A dragon fruit orchard in Bình Thuận. The province aims to expand the area under the fruit grown to VietGAP standards. – VNA/VNS Photo

BÌNH THUẬN – Bình Thuận Province is seeking to expand the farming of dragon fruit to Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices (VietGAP) standards by 2030.

The country’s largest producer aims to have 10,500ha of VietGAP-quality dragon fruit by the end of this year, up from the current 8,503ha, according to its Agriculture Extension Centre.

To reach this target, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has called on localities to increase advocacy efforts, encouraging farmers to adopt VietGAP standards and register for certification.

It has urged local authorities to strengthen inspections of VietGAP-certified areas that require certification renewal and assist farmers with registration procedures.

The province’s goal is to have 70-75 per cent of its dragon fruit cultivated in line with VietGAP standards by 2030, and to grow the fruit on 25,000 ha with a yield of 22 tonnes per hectare a year.

Other goals include ensuring that 70 per cent of the value of dragon fruit and related products is generated through stakeholder linkages and increasing the exports of the fruit through official channels by 5 per cent annually until 2030.

Several co-operatives in the province have already adopted VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards, enabling them to export to multiple international markets.

For example, the Hiệp Tiến Dragon Fruit Co-operative in Tân Tiến Commune, Lagi Town, achieved VietGAP certification for its 20-hectare plantation last year, and now exports its produce to the EU and China.

Its dragon fruit sells to exporters for nearly VNĐ14,000 (55 US cents) per kilogramme as against VNĐ6,000-8,000 (23-31 US cents) that individual farmers get.

The Thuận Tiến Dragon Fruit Co-operative in Hàm Liêm Commune, Hàm Thuận Bắc District, manages 30 hectares of VietGAP-certified dragon fruit and exports to the EU, the US, Australia, and China.

Its members have enjoyed profit increases of 30–50 per cent annually in recent years.

The co-operative plans to meet GlobalGAP standards and establish a brand for its dragon fruit, having been recognised as one of the 63 exemplary co-operatives nationwide by the Việt Nam Farmers Association in 2023.

Dragon fruit remains a key agricultural product in Bình Thuận, lifting many farmers out of poverty.

In the first nine months of this year, the province’s dragon fruit exports reached $6.4 million, a 2.3 per cent increase from the previous year.

Approximately 85 per cent of Bình Thuận’s dragon fruit is exported, mainly to China, with 15 per cent sold domestically.

The geographical indication for “Bình Thuận dragon fruit” is protected in 13 countries and territories, including the US, the UK, Germany, France, and Japan.

Value-added processing

Trần Thị Kim Lĩnh, owner of the Bảo Long Bình Thuận Trade, Services and Production Establishment in Bình Thuận Province’s Hàm Thuận Bắc District, makes 13 dragon-fruit related products, including fermented dragon fruit juice, which has been recognised as a four-star product under the country’s “One Commune – One Product” programme. – VNA/VNS Photo Hồng Hiếu

An increasing number of local producers, co-operatives, and companies are developing various dragon fruit-related products, such as dried fruit, wine, tea, and fermented juice, to add value.

The Hoà Lệ Clean Dragon Fruit Co-operative in Ma Lâm Town, Hàm Thuận Bắc District, collaborates with 30 farmers and four co-operatives to cultivate 200ha of VietGAP-certified fruit.

In addition to exporting fresh fruit to Japan, South Korea, China, and India, Hoà Lệ also makes 16 products from the fruit, including wine, juice, jam, ice cream, essential oils, and flower tea.

It has 11 products recognised under the national "One Commune – One Product" programme and five designated as typical rural industrial products of the province.

It also offers agro-tourism services, allowing local and international tourists to visit dragon fruit orchards during the harvest, when the fruits are ripe.

Nguyễn Hoài Anh, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, acknowledged dragon fruit as a major agricultural asset for Bình Thuận.

However, he admitted there are challenges like limitations to existing varieties that affect quality and competitiveness and insufficient diversity in products made from the fruit.

He urged the province People’s Committee to promote advanced farming techniques and encourage cultivation based on VietGAP, GlobalGAP and organic standards.

The People’s Committee should also strengthen co-operative linkages among farmers, companies and others to create value chains for the fruit and products made from it and foster a favourable investment climate for development of the products. – VNS