Coming to Thanh Ha (Hai Duong) these days, you can see people harvesting litchis everywhere.
Due to the impacts of China’s illegal placement of a rig in Vietnam’s waters, the number of Chinese people coming to Thanh Ha to buy thieu litchis has sharply dropped compared to previous years.
“I grow over 1 mau (3,600m2) of thieu litchis. I used to sell litchis to traders for exporting to China in previous years, but now I have had recourse to relations to sell litchi fruits in domestic markets, like Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, and Ho Chi Minh city,” said Nguyen Duc Nhan in Lai Xa 2 hamlet, Thanh Thuy commune.
Currently, there are about 20 litchi desiccation sites in Thanh Ha district.
“My family has three drying frames. This year, because of slow consumption in overseas markets, I have bought a lot of litchis for drying right from the beginning of the crop,” said Do Van Hoi, who has done the job of drying litchis for seven years in Thanh Xa commune.
“I dry each batch of six tons of fresh litchis in three days and gain 1.7 tons of desiccated litchis. I averagely dry about 50 tons of litchis each year, but the amount may be higher this year. Desiccated litchis are also exported to the Chinese market and transported to the South,” Hoi added.
Though it is just the beginning of the season, thieu litchis cost only VND6,000 – VND8,000/ kg, down VND3,000 – VND4,000/ kg compared to 2013. Thus, apart from large desiccation spots, many small ones have also intensified litchi drying. Desiccated litchis can be kept longer with prices higher than fresh ones 4 – 5 times.
This year, the Association for the Production and Sale of Thanh Ha Thieu Litchis has also proactively connected with numerous domestic enterprises to sell fresh litchis.
“The association’s litchi fruits have mainly been sold in Southern provinces for years. Members of the association have also actively found outlets for products. Additionally, the members have processed fresh litchis to make dried ones and dried litchi pulp,” said Vu Dinh Bat, Chairman of the Association for the Production and Sale of Thanh Ha Thieu Litchis.
About seven Southern enterprises and traders have asked to buy the association’s litchis this year.
Farmers in previous years often raced with each other to pick unripe litchis for sale when they were highly priced. This year, farmers only harvest litchis when they are ripe because if selling ripe litchis mixed with unripe ones, they will be criticized by traders and lose prestige.
Market expansion
“I am presently buying 15 – 20 tons of litchis/ day. We choose good-looking and quality fruits to export to the markets of Middle East countries. The establishment buys thieu litchis at a price of VND11,000 – VND12,000/ kg, higher than the market price VND2,000 – VND3,000/ kg,” said Tieu Van Lien, owner of a thieu litchi purchasing establishment in Cam Che commune.
250 – 300 tons of litchis may be exported to Middle East countries this year, 50 – 100 tons more than the previous year, according to Lien.
Thanh Ha Export Agro-forestry Processing Co., Ltd. in Cam Che commune has also actively purchased litchis to export to the markets of Japan and South Korea for years.
“The company has bought over 500 tons of thieu litchis this year, about 100 tons more than the previous year. The company purchased litchi fruits in the areas applying the litchi production process in accordance with VietGAP standards, such as Thanh Xa, Thanh Thuy, Thanh Khe, and Thanh Son,” said Nguyen Thi Man, the company director.
“Foreign markets are very fastidious. If there are any wormy fruits, they will refuse to buy litchis and the enterprise will be discredited and encounter difficulties when exporting goods in the next crop,” she elaborated.
In addition, many traders in the locality and Southern provinces have arrived in Thanh Ha in crowds to buy and export thieu litchis to Laos, Cambodia, Ukraine, etc. Hence, litchi growers feel more secure about the sale phase and reduce dependence on the Chinese market.
Pham Duc Tuan, Chairman of the Thanh Ha district People’s Committee, said this year Thanh Ha has many favorable conditions and has implemented many measures for the litchi harvest.
The province has successfully organized a conference to promote the trade of litchi, guava, and custard-apple products and attracted a lot of enterprises coming to the locality to buy litchis.
Apart from the Chinese market, Thanh Ha litchis are being directed to the markets of Eastern Europe and Middle East countries, etc.
MINH NGUYEN
Đăng ký: VietNam News