The northern province has more than 29,800 hectares under the fruit, with total output expected to reach around 125,000 tonnes this year. As the peak harvest season gets underway, growers are rushing to bring in the crop.
Busy harvest season
The main lychee harvest in Bac Ninh began on June 10 and is expected to last for about a month. Despite poor flowering and fruit-setting rates caused by adverse weather, farmers have adopted advanced cultivation techniques and stepped up orchard management to improve fruit quality.
Nguyen Van Hung, a grower in Chu ward known for producing high-quality lychees, said his family’s two-hectare orchard is expected to yield around 10 tonnes this year, down 50% from previous seasons.
Thanks to careful cultivation and the application of modern farming techniques, their lychees look appealing and have consistent quality.
During the peak harvest season, Hung and his family hire additional workers to pick fruit early in the morning for delivery to traders.
He said growers are pleased despite lower yields as prices are two to three times higher than in previous years, ranging from VND70,000–80,000 (US$2.6–3) per kilogram. They could even rise to VND100,000 per kilo toward the end of the season when supplies tighten.
A farmer harvests lychees in northern Vietnam. Photo by Read/Ngoc Thanh |
Tran Van Bon, who grows lychees on more than one hectare in Nam Duong commune, said he is selling the fruit for around VND60,000 to more than VND70,000 per kilogram, roughly double the price seen a year ago.
He noted that favorable weather during the later fruit development and ripening stages had resulted in sweet, well-formed lychees. Local crop protection officials have also guided farmers on safe cultivation practices and the proper use of pesticides to meet domestic and export market requirements.
Expanding market access
Nguyen Bien Thuy, vice chairman of the People’s Committee of Phuc Hoa commune, said more than 80% of the commune’s lychee-growing area follows VietGAP or GlobalGAP standards, with over 30% holding valid VietGAP certificates.
The commune is seeking VietGAP certification for 30ha and GlobalGAP certification for 17ha this year to improve product quality, enhance consumer confidence and strengthen market competitiveness, he added.
To support lychee sales, local authorities have organized meetings and business networking events ahead of the harvest. Enterprises have proactively surveyed farming areas and signed large purchasecontracts. Cold-chain logistics have also been expanded, with hundreds of refrigerated containers serving exports to markets with high standards.
In Nam Duong, the total lychee-growing area exceeds 1,042ha, including 645ha of early-ripening varieties. More than 1,020ha are cultivated under VietGAP standards while total output is estimated at over 2,500 tonnes this year.
Le Tuan Anh, chairman of the Nam Duong People’s Committee, said the commune is focusing on digital transformation and e-commerce to expand markets and improve product value. Livestream sales campaigns are being promoted to raise the profile of the local lychee-farming region and reach more consumers.
The commune is also strengthening digital connectivity between producers, cooperatives, businesses and consumers to reduce intermediaries and improve farmers’ incomes. Besides, efforts are under way to expand sales through e-commerce platforms, modern distribution networks and logistics services.
Prices are expected to rise further in the coming weeks, further improving incomes for local growers.
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