In Vietnam, the switch to growing hydroponic lettuce is a big topic at the moment. “We see an increase in hydroponic lettuce cultivation already. This is due to high interest from the consumer for safely grown product. We expect the growth of lettuce on water to continue over the next couple of years, like it has already happened in Thailand and Malaysia”, says Jean-Marie. The current acreage of hydroponic lettuce cultivation may be only around 30 to 40 hectares, but he expects this to multiply over the next years.
Rijk Zwaan is a leading supplier of seeds for the hydroponic lettuce cultivation. The company has been around for decades and has established a good position in the South-east Asian market. According to Jean-Marie, it is about more than just selling seeds in the business. “With Rijk Zwaan, we try to help the local growers by giving them technical advice as well. We are working on the development of the grower and the supply chain. It’s good for the grower – they’ll make better revenue and expand their cultivation – and we’ll benefit from it as well.”
That’s also why at the HortEx in Vietnam, Rijk Zwaan team member Tran Thi Hue gave a lecture on successful NFT growing in the tropical lowland. “The key is partly to control the water temperature by for example finding the right water flow, controlling the oxygen level, and having the right system. And of course also growing the right variety makes an important part of the success. Altogether, a lot of small steps make a big difference.”
Sharing knowledge
Beside lettuce, Rijk Zwaan is supporting Vietnamese growers for crops such as sweet pepper, tomato, cucumber and melon. Also in these crops, general horticultural knowledge is a big challenge to growers. “It is quite difficult for the growers to find information on their daily challenges”, Jean-Marie explains. “Let’s not forget: the growing conditions here are quite difficult. In tropical and subtropical conditions there is no winter, and year-round means higher presence of pests and diseases.”
In order to get a better production, Rijk Zwaan is breeding new varieties tailor-made to these conditions. The company also helps growers in the transition to soil-less cultivation. "We see more and more growers switching towards it and we also urge them a bit for it", Jean-Marie confesses. "We believe in this type of cultivation. It gives them a more stable crop and a better yield, meaning more consistency in their production and a better position on the market."
It also helps growers get a more sustainable production, using less water and crop protection, and turns out to be a big step in fighting diseases living in the soil. "Currently growers graft their plants mainly to get rid of the diseases in the soil. Also this can be fought with hydroponic cultivation.”
For the growers though even with hydroponic cultivation, finding the connection to the market and the consumer still is difficult. Therefore the greenhouse growers try to differentiate their products from the open field vegetables. “For example, when they grow lettuce hydroponically, they intend to keep the roots when they sell it, to show they grow it in the water, an innovative way with less spraying. Some growers also try to cut the steps to the wholesale market to connect more directly from grower to end users. And with Rijk Zwaan, we also inform the supermarkets and consumers by giving demonstrations on NFT cultivation. That way we show them what hydroponics is and what the benefits are for the end product.”
"Hi-tech horticulture is developing fast in Vietnam, an exhibition such as HortEx is a great way to inform growers and consumers about new growing techniques and products. Rijk Zwaan is proud to be part of this development in South East Asia! If you require any additional information about vegetable cultivation in this area, don't hesitate to contact us."
For more information:
Rijk Zwaan Vietnam
Jean-Marie Rozec – Country Manager
+84 28 7307 3993
info.vietnam@rijkzwaan.vn
www.rijkzwaan.vn