Son La mangoes exported to US, Canada and Australia

A farmer harvests mangoes for export in Mai Son District, the northern mountain province of Son La. The exported mango is a green-skinned type that weighs from 0.6-1.1 kilo. — Photo vov

The northern mountain province of Son La on Monday exported 30 tonnes of mango to the US, Canada and Australia.

This is the first batch to be exported overseas this year. The mango, grown in Mai Son District, is a green-skinned type that weighs from 0.6-1.1 kilo.

Under provincial authorities’ guidelines on planting orchards on sloping land, farmers in Mai Son District have focused on developing mango trees in Co Noi, Na Bo, Hat, Lot and Chieng Mung communes for three years.

The district has more than 9,300ha of orchards, including 2,650ha of mango. It has registered growing area code for 593ha of mango, 422ha of which are certified VietGAP and qualified for export.

Dao Manh Cuong, a farmer in Thanh Cong sub-area of Na Bo Commune, said his family grew 3ha of mango following the district’s guidelines. All were qualified for export this year, making them more profitable than those for domestic consumption.

“I estimate to harvest about 50 tonnes of mango, earning nearly VND400 million (US$17,240) this year. My family’s living standard has improved a lot,” Cuong said.

He added that if he sold mangoes to small traders for local consumption, it was priced at only VND7,000-VND8,000 per kilo, but at VND11,000-VND12,000 for export.

Dinh Kim Nhung, Director of Kim Nhung Company Limited, which exports local mangoes, said mangoes grown in Mai Son District have high quality, nice design and good size and weight qualified for export.

“The mango growing areas in Son La are blessed with nature, the soil is fertile and pests are inconsiderable, so annual output is very large. This is an important factor to expand the growing area to meet export standards to foreign markets,” Nhung said.

“However, many mango growers still have a habit of harvesting mangoes according to standards for domestic consumption, they need to take time to change and adapt that habit,” she added. — VNS