Dragon fruit prices at Cho Gao Dragon Fruit Co-operative in the southern province of Tien Giang are increasing sharply during the Christmas period, bringing profits for farmers.

Nguyen Van Long, a dragon fruit grower in Cho Gao District, said red flesh dragon fruit prices are around VND40,000 per kilo (US$1.7), some three to four times higher than in October, when dragon fruit prices hit rock bottom.

Dragon fruit is not in season, therefore high demand is pushing up the price, Long added.

According to Cao Van Hoa, deputy director of Tien Giang’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, dragon fruit is identified as one of the specialities of the locality. The province now has more than 6,000ha of dragon fruit orchards, producing an annual output of hundreds of thousands of tonnes of fruits.

Cho Gao District is the biggest plantation area in the province with about 5,400ha; of which more than 4,600ha are fruit-bearing, the annual output is over 100,000 tonnes.

Recently, in order to promote its economic potential, the locality has scaled up agricultural production, applying intensive farming technology in line with VietGAP, GlobalGAP standards to avoid decreasing prices and increase income for farmers. — VNS