A disappointing production of fruit and vegetables in Vietnam this year and therefore low export turnover, has made the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) adjust its national programme on developing production and exports of fruit and vegetables. The move will put more attention onto improving technology within the industry by, in the first stages, offering the export farms in northern mountainous and midland provinces, the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, Ho Chi Minh City and some Mekong Delta provinces concentrated plantations and trading centres that apply modern technology and advanced trading methods. The MARD hopes to earn its aim of US$600-700m a year by 2010 and US$1 billion by 2015 from fruit and vegetable exports with this adjusted programme.

Even though Vietnam’s total vegetable output reached six million tonnes in 2006, it was mostly for local consumption. Export turnover, despite recent increase, brought only US$260m last year with planning insufficiencies and small-sized production being blamed for the low turn out.

The MARD will encourage all models that involve farming households in developing safe and high-quality vegetable growing areas, said Minister Cao Duc Phat, adding that the ministry will attach importance to building trademarks for products. The MARD will closely coordinate with the Ministry of Trade to boost exports to foreign markets, helping farmers produce crops to international standards.

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