Mekong Delta: Enlarging Exported Fruit Areas

Southern Mekong Delta provinces of Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Hau Giang and Can Tho have added 18,000 ha of land to grow local specialty fruits like Nam Roi grapefruit, green-skinned grapefruits, dragon fruits, mangosteens, Lo Ren star apples, Cat Lot mangos, thick-skinned oranges, and Ri 6 durians.

 

The new area brought the orchard area of these localities to 73,000ha, accounting for 29 per cent of fruit-growing area in the Mekong Delta region.

 

According to plans, in 2010 these localities will grow eight varieties of specialty fruit trees on additional 7,000 ha. With 75,000 ha in total growing these specialty fruit trees, these localities expect to pick 590,000 tonnes in 2010, a rise of 230,000 tonnes over 2006. The fruit export revenue will reach US$35 million.