Tien Giang develops dragon fruit growing area for export (Photo: VNA)This is the largest specialised dragon fruit area in Tien Giang province, whichis expected to produce 188,000 tonnes of products per year.
Dragon fruit, one of the province’s key specialty fruits, has competitiveadvantages and can adapt to climate change.
The district’s dragon fruit was awarded a collective brand name “Thanh longCho Gao” (Cho Gao dragon fruit) by the National Office of IntellectualProperty. This product has been exported to many markets, including the EUand the US.
To better the quality of its products, affirm the brand name of Cho Gao dragonfruit as well as promote competitiveness of the product in markets, thedistrict authority is speeding transfer of agricultural technology andencouraging local farmers to growth the fruit under Vietnamese goodagricultural practices (VietGAP) standards, and in line with regulations onfood safety, origin traceability, and environmental protection.
Last year, the locality granted VietGAP certificates for 1,118ha ofdragon fruit in 14 communes and key dragon fruit growing areas of the district,taking the district’s total VietGAP dragon fruit area to 2,184 ha, up 9.2percent of the target set for last year, and equivalent to 29.5 percent ofthe total area in the district.
In 2021, it plans to have an additional 500ha of dragon fruit grantedVietGAP certificates, taking the district’s total VietGAP area to 2,684 ha bythe end of this year.
The district will continue effortsto promote the transfer of cultivation technique to further improve the qualityof the fruit, while forming more dragon fruit growing cooperatives andimplementing cooperation projects in producing and consuming the product.
It aims to provide VietGAP standard farming techniques to about1,800 farmers this year, and strengthen linkages between farmers and buyers.
Cho Gao district is home to nearly 9,400ha of various types of fruits,including dragon fruit, and green-skin and pink-flesh grapefruit./.
VNA
