The province also expresses its wishes to big companies such as Hapro, Dong Giao, Co-op Mart, big enterprises, etc. to support Hai Duong citizens to consume lychees.
Following the Lang Son representatives, the province invested 12 exit gates bordering China, built concentration area, created favorable environment for exported fruits and vegetables and negotiation condition with China side to clear goods on weekdays and holidays.
In term of lychee and longan consumption, Minister Nguyen Xuan cuong proposed Son La province soon completes two fruit and vegetable manufacturing factories to reduce pressure for farmers.
Sources: Information Electronic Gate from MARD
