Expanding Dragon Fruit Export Markets

To actively engage in the international market, Vietnamese fruits must meet Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) standards such as Global GAP, VietGAP and EuroGAP. Vietnamese dragon fruits recently achieved this certification and due to their high economic value are proving a valuable export.

With 10,000ha devoted to dragon fruits, Binh Thuan has the largest area allocated to the fruit in the country, with the area’s annual productivity topping 200,000 tonnes. There are more than five 3,000ha dragon fruit growing plantations in the province. The Department of Plant Protection has issued VietGAP certification for Binh Thuan dragon fruits, allowing the product to be exported to the US. The Hoang Hau Dragon Fruit Farm Company Limited is the first firm in Vietnam growing and exporting dragon fruits on a large scale. This company has nearly 300ha allocated to dragon fruits according to EuroGAP standards and US market requirements. The company’s dragon fruits can be found throughout the EU and Asia.

A large proportion of the country’s dragon fruits are grown in Tien Giang and Long An provinces, especially the two districts of Cho Gao and Chau Thanh. At present, Cho Gao district has more than 2,000ha growing dragon fruits and the Cho Gao Dragon Fruit Cooperative has been established to support growers. The district has received support from the Southern Fruit Research Institute and the Vietnam Gardening Association to produce dragon fruits according to GAP standards, promote Cho Gao dragon fruit branding programs and grow more than 1,000ha of dragon fruits.

The United States Agency for International Development has helped Vietnamese fruit growers export their products to the US through organizing training courses on producing dragon fruits according to the closed production process. In 2008, an agreement on animal and plant inspection methods was inked between the US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Department of Plant Protection under the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The agreement covers dragon fruits.

Thanks to meeting GlobalGAP and VietGAP standards, in 2010, 86 tonnes per month of Red Dragon Company Limited dragon fruits have been exported to the US. According to this company, the US has large demand for fresh fruit. However, they want imported fruit to meet food safety regulations. The company has strengthened cooperation with provinces of Binh Thuan, Long An, Tien Giang, Tay Ninh and Dong Nai to grow dragon fruits according to VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards. Recently, dragon fruits of the Yasaka Fruit Processing Company Limited began being exported to the Republic of Korea (RoK). The company is negotiating with partners to expand distributions channel in this market.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in 2010, 1,276 tonnes of dragon fruits were exported to the US and Japan, among which the US market accounted for 857 tonnes. Apart from the US and Japan, the RoK has started importing Vietnamese dragon fruits. Dr. Nguyen Minh Chau, the director of the Southern Fruit Research Institute, said that demand for Vietnamese fruits such as dragon fruits and grape fruits has increased in some difficult markets such as the US and Japan.

However, it is not easy to expand export market, especially in difficult markets for Vietnamese fruits. Tran Ngoc Hiep, the director general of the Hoang Hau Dragon Fruit Farm Company Limited, said that dragon fruits must be grown in the areas which are recognized to meet food safety standards and exported goods must undergo strict inspection procedures. Therefore, to obtain a firm niche in an international market, businesses should follow clean production processes and achieve EuroGAP and GlobalGAP certification. Dragon fruit growers have access to advanced technology for growing dragon fruits according to those standards and how to expand growing areas. However, they have many difficulties in implementing those standards. They have to follow strict regulations from soil working, using fertilizer, taking care of fruit dragon trees, harvesting, packaging and preservation. Yet many dragon fruit growers do not have capability to do that work.

To sustainably develop dragon fruit production, Dr. Nguyen Minh Chau, stated that the country should plan large scale fruit growing areas. A large specialized growing fruit area will have favorable conditions to apply advanced technology and international standards to produce high quality products. Farmers could continue growing fruit on a small scale but there were major advantages to growing the same type of fruits over a large area.

Local authorities play an important role in establishing large specialized growing areas and helping growers to cooperate with scientists and businesses. In particular, it is necessary to improve farmer awareness of the importance of international standards in fruit production

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