Vietnam Promotes Exports of Dragon Fruit
The Trade Promotion Department under the Ministry of Trade is carrying out a program to promote the export of dragon fruits to the European market – a large consumer for this sweet and nutritious fruit.
Dragon fruit is a key fruit export item of Vietnam beside durian, pomelo, mango, litchi, longan and pineapple.
The country plans to cultivate dragon fruit trees on 14,300 hectares by 2010 with southern Binh Thuan having the largest area, yielding an estimated output of 236,500 tons of fruits.
As of late 2006, farmers in Binh Thuan province reportedly planted more than 7,000 ha of dragon fruit trees, of which 5,000ha are currently producing fruit.
The province plans to expand the area to 11,277ha by 2010, producing 350,000 tons. Some 30-40 per cent of the fruit will be earmarked for export, with total expected earnings of US$30-40 million.
Last year, dragon fruit-growing Ham Minh Cooperative based in Binh Thuan was awarded the certification of European Retail Produce Good Agricultural Practices (EurepGap) after implementing a project funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Dragon fruit is also grown in large areas in the southwestern region, especially Long An and Tien Giang provinces.
Vietnamese dragon fruit growers are working to implement EurepGap standards in their fields. (Vietnam & World Economy)
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