Growing organic fruit trees for export

In recent times, although the fruit tree growing area has continuously increased, many farmers in Can Tho city have still been able to sell their products at very high prices. This result is achieved thanks to the great contribution of the agricultural sector and the city departments and branches in orienting, supporting, and promoting farmers to increase organic agricultural production in linkage with businesses to ensure stable product consumption.

In addition, the city also promptly established cooperatives associated with the formation of specialized fruit-growing areas that meet quality and safety standards and have growing area codes, thereby meeting the requirements of importing countries. Thus, the export market for fruits of farmers in the city has expanded to many countries around the world, especially demanding markets with high selling prices, such as Japan, South Korea, the US, and European countries.

Mr. Pham Van Lo, Director of Nhon Nghia Longan Cooperative in Phong Dien district, said: Producing crop-spreading, off-season longan, and implementing the regulations and instructions of the functional sector are paid attention to so that longan fruits meet the requirements for export.

Thanks to that, in this year's longan crop, farmers at the Cooperative sold longans at quite high prices. At many times, the selling price is VND 20,000–25,000/kg or more. Accordingly, farmers in the Cooperative can earn profits of over VND 300 million/ha. Currently, the Cooperative has 29 members, with more than 22 hectares of organic Ido longan farming that have a growing area code for export to Japan, South Korea, and the US.

According to Mr. Chau Thanh Trieu, a member of the Thai Thanh Fruit Cooperative in Thoi Hung commune (Co Do district), with the active support of the local and city agricultural sectors, his 5 hectares of Thanh longan growing have participated in the Cooperative to implement the Thanh longan production model according to VietGAP standards and develop growing area codes for export. In 2024, all of his garden's longan output is sold to a purchasing company for export at a price of VND 55,000/kg or more, at least VND 15,000/kg higher than selling to small traders for domestic consumption.

Thai Thanh Fruit Cooperative now has 24 cooperative members, with a fruit tree growing area of more than 133 hectares, including over 100 hectares of Thanh longan growing. The Cooperative's longan has been granted a growing area code for export to China and many markets in Japan, the US, and Australia.

And recently, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Can Tho City coordinated with the Co Do District People's Committee and Vina T&T Import Export Trading Service Co., Ltd. to organize a ceremony to announce the export of a Thanh longan batch to the US market. Accordingly, the batch of 1.2 tons of Thanh longan was exported by air based on the contract signed by Trang Ti Garden Cooperative Group, Co Do District, and Vina T&T Company.

The export price by the purchasing business is VND 70,000/kg, about VND 20,000/kg higher than the price of Thanh longan sold at the market. Thanks to the linkage with export businesses, the selling price of Thanh longan of the Trang Ti Garden Cooperative Group is always at a high level. If Thanh longan is in good season, the gardener will make a profit of about VND 200–250 million/ha after deducting costs.

Mr. Tran Thai Nghiem, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Can Tho City, said: To promote garden efficiency and stabilize output in the context of increasing area and output, Can Tho's agricultural sector is continuing to pay attention to increasing the provision of market information, technical training, supporting farmers in applying technical advances in an organic direction, and replicating effective production models.

At the same time, promote farmers to strengthen linkages and apply farming processes with good agricultural practices such as VietGAP and GlobalGAP to meet market requirements for quality and safety and contribute to environmental protection. Support farmers in developing growing area codes and standardizing production to meet the requirements of import markets.

Currently, the city has approximately 24,000 hectares of fruit trees of all kinds, of which over 500 hectares meet VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards. Cooperatives, cooperative groups, farmer households, and businesses producing and trading fruit trees in Can Tho city have been granted 199 growing area codes for more than 2,677 hectares of key fruit trees such as mango, longan, star apple, and durian to serve exports to world markets.