An Giang to export mangoes to US in June

The Mekong Delta province of An Giang will export about 5-10 tonnes of mangoes to the US in June 2019, according to deputy director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Lu Cam Khuong.

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In recent years, local farmers have shifted from growing rice to other crops, hence, the cultivating area for fruits, including mangoes, has significantly increased.

However, the province has focused on the domestic market and exports to China.

Exports of mangoes to the US in June will be an important turning point, paving a new path for this fruit, he said.

He added that his department coordinated with cooperatives and cooperative groups which have mangoes meeting Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices (VietGAP) in Cho Moi, An Phu, Tri Ton and Tinh Bien districts to review the quality and quantity of the fruit to export.

The People’s Committees of Cho Moi, Tri Ton and Tinh Bien districts have signed a deal with Chanh Thu Export and Import Fruit Company Limited in Cho Lach district, southern Ben Tre province to grow and export mangoes.

The company agreed to collaborate with Tri Ton and Tinh Bien districts to build mango growing areas, meeting requirements on cultivation techniques and international standards to export to choosy markets, especially the US.

Director of the An Giang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Sy Lam said to develop the local mango brand, the department will accelerate the issuance of codes to some growing areas in Cho Moi, An Phu, Tri Ton, Tinh Bien districts, Tan Chau town and Long Xuyen city.

Eighteen export codes have been issued for mango growing areas in An Giang with a total area of nearly 244 hectares.

According to the provincial Statistics Office, An Giang had nearly 9,700 hectares of mangoes in 2018.

The area of mangoes meeting VietGAP standard is about 193 ha with estimated output of about 1,900 tonnes per year.

In recent years, An Giang has been exporting mangoes to the Republic of Korea and the US but with insignificant quantity.