Developing fruit production to meet domestic and export standards was the agenda of a forum in Phu Tho province on July 18. The National Agricultural Extension Centre reports that Vietnam's fruit-growing areas will exceed 1.3 million hectares in 2024, with 21% located in the northern midland and mountainous region, second only to the Mekong Delta.
The region offers various fruits with strong local identities, boosting fruit and vegetable export revenue to 7.1 billion USD. Production clusters are noted for lychee in Luc Ngan (now part of Bac Ninh), orange and pomelo in Tuyen Quang and Phu Tho, plum in Son La and Lao Cai, and custard apple in Lang Son.
Fruit exports like lychee, pomelo, banana, and plum reach markets in China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan (China), Australia, the EU, and the U.S.. Phu Tho houses nearly 32,000 hectares of major fruit crops and highlights sustainable farming models through initiatives like VietGAP, organic fertilizers, and advanced irrigation.
Challenges persist due to a lack of capital, technology, and standardisation, alongside fragmented growing areas, affecting mechanisation and value chain development. Strict export requirements and rising domestic consumer demands further test the region's growers.
The forum included exchanges among farmers, scientists, and officials on solutions for market access, plant varieties, and quality standards. Le Quoc Thanh, Director of the National Agricultural Extension Centre, noted the forum's role in increasing awareness of quality standards. Delegates observed a high-yield pomelo cultivation model in Chan Mong commune as part of the event.
Source: Vietnam+
