Strengthening chain linkages and processing to enhance the value of lychee

Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy inspects a lychee garden in Bac Giang on May 11 - Photo: VGP/Do Huong

Dear Minister, this year's lychee season in localities such as Bac Giang and Hai Duong is expected to yield high yields, but the consumption period is very short, only about one to two months, mainly fresh fruit. This puts considerable pressure on production and export. What measures has the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment taken to support?

Minister Do Duc Duy: Yes, lychee is an important specialty, but the short harvest and consumption period, along with the high demand for fresh fruit exports, has posed many challenges. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has proactively coordinated with localities to develop a master plan in advance, focusing on the stages of harvesting, preserving, processing and consuming.

First of all, we have guided and supported localities to prepare infrastructure such as cold storage, transportation vehicles and processing facilities to ensure that fresh lychees are well preserved, reducing pressure during peak times.

Second, we have prepared adequate human resources and facilities for plant quarantine, food safety inspection, especially the strict requirements of export markets. At the same time, the Ministry coordinates with experts from importing countries and customs agencies at border gates to seek new markets, open green channels, and create favorable conditions for lychee exports.

So what specific solutions has the Ministry had to promote consumption, both domestically and internationally, Minister?

Minister Do Duc Duy: We have coordinated with localities to guide businesses and farmers to connect to consume lychee, prioritizing both domestic and export markets. For exports, we focus on markets with high requirements on plant quarantine and quality such as the United States, EU, and Japan, through supporting businesses to meet international standards.

Domestically, we promote consumption through supermarket chains, e-commerce platforms, and other distribution channels to reduce inventory pressure. In addition, the Ministry maintains information hubs and hotlines to provide timely market data, helping businesses and people to be proactive in harvesting and consuming.

One solution that the Ministry is very interested in is improving storage and processing capacity, which is an important issue to reduce pressure during the crop season. We coordinate with localities and businesses to improve storage capacity through cold storage systems, using refrigerated transport vehicles, and expanding the scale of processing. Diversifying products, such as dried lychees, soaked lychees, or juices, helps reduce dependence on fresh exports to certain markets as before. This not only extends the consumption time but also increases the added value of the products.

Minister Do Duc Duy visited a unit exporting lychees to Europe. Lychees that are quickly and deeply frozen have a very long preservation time. After thawing, the quality of the lychees reaches 90% compared to fresh lychees - Photo: VGP/Do Huong

Summer is the season of many fruits, besides lychees. How can we avoid surplus or price drops of agricultural products during the harvest season, Minister?

Minister Do Duc Duy: This is an issue that needs to be focused on early. First of all, it is necessary to improve the capacity to forecast supply and demand, guide businesses and farmers to organize production according to market signals to avoid imbalance. Second, localities are directed to support businesses to expand processing facilities and temporary storage warehouses, help buy reserves during the crop season for export at favorable times, and reduce short-term inventory pressure.

At the same time, we continuously expand and diversify our export markets, not only focusing on traditional markets such as China, the United States, the EU, and Japan, but also targeting South America, Africa, and the Middle East – where there is good potential for consuming Vietnamese agricultural products. This reduces risks when a market fluctuates. Finally, providing timely market information and support to resolve difficulties, especially in terms of plant quarantine and food safety, is a key factor in maintaining sustainable exports.

During a recent inspection of lychee production areas, the Minister noted that the relationship between farmers, businesses and packaging facilities still lacks coordination. What recommendations does the Minister have to improve this chain?

Minister Do Duc Duy: I am very excited to see that farmers, businesses and local authorities have created production areas that meet GlobalGAP standards, with growing area codes, cultivation processes, and quality control that meet the high requirements of markets such as the United States, EU, and Japan. This is a great effort in recent times. However, the chain still needs to be improved due to limitations in capacity, processing and preservation infrastructure, and capital. Many places only form chains during the crop season, lacking sustainable year-round connections.

To overcome this, I recommend signing future contracts with importers right from the production stage, as well as contracts between farmers, businesses and processing and packaging facilities. Close links will reduce risks, although initial compliance costs may be high. However, in the long run, costs will decrease, added value will increase and all parties in the chain will benefit. This is the inevitable direction for developing a circular, multi-value and professional agricultural industry, meeting the increasing demands of the domestic and export markets.

Chairman of Bac Giang Province Nguyen Viet Oanh (in white shirt) and Minister Do Duc Duy are discussing changes in production application as well as promoting lychee consumption linkage in Bac Giang province - Photo: VGP/Do Huong

Faced with concerns about the possibility of agricultural surplus due to the trade war or new taxes from the US, what specific actions has the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment taken, Minister?

Minister Do Duc Duy: Following the Prime Minister's direction, we have implemented many synchronous solutions. First of all, controlling production planning, adjusting crop structure, combining with enhanced forecasting to adjust production according to market demand. Second, diversifying products, prioritizing quality improvement, added value, focusing on national key products, regional specialties, and highly competitive products. Third, investing in deep processing and temporary storage capacity, helping to resolve the surplus situation during the crop season when the domestic and international markets are not balanced.

We are also continuing to negotiate market expansion, especially potential markets such as South America, Africa, and the Middle East, taking advantage of free trade agreements to promote our brands and reduce dependence on certain markets such as the United States. Finally, we advise the Government to negotiate trade agreements, remove tariff and technical barriers, and create conditions for Vietnamese agricultural products to access demanding markets.

Thank you for sharing, Minister!

Do Huong (performed)

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/tang-cuong-link-ket-chuoi-va-che-bien-nang-cao-gia-tri-qua-vai-102250512091136477.htm