Traders in the northern Hai Duong Province select the best Thieu lychee. In 2014, the combined Thieu lychee yield of the two northern provinces is likely to reach 190,000 tonnes. — VNA/VNS Photo The Lap

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — Representatives of the country's two largest Thieu lychee-growing provinces, Bac Giang and Hai Duong, together with people from ministries and localities, have discussed ways to further boost the consumption of the fruit in the southern region.

Thieu lychee are considered the best in Viet Nam.

In 2014, the combined Thieu lychee yield of the two northern provinces is likely to reach 190,000 tonnes, of which 40,400 will be grown under the standards of the Vietnam Good Agricultural Practice (VietGap) standards.

A Ministry of Industry and Trade representative said 80,000 tonnes of the fruit were sold domestically last year, mainly in Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh and some southern localities, equivalent to 60 per cent of the year's yield. Of the volume, 40,000 tonnes were consumed in the southern region.

The abundance of Thieu lychees from northern provinces has encouraged the Hoc Mon wholesale market and Saigon Co-op in HCM City to encourage traders to lift sales of the crop.

Delegates also discussed long-term measures to promote investment in Thieu lychee production, the effectiveness of post-harvest preservation and processing and expansion of export markets.

Hoan Xuan Hoa, deputy director of the Department of Processing and Trade for Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Products and Salt Production, said it was vital to apply advanced preservation methods to prolong the freshness of the fruit and renew packaging to attract consumers.

Other delegates suggested that investment should be encouraged in processing them into dried and canned products, which are popular overseas.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade should connect the production and trading of Thieu lychees between localities and regions, said vice-chairwoman of the HCM City People's Committee, Nguyen Thi Hong. — VNS