Vietnam’s fresh produce exports generated US$136 million (£74m) in the first half of this year, marking an annual rise of more than 14.3 per cent, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
MARD said the country intends to boost its earnings to US$ 280m for the whole of 2006, to constitute a rise of 19 per cent.
Therefore the ministry is trying to promote branding to exploit the premium quality of a number of speciality products, as well as expanding marketing activities and focusing growth in plantations of profitable fruits and vegetables and keeping pace with technological advancements.
Vietnam has a number of specific fruit zones, such as the Hoa Loc sweet mango area in the Mekong delta province of Tien Giang and the dragon fruit-rich area of central Binh Thuan province.
The northern Bac Giang province is known for lychees, while grapes are concentrated in the central Ninh Thuan province and the Nam Roi pomelo is largely produced in the Mekong delta province of Vinh Long.
But, these regions only account for a small proportion of the country's total plantation area of 755,000 hectares, with the majority of the country's fruit acreage consisting of small-holders.
Vietnam’s horticultural industry continues to suffer significant losses in post-harvest production, owing to the traditional methods used.
Furthermore, its old-fashioned technology and transport systems have raised the price of production, compromising the industry’s competitiveness.
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