Lychee output in 2024 is expected to decrease by 50%

An unprecedented phenomenon

Recorded in Luc Ngan district (Bac Giang), in contrast to the bustling atmosphere of farmers urgently caring for lychee trees, traders survey, place orders, and promote consumption like every year; in this year's lychee crop, cooperatives and producer households can only feel pity and sadness because most of the main lychee crop areas do not flower.

Mr. Hua Van Chung, Director of Ho Dap General Services Cooperative, Na Hem village, Ho Dap commune (Luc Ngan district), lamented that in the past, the flowering rate of main-season lychee tea was high in some years, low in some years. Still, there has never been a year when the entire area of nearly 40 hectares (including links) of the cooperative has not flowered like this year. This is a very strange phenomenon, never seen before on lychee plants.

According to Mr. Chung, households actively cared for the lychee plants from the beginning of the season. The technical care process was no different from every year, but the lychee plants still did not flower, even though some had no bud. This makes lychee growers very confused because they only rely on the lychee crop all year but are facing the risk of losing revenue.

At this time every year, customers from all over come to visit lychee gardens to survey and ask questions about cooperation and purchasing, but this year they are completely absent.

Mr. Pham Van Dung, Director of Hong Xuan Agricultural - Production and General Service Business Cooperative in Village 1, Hong Giang commune (Luc Ngan district), could not hide his sadness when this year's lychee crop was at risk of losing 350 tons of lychees because many areas had not yet seen flowers (the total average output in previous years of the cooperative was 450 - 500 tons).

According to Mr. Dung, specialized units determine why lychees are not flowering. Still, according to experience, this year's lychee season has had a lot of warm weather, with no prolonged cold, which could be why lychee trees are not flowering.

Weather is the main reason

According to the Bac Giang Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, through coordination with the Northern Plant Protection Center on field inspections in lychee areas in the province, it has been shown that lychee production in 2024 faces many difficulties due to unfavorable weather conditions during the flower bud differentiation period, especially for main season lychee tea. The rate of lychee flowering is very low compared to 2023 (on average, only 46.6%). Specifically, early lychee has a flowering and fruiting rate of over 80%, while main-season lychee has a flowering rate of only about 40%.

The low flowering rate is because the average temperature in winter 2023 is about 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than in recent years. Late cold spells affect the process of flower bud differentiation, especially the main season U Hong lychee. Specifically, from mid-January to mid-February 2024, there will be strong, short-term cold air waves accompanied by prolonged light rain, causing high air humidity and soil moisture, causing some areas of lychee export season to be high. The flower buds are prematurely withered.

Regarding farming and seasonal factors, in 3 years (2021 - 2023), Bac Giang lychees had consecutive harvests, so gardens that were not well cared for and fertilized fully at the right time will have the phenomenon of trees dying, not producing enough buds, especially for perennial lychee gardens (20 - 30 years old), affecting the flowering process of the 2024 lychee crop.

With a very low lychee flowering rate, it is expected that with the total area of lychee in Bac Giang province being about 29,700 hectares, this year's lychee output is estimated only to reach about 100,000 tons (about 50% compared to 2023). Specifically, early ripe lychee covers 7,700 hectares, with an estimated output of 50,000 tons; Lychee main season 22,000 hectares, estimated output 50,000 tons; safe fabric, according to VietGAP standards 15,600 hectares, output of about 50,000 tons. According to GlobalGAP standards with 82 hectares, an estimated output of 500 tons for this year's lychee crop, Bac Giang continues to maintain good lychee production areas.

Lychee predicts victory early and has great opportunities

In contrast to the decline of main season lychee tea, U Hong lychee in Tan Yen district grows and develops well. Currently, the weather is very favorable for gardens entering the physiological fruit-shedding stage. The output is expected to be equal to or higher than in 2023.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Nhung, agricultural extension officer of Phuc Hoa commune (Tan Yen district) shared that this year's lychee crop in the entire commune has nearly 700 hectares, mainly U Hong lychee. The commune has been granted 11 production unit codes to export lychees to the Chinese market, 3 codes to Japan, 2 codes to the US, 2 codes to Thailand, and 2 codes to Australia.

According to Mrs. But, since the early lychee flowers bloomed, the weather has been very favorable, with 2-3 rains helping wash away damaged flower buds, thereby reducing the phenomenon of harmful fungi, pests, and diseases while reducing the fruit drop rate. This is a condition to increase output (the lychee crop last year had hot weather when flowering, so the physiological fruit drop rate was high, affecting productivity).

Mr. Dang Van Tang, Director of the Bac Giang Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, said that although it is forecast that lychee output in the province this year will decrease sharply compared to previous years, the work of preparing production conditions to restore production Lychee export is still carried out effectively.

Regarding packaging facilities for export, up to now, the whole province has 39 quality inspection facilities for fresh lychees exported to China that meet the regulations of the importing country; 1 packaging facility qualified to export to Japan (Global Food Import-Export Joint Stock Company).

According to Mr. Tang, from now until the end of the season, the agricultural sector will direct specialized units to coordinate with districts and cities to review and evaluate all production unit codes and packaging facilities to ensure good implementation of regulations of the importing country; Direct farmers to care for and fertilize lychees to ensure good growth and development; Coordinate with districts, especially the two key districts Luc Ngan and Ten Yen, to closely monitor the use of pesticides, take 50 fresh lychee samples from production areas to analyze residues to ensure quality for export to high-end markets (USA, Australia, Japan...).

In addition, instruct production households in the growing area to prepare well the conditions for facilities, equipment, and harvesting tools and prepare for field inspection of growing areas and packaging facilities of China General Administration of Customs...