Cần Thơ aims to lift fruit exports

Fruits are among the major items sold at the Cái Răng Floating Market in Cần Thơ City. - VNA/VNS Photo An Hiếu

CẦN THƠ - Cần Thơ City has called on companies to strengthen co-operation with farmers for exporting fruits, especially the city’s three key fruits of longan, star apple and mango.

The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta city grows 98,000 tonnes of fruits in more than 17,120ha of orchards, with mango accounting for 2,710ha, star apple for 1,324ha and longan for 1,838ha, according to its People’s Committee.

Đào Anh Dũng, deputy chairman of the committee, said the city would create optimal conditions for companies to collaborate with farmers to consume fruits domestically and export.

It would establish fruit co-operatives which would collaborate with companies, he said.

This year the city plans to export some longan, star apple and mango, he added.

Nguyễn Đình Tùng, general director of Vina T&T Import – Export Service Trading Co Ltd said his HCM City-based company buys large volumes of fresh fruits from Cần Thơ for export, but from traders and not directly from farmers.

For companies to offer guaranteed outlets for farmers, the latter need to sign agreements, he said.

Lê Văn Thiệt, deputy head of the Plant Protection Department, said the country’s five major fruits – dragon fruit, longan, mango, litchi, and star apple – have been exported to several demanding markets such as the US, Chile, Japan and New Zealand.

Việt Nam has exported 230 tonnes of star apple to the US since the first batch was shipped last December, he said.

It plans to export its first batch of mango to the US next month, he said.

Cần Thơ has zoned areas such as the Cát Hòa Lộc mango-growing area in Cờ Đỏ District and star apple-growing areas in Phong Điền and Bình Thủy districts.  

Phong Điền has more than 1,000ha under the fruit.

The Trường Khương A Hamlet Fruit Orchards Co-operative in Gia Xuân Commune and the Tân Hưng Hamlet Star Apple Growing Club in Gia Xuân Commune account for more than 50ha of star apple in Phong Điền.

Phạm Thị Minh Hiếu, head of the Cần Thơ City Plant Cultivation and Protection Sub-department, said the city has tied up with a fruit export company to guarantee outlets for the two, and it is inspecting their orchards.

The sub-department would instruct members of the co-operative and club in farming techniques that meet export requirements, she said.

Star apple has provided high incomes for farmers in Phong Điền.

Trần Văn Nhanh, who owns a 2ha star apple orchard and is a member of the Trường Khương A Hamlet Fruit Orchards Co-operative, said he harvested more than 15 tonnes this year.

At a price of VNĐ25 million a tonne, he earned a profit of around VNĐ300 million (US$13,200), he said.