Such standards help farmers save on fertiliser and pesticide costs, and promote sustainable production.

Phan Van Tan, deputy director of the province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that more advanced farming techniques were being used such as efficient irrigation systems and compact lamps that stimulate off-season growth as well as trellises on which dragon fruit vines grow.

Installing compact lamps in a dragon fruit orchard in Binh Thuan province.

These techniques improve quality and reduce production costs.

Dragon fruit from the province is exported to many countries, including China, the US and Australia.

The Thuan Tien Dragon Fruit Co-operative in Ham Thuan Bac’s Ham Liem commune grows dragon fruit to VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards and exports fruit to the US, Australia and the EU.

Tran Dinh Trung, chairman of the co-operative, said its 52 members cultivate a total of 70ha of dragon fruit and have a profit margin of 35 – 40 percent.

Vo Hong Chien, one of the members, grows 4ha to GlobalGAP standards and harvests about 120 tonnes a year, earning a profit of about 1 billion VND (43,200 USD) a year.

Besides purchasing dragon fruit for its members, the Thuan Tien cooperative signs contracts with other farmers and co-operatives that buy their dragon fruit.

The province has 30 co-operatives that grow dragon fruit to VietGAP and Global GAP standards. In addition to selling fresh dragon fruit, many co-operatives produce dragon fruit wine and syrup, and dried dragon fruit.

As of the end of last month, the province had 10,200ha of dragon fruit grown under VietGAP standards, up 200ha against last year, according to the department. Ham Thuan Nam, Ham Thuan Bac and Bac Binh districts top the province in having the largest area of VietGAP quality dragon fruit.

The province also has more than 260ha of dragon fruit planted to GlobalGAP standards. The department and other agencies have helped farmers improve the quality of dragon fruit, including researching new dragon fruit varieties.

Nguyen Phu Hoang, chairman of the province’s Farmers Association, said that farmers had received help to access soft loans and quality seeds. The association has also encouraged farmers to switch from dragon fruit grown under traditional methods to advanced farming techniques.

The province has nearly 30,000ha of dragon fruit with an annual output of 600,000 tonnes, according to the department.

Dragon fruit is a key product of the province.

Long journey of Vietnamese fruits to Australia

Longan has become the fourth kind of Vietnamese fruit to be exported to Australia after litchi, mango and dragon fruit. However, experts say there is still a lot of work needed for Vietnam to secure a firm foothold in the market.

Luc Ngan to hold auction against prized quality fruits at 2019 fair for orange, pomelo and signature products

(BGO)-With an aim to foster propaganda, promotion and supply of high-quality fruits and signature farm and forestry products of the communes and town in the market, the Luc Ngan fair for orange, pomelo and signature products 2019 will take place within 3 days from 29 November to 1 December 2019. 

Tan Yen expands fruit cultivation under VietGAP procedure

(BGO) – To date, Tan Yen district  (Bac Giang province) is home to 3,417 hectares of fruit trees, 2,600 hectares of which were harvested with output of 28,300 tonnes of fruits and estimated value of over 600 billion VND (25.8 million USD). 

Vietnam focuses on fruit exports for higher value

Vietnamese agriculture officials made fruits a key export product as it can bring eight or nine times more in value compare to rice production.

The fruit with a bad rap now in pastry form in Chinatown

A cart sells durian pastries that are so popular customers often have to wait in line to get them.

Source: VNA