Hai Duong in preparation for lychee consumption and export

To satisfy the demand for domestic consumption and export, Hai Duong will continue to promote the production of Thieu lychee in 2023 following standards such as VietGAP and GlobalGAP, utilizing ecological, organic and sustainable models. Right from the beginning of the crop, the province has determined to soon come up with a trade and consumption promotion plan for Thieu lychee in the coming harvest.

At the Lychee Production Cooperative Group 10, Thanh Son commune, Thanh Ha district, Hai Duong province, the white-egg lychee (a native hybrid lychee variety in Thanh Ha) has a good shape this year, the fruit is big and beautiful.

According to Mr. Pham Van Giang, leader of the Lychee Production Cooperative Group 10, all of the lychees released to the market are GlobalGAP-qualified, chosen to export to meticulous markets such as the USA, the EU, and Japan. The demand for domestic consumption and export is immense. Up to the present date, five units have registered to purchase lychee from the cooperative group, but the daily harvest amount is apparently not enough.

“Regarding the price for white-egg lychee, our cooperative currently sells it at a price of VND 80,000 – 90,000/kg. As for thorny-egg lychee (another native variety, smaller than white-egg lychee, has a thorny outer shell), the price ranges from VND 40,000 – 45,000/kg. The selling price to companies is higher, average 20 – 30% over the same period last year,” said Mr. Pham Van Giang, leader of the Lychee Production Cooperative Group 10.

Hai Duong as a whole now has 199 lychee growing area codes, covering a total area of over 1,100 ha, coupled with 21 packing facility codes in service of exports to China, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Thailand.

Thanh Ha district alone has 45 lychee growing areas, granted 168 growing area codes for export. In order to increase exports to strict markets, the agricultural sector of Hai Duong has implemented many solutions to improve the management of input quality, strict control of growing area code, raise people’s awareness about the use of pesticides.

“The provincial Sub-department of Crop Production and Plant Protection regularly coordinates with agricultural service centers, especially Thanh Ha and Chi Linh, to organize training, provide guidance to maintain the production procedures trained through the years. Particularly in the crop’s last sprays of pesticides, we strengthen surveillance to make sure people comply with regulations, ensuring that products are deemed qualified,” a representative of the provincial Sub-department of Crop Production and Plant Protection said.

In order to take the initiative in the consumption stage, Hai Duong Department of Industry and Trade and Thanh Ha District People’s Committee has signed a cooperation agreement to consume lychees between cooperatives, production households and enterprises.

With the motto “Diversifying export markets in parallel with maintaining the domestic market”, local authorities have connected with other provinces and cities through large supermarket system and e-commerce exchanges to do marketing for Hai Duong lychee’s quality and output, introducing Thanh Ha lychee to a new market through international conferences.

This year, the output of Thieu lychee in Thanh Ha lychee growing areas is expected to exceed 40,000 tons. Right from this moment, the agricultural sector of Hai Duong has already come up with plans and programs to improve and diversify consumption markets inside and outside the country, aiming to increase added value for Thieu lychee.

“This year Japan anticipates an increase in imports of lychee from Vietnam to serve domestic consumers as well as Vietnamese expats. This is why we are expecting an increase in the export volume of lychee to the Japan market this year. Since they have shown sincerity through practical actions, we are working with the friend’s side to boost the export of lychee from Vietnam specifically from Hai Duong to this market,” said Ms. Luong Thi Kiem, Deputy Director of Hai Duong Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.