Can Tho (VNA) – CanTho city in the Mekong Delta has called on companies to strengthen cooperationwith local farmers in boosting the export of fruits, especially the city’sthree key fruits of longan, star apple and mango.

The city grows 98,000 tonnes offruits in more than 17,120ha of orchards, with mango accounting for 2,710ha,star apple for 1,324ha and longan for 1,838ha, according to the municipalPeople’s Committee.

Dao Anh Dung, Vice Chairman of themunicipal People’s Committee, said Can Tho would create optimal conditions forcompanies to collaborate with farmers to consume fruits domestically andexport.

It would establish fruitcooperatives which would collaborate with companies, he said.

This year the city plans toexport some longan, star apple and mango, he added.

Nguyen Dinh Tung, GeneralDirector of Vina T&T Import – Export Service Trading Co Ltd, said his HCMCity-based company buys large volumes of fresh fruits from Can Tho for export,but from traders and not directly from farmers.

For companies to offerguaranteed outlets for farmers, the latter need to sign agreements, he said.

Le Van Thiet, deputy head of thePlant Protection Department, said the country’s five major fruits – dragonfruit, longan, mango, litchi, and star apple – have been exported to severaldemanding markets such as the US, Chile, Japan and New Zealand.

Vietnam has exported 230 tonnesof star apple to the US since the first batch was shipped last December, he said,adding it plans to export its first batch of mango to the US next month.

Can Tho has zoned areas such as CatHoa Loc mango-growing area in Co Do district and star apple-growing areas inPhong Dien and Binh Thuy districts. Phong Dien has more than 1,000ha under thefruit.

Pham Thi Minh Hieu, head of theCan Tho City Plant Cultivation and Protection Sub-department, said the city hastied up with a fruit export company to guarantee outlets for the two, and it isinspecting their orchards.

The sub-department wouldinstruct members of the cooperative and club in farming techniques that meetexport requirements, she said.-VNA