The northern province of Bac Giang has earned around VND 3 trillion (about USD 135 million) from lychees and some VND 2 trillion (USD 90 million) from related services so far this year.

The figures were released by Director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade Tran Quang Tan at a conference to review lychee production and consumption in Bac Giang on August 18.

The price of lychees hit a 40 year high this year, at an average of VND 21,000 (USD 0.95) per kilogram, 35 percent higher than last year.

A farmer harvesting lychees

Domestic consumption accounted for about 50 percent of the 142,000 tons harvested. The other half was shipped abroad, mostly to China.

The province also witnessed a remarkable year-on-year increase in the amount exported to such strict markets as the US, Australia, the EU and the Republic of Korea.

In order to ensure sustainable development in the sector, the province aims to provide assistance to lychee farmers to apply VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards in production, while expanding the cooperative model to enhance local lychee brand names.

The locality will also work closely with other bodies and ministries to promote domestic consumption in the southern market and seek new and high-value export markets.

More incentives will be offered to better preserve lychees and facilitate exports.

During the event, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Thanh Nam urged the province to promote the shipment of lychees to the southern and central markets.

He also called for the application of technology in the post-harvest stage and VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards in production.

The province should establish an agricultural market to better connect farmers and enterprises, Nam said.

Source: VNA