Vietnamese lychee ready for export

Motivated by good preparation and calculation of consumption options, Vietnamese lychee is hopeful to welcome a crop with good prices. 

Total lychee production in the country this year is more than 200,000 tons. Photo: N. Thanh

Go to the US and Australia

On May 25, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Hai Duong province and Thanh Ha district (Hai Duong) organized the program of collecting lychee for export and cutting the ribbon for exporting the first lychee shipment to Singapore, the US and Australia in 2020, opening a favorable start of the lychee harvest and consumption. Specifically, Ameii Vietnam Joint Stock Company exported the first lychee container to Singapore and Fire Dragon Manufacturing Trading Service Co., Ltd. exported the first lychee shipments to Australia and the US.

Regarding lychee production in 2020, in Bac Giang the total farming area is 28,126 ha; estimated production is 160,000 tons, an increase of 10,000 tons compared to 2019, of which, early lychee production is 45,000 tons and in main crop is 115,000 tons. In Hai Duong, the framing area is 9,750 ha; estimated output is 45,000 tons. In Hung Yen, production is estimated at 15,000 tons, mainly of early ripening lychee, favorable for consumption.

In 2020, the total lychee production of the Hai Duong province is estimated at 45,000 tons, an increase of more than 20,000 tons compared to the 2019 crop. Early lychee is harvested in about one month from 5 May to June 5. Lychee in the main crop is harvestedof 5,000 tons, 3-4 times higher than the previous year, the harvest time is from June 5 to the end of June.

A representative of Hai Duong Department of Agriculture and Rural Development assessed that the consumption of lychee in the first crop was quite good. The number of businesses, supermarkets and traders going to Hai Duong to buy lychee is more than the previous year. Early lychee is currently harvested with a fairly high yield, nice appearance and quality assurance. Notably, the selling price is VND 5,000 - 10,000 / kg higher than the previous year. Samples of lychee fruit in the export area are analyzed and evaluated before export, ensuring standards are met.

In the "capital" of lychee in Bac Giang, lychee consumption also recorded positive signs. According to Bac Giang Department of Industry and Trade, as of May 18, 250 Chinese traders have registered to buy lychee from Luc Ngan.

Mr. La Van Nam, Chairman of Luc Ngan District People's Committee said: “It is expected that in the main harvest, there will be 700 Chinese traders coming to Luc Ngan to buy lychee. Currently, the district has a plan of isolation and supervision to both effectively prevent Covid-19 and help the people enjoy favorable conditions.”

Mr. Duong Van Thai, Chairman of Bac Giang People's Committee, said that the province has focused on boosting the expansion of consumption markets, especially for the traditional market of China, creating favorable conditions for traders, corporations and distributors to sign contracts with cooperatives, businesses and cooperative groups, farms purchasing and selling lychee.

Ready to enter Japanese market

Mr. Hoang Trung, Director of the Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), assessed that lychee exports to China, Australia, and the US were favorable thanks to the preparation and access for many years. Particularly, this year in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government had many measures in terms of policies and procedures to facilitate the lychee export. Specifically, Australia has approved lychee irradiation in Hanoi. Along with that, thanks to the application of technological improvements, fresh lychee can be preserved for up to 35 days, convenient for export by sea.

Particularly, for the Japanese market, Mr. Trung said so far the quality of lychee in export areas (Bac Giang, Hai Duong) has met the strict requirements of the importer and the technical conditions for export to Japan are well prepared. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will continue to negotiate with the Japanese side to agree to let the Vietnamese side conduct supervision because Japanese experts cannot come to Vietnam due to Covid-19.

Regarding lychee consumption, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doanhsaid at the end of last year, Japan officially allowed the import of Vietnamese fresh lychee. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development worked with Bac Giang, the province was also very active in planning farming areas according to standards and quality of Japan under close supervision. The Plant Protection Department also sent officers to the province to guide and monitor each production process and assess the entire preparation work.

According to Mr. Thai, particularly for Japan, so far, Bac Giang has prepared all conditions to bring lychee with the best quality to this market. Currently, three enterprises have come to Bac Giang to sign a contract for lychee export to the Japanese market.

According to the reporter's research, it is expected that in the next few days, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam, Bac Giang province will hold the ceremony to export the first fresh lychee to Japan.