Bac Giang enjoys bumper litchi crop

Yielding 215,800 tonnes of fruit, the 2018 record litchi crop brought Bac Giang Province’s farmers VND5.75 trillion in sales. The fruit has been exported to 30 countries and territories.

Bac Giang litchis have won consumer trust

According to the Bac Giang Department of Industry and Trade, 2018 litchi yields and sales are up 124,300 tonnes and VND448 billion, respectively, compared with 2017.

In the 2018 litchi season, Bac Giang exported 97,100 tonnes of fresh fruit worth US$170.5 million (86,200 tonnes to China; 1,200 tonnes to other markets) and 3,300 tonnes of processed fruit.

Meanwhile, 118,700 tonnes were sold domestically in neighboring provinces in the north and major cities, such as Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City, and other southern localities. Distribution channels include wholesale markets, shopping centers, convenience stores and major supermarket chains, such as Co.op Mart, Big C and Hapro. Tran Quang Tan, Director of the Bac Giang Department of Industry and Trade, said that unlike previous years, litchi prices, especially litchis grown according to VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards, were stable throughout the 2018 crop season, averaging VND21,000 per kg. This is the best bumper litchi crop so far, he added.

A representative of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Domestic Market Department said taking the initiative in sales had enabled farmers to avoid price pressures from domestic and foreign traders.

In the 2018 litchi season, prices ranged between VND4,000-40,000 per kg. Litchis grown in Son Dong, Luc Nam, Lang Giang, Yen The and Tan Yen districts were sold at low prices due to lower quality compared with those grown in other parts of the province. All litchis sold at prices ranging from VND20,000-40,000 per kg were grown according to VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards.

According to Bac Giang Province People’s Committee Vice Chairman Duong Van Thai, the locality will promote the application of new farming techniques in order to improve the fruit quality.

“Bac Giang will pay greater attention to developing the brand and improving the packaging of litchis, as well as ensure their traceability, to meet market demands. At the same time, the province will create favorable conditions for litchi farming cooperatives and trading companies to seek new partners and markets, in an effort to increase sales, especially in the domestic market,” Duong Van Thai said.

In the process of restructuring the agricultural sector, Bac Giang will not expand the area of litchi planting but concentrate on improving quality in order to increase value.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Domestic Market Department, the ministry will maintain its

coordination with other ministries, sectors and localities to promote litchi sales in the domestic market and abroad.