More than 80% of seedless lemon production participates in the export market.

Currently, more than 80% of seedless lemon output in Ben Luc district is processed for export.

Currently, Ben Luc district has about 6,950 hectares of lemon cultivation, of which the fruiting area is 6,600 hectares, mainly seedless lemons, with an average yield of 16 tons/ha and an output of about 105,600 tons/year. In 2023, the district will develop an additional 460 hectares (plan 445 hectares) of UDCNC lemons, reaching 103.4% of the plan assigned by the province. Up to now, the area of UDCNC lemons in the whole district is 2,341 hectares (the province assigns 2,700 hectares by 2025).

To make lemon become the main crop as it is today, the district's agricultural sector has proactively implemented many solutions, coordinating with related units to link from production to consumption.

Currently, more than 80% of seedless lemons grown in the district are processed for export. Therefore, the price of seedless lemons is always stable, lemon growers have an average income of 1 hectare of lemons higher than other crops (nearly 100 million VND/year).

In the district, there are many businesses that purchase, process and export lemons stably according to the production and consumption linkage model. A typical linkage in the production and consumption of lemons is The Fruit Repuplic Company Limited ( Can Tho ) with lemon farmers in the district in many communes: Luong Hoa, Luong Binh, Binh Duc,...

The Fruit Repuplic Company Limited always buys lemons at a price 3,000-5,000 VND/kg higher than the market price. Currently, the company participates in purchasing and exporting lemons to many markets around the world , of which the EU, Middle East,... markets account for 15% of stable output.

In addition to the area where The Fruit Repuplic Company has directly linked with farmers, the district's Department of Agriculture has also sent a list of areas implementing the UDCNC from the support model from the district budget to introduce nearly 500 hectares of lemons for this Company to learn about, and proceed to sign a consumption contract with farmers (if they meet the Company's requirements) for export as well as domestic consumption.

According to Mr. Le Van Nam, the Agricultural Development Program using high-tech agriculture associated with restructuring the agricultural sector is an orientation that is consistent with the current trend. In Ben Luc district, it has been effective on lemon trees.

To achieve that result, the propaganda and mobilization work was organized by the district's Department of Agriculture through production models according to GAP standards, organic orientation, food safety, etc. to better meet market demand, especially export.

In 2024, the district's Department of Agriculture will continue to accompany farmers to achieve 520 hectares of UDCNC lemons to reach 2,700 hectares by 2025 according to the target assigned by the province.

At the same time, the work of propaganda, guidance, and transfer of science and technology to farmers producing UDCNC lemons continues to be strengthened./.

Mai Huong

Source