Long An improves quality of locally grown fruit

The Long An Province’s Agriculture and Rural Development Department focus on the quality development of dragon fruit. — VNA/VNS Photo

LONG AN — The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Long An’s agriculture sector has proposed solutions to improve the quality and output of dragon fruit to meet export demand and ensure sustainable development, said Nguyễn Chí Thiện, deputy director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The province is also improving management of dragon fruit production areas to ensure quality.

It has invested in research and development (R&D) of dragon fruit preservation technology, proposed policies to support enterprises and drawn up solutions to improve processing of dragon fruit.

It has also encouraged enterprises to invest in products, and strengthen trade promotion and branding for lemons and dragon fruit.

However, weak restructuring of farm crops in the province has led to the fact that many products are not up to standard, authorities said.

The use of high-tech methods in the production process remains low.

In recent years, lemons and dragon fruit have become good export products of the province.

Due to favourable weather condition, the cultivation areas have been expanded, which has increased the income for farmers.

This year, the province has 10,600ha of dragon fruit with output of 253,200 tonnes, an increase of 1,300 and 35,400, respectively, compared to last year.

The province has 9,400ha of lemons with output of 132,000 tonnes, an increase of 1,000 and 6,435, respectively, compared to last year.