More tech urged for longan farms

Businesses at the event, which saw the participation of over 200 representatives from cooperatives, local farmers and businesses from Hanoi and HCM City hailed Hung Yen’s longan varieties. Hapro Hanoi’s Managing Director Mai Khue suggested local authorities and relevant bodies provide technical support to local farmers to ensure their longan products are in line with standards on food safety in the growing, harvesting and packaging processes.

Director of Agri Viet Hung Trading Company, Do Dinh Hung also underlined the significance of the brand name and quality of Hưng Yên longans, saying that farmers need to grow their longan trees in line with the VietGAP standard to secure their consumption niche.

Chairman of the Khoai Chau District People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Son said the Ham Tu Commune produces 120 tonnes of longans meeting VietGAP standards for export. The district has also called on local farmers to select high-yield varieties of longan and ensure their production meets the requirements of food safety. 

Vice chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Dang Ngoc Quynh highly valued the link among co-operatives, farmers and businesses in promoting the local longans. He said the province would facilitate businesses dealing with agricultural products as well as support the connection among stakeholders in the field to boost exports.

The co-operation among commercial centres and supermarkets would help longan and other agricultural products penetrate demanding markets such as the US, EU and Japan. Participants also witnessed the signing of a number of agreements between longan growers and businesses.

Khoai Chau District is the biggest longan growing area in Hung Yen, with over 1,600 hectares of trees, mostly in Ham Tu, Dong Ket, Binh Kieu, AN Vi and Ong Dinh communes. This year, the district produced 20,000 tonnes of fresh longans, worth over VND400 billion (US$16 million).