HCM CITY — The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta city of Cần Thơ plans to develop a 700ha specialised fruit growing area for export in Phong Điền District.

Located in Nhơn Nghĩa Commune, the area will be based on existing fruit orchards. The zoned area now has 477ha of mixed orchards which need to be improved.

Farmers are planting many types of fruits, including Burmese grape, mango, milk apple and durian in the mixed orchards.

The specialised fruit growing area will also have one or two key fruits.

The commune’s farmers are switching to Idol longan, which could become the area’s key fruit, besides milk apple and durian.

Đào Anh Dũng, deputy chairman of the Cần Thơ People’s Committee, said the establishment of the specialised fruit growing area would produce a large quantity of fruit to meet export demand.

It will also help increase income and improve the lives of farmers.

The area will be produce organic agricultural products under the most modern standards to meet world demand, he said.

Government agencies plan to invest in transport infrastructure, dyke and sluice gate systems for the area.

The area has a 7.6 km section located along the Cần Thơ River’s Ba Láng – Vàm Xáng section that is often eroded, affecting transport and agriculture production, according to the district’s People’s Committee.

Nguyễn Văn Sử, chairman of the district’s People’s Committee, said the district would work with the city’s departments and agencies to find stable outlets for the specialised fruit cultivation area.

The district’s People’s Committee and city agencies will determine the key fruits for the specialised fruit growing area, according to the district’s People’s Committee.

If the specialised fruit cultivation area grows longan, the district will identify the types of longan suited to domestic and foreign markets, it said.

The city has more than 17,120 ha of fruits with an annual yield of 98,000 tonnes.

Its fruit planting areas are mostly in Phong Điền District.

The city’s People’s Committee has called on companies to co-operate with farmers in producing and exporting fruits, especially longan, star apple and mango. — VNS