Hai Duong aims to harvest 40,000 tonnes of litchi in 2019

The Red River Delta province of Hai Duong is expected to harvest about 35,000-40,000 tonnes of litchi in 2019.

Illustrative image.

The locality is stepping up efforts in preparations for the export of litchi to China, which has demanded origin traceability of Vietnamese fresh fruits, including litchi.

According to Luong Thi Kiem, head of the provincial plant protection sub-department, as of April 2019, Hai Duong has 40 areas grown with litchi, longan, banana and watermelon, and two packaging facilities receiving codes accepted by China.

Other 115 packaging facilities and ten fruit-growing areas in the province are awaiting code grants and approval from China.

The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued detailed guidelines on the export of fresh fruits to China, which have been sent to the city and district people’s committees and businesses in the locality.

It has asked relevant localities to instruct farmers to follow VietGAP standards as well as harvesting, package, transporting and labeling requirements.

According the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in 2018, Hai Duong had about 10,500 ha of litchi, mostly in Thanh Ha district and Chi Linh town, which yielded about 60,000 tonnes.

Hai Duong litchi received the geographical indication from the Ministry of Science and Technology’s National Office of Intellectual Property in 2007. The local fruit was listed in the top 10 quality products in 2013 and 2014 and received the Gold Brand prize in 2015.