Bac Giang (VNA) - The northern provinceof Bac Giang had harvested 16,735 tonnes of “thieu” lychee as of June 1, withprices ranging from 25,000 VND to 45,000 VND (1.08 USD to 1.95 USD) perkilogram, according to the provincial Department of Industry and Trade.

The fruit is in bloom in Tan Yen and Luc Namdistricts, with farmers in the former harvesting nearly 1,000 tonnes each day.

Main markets during this early part of the seasonare domestic, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and northern Lao Caiprovince.

According to Vice Chairman of the provincialPeople’s Committee Lai Thanh Son, “thieu” lychee is a key crop within the localagriculture sector’s economic development.

Production value is estimated at 4 trillion - 4.5trillion VND (172.8 million - 194.4 million USD) annually, representing 25-28percent of the local cultivation sector.

The positive outcome this year is attributed tothe expansion of production areas operating under VietGap, GlobalGAP, andorganic standards, as well as the application of new technical solutions andcreative methods adopted by growers.

The province has built sales plans andscenarios, thus enabling businesses and traders to study and buy the locallychee.

A video conference promoting “thieu” lychee isscheduled to take place on June 6, connecting 62 locations nationwide and two fromChina’s Guangxi and Yunnan provinces.

Bac Giang will continue its policy ofdiversifying markets, and has so far exported “thieu” lychee to more than 30countries and territories.

China remains the traditional market, while theprovince will also target Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, Malaysia,Thailand, and Singapore.

It is also moving to expand exports to fastidiousmarkets such as the Middle East, the EU, the US, and Canada./.