Dak Song litchi seeks export route

Once known as a key land with industrial crops such as coffee and pepper, Dak Song is gradually affirming new potential from lychee trees.

Efforts from local people and authorities are opening up opportunities for this fruit to reach the export market.

Mr. Nguyen Van Nuoi in Truong Xuan commune is the pioneer in growing lychee in Dak Song.

In 2005, Mr. Nguyen Van Nuoi in Truong Xuan commune was the pioneer in growing lychee in Dak Song. Boldly bringing 180 hybrid lychee trees to the red basalt land, Mr. Nuoi could not help but worry when it took nearly 10 years for the lychee trees to stabilize and produce commercial fruit.

Mr. Nguyen Van Anh, Chairman of Dak Song District Farmers' Association, and Mr. Nuoi shared about lychee growing techniques.

Although he has more than 20 years of experience growing lychee, he still cannot feel secure with this crop because of climate change, pests and unstable market output.

Currently, Mr. Nuoi has expanded the area to 2 hectares with 400 trees, of which 320 trees are being harvested. Last year, he harvested more than 23 tons of fruit, this year he expects about 15 tons due to the impact of fruit-head worms. The retail price at the garden is about 30,000 VND/kg, while the price at the wholesale market is only 25,000 VND/kg.

Video : Mr. Nguyen Van Nuoi, ​​Head of Dak Song Lychee Farmers Association, shares difficulties in product output.

“This year's lychee yield has decreased and there are more pests, but if there is a good output, it is still a valuable crop,” Mr. Nuoi shared.

In order to sustainably develop lychee trees, more than a year ago, the Dak Song District Farmers' Association established the Lychee Professional Farmers' Association. Mr. Nuoi is the Head of the Dak Song Lychee Professional Farmers' Association.

The association currently has 25 members, with a total area of ​​over 30 hectares. This is a step to connect, share techniques and build a brand, finding a stable outlet for the product.

Mr. Phan Anh Tha in Nam N'Jang commune is currently the farmer with the largest lychee growing area in Dak Song with 7 hectares.

Mr. Phan Anh Tha in Nam N'Jang commune, a member of the association, has the largest lychee garden area in Dak Song with 7 hectares. Mr. Tha currently has 2,000 trees. He started growing lychees in 2019, this year he expects to harvest about 40 tons of fruit.

According to Mr. Tha, the selling price at the garden currently fluctuates from 20,000 - 30,000 VND/kg depending on the time. If it meets export standards, lychee can be sold for 45,000 - 60,000 VND/kg.

"We hope that after this incident, the association will organize meetings, discuss and agree on production processes, aiming for export."

Mr. Bui Viet Nga (right) in Truong Xuan commune owns 1.8 hectares with 600 lychee trees.

Having grown lychee for about 6 years, Mr. Bui Viet Nga in Truong Xuan commune owns 1.8 hectares with 600 trees. After three years of harvesting, he believes that lychee is a potential crop, and if you know the techniques, it is not difficult to cultivate.

“I learned from predecessors like Uncle Nuoi, ​​Mr. Tha and also from the internet. The biggest problem now is the lack of market information. The family still has to find its own outlet. If there is a good connection channel, the lychee tree will have a long-term position,” Mr. Nga shared.

Mr. Nguyen Quang An in Nam N'Jang commune happily shared with the Chairman of Dak Song Farmers' Association that he hopes this year will be a good lychee crop.

Mr. Nguyen Quang An in Nam N'Jang commune, who owns 2.5 hectares of lychee with 600 trees, said last year's crop failed due to unfavorable weather. This year, Mr. An expects to harvest about 15 tons of fruit.

However, Mr. An is also worried because of poor care techniques, there are still trees in the garden that produce very little fruit.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Anh, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Dak Song district, currently lychee gardens in the district are still cultivated on a small scale, with inconsistent quality.

“This makes it difficult for products to meet design and technical standards for export. The association will continue to support branches and members to learn effective production models in other localities, aiming to organize chain production to bring products to the international market,” said Mr. Anh.

Video: Mr. Nguyen Van Anh, Chairman of Dak Song District Farmers' Association shares solutions towards lychee export

The gradual building of the "Dak Song litchi" brand is not only the desire of farmers but also an inevitable direction in the current context of deep integration.

To do that, it requires the synchronous participation of the government, farmers' associations, businesses and lychee growers, to standardize production processes, expand linkages and build sustainable value chains.

Source: https://baodaknong.vn/vai-thieu-dak-song-tim-duong-xuat-khau-253276.html