Nguyen Minh Chau, former director of the Southern Fruit ResearchInstitute, spoke with Tin Tuc (News) newspaper about scientific advancesbeing made in the Mekong Delta.
*What is the fruit potential of the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta?
NamBo region, in the South, has great potential. Thanks to its tropicalclimate, the region can produce many types of fruits all year around,including mangoes, dragon fruit, star apple, litchi, star fruit, jackfruit, bananas and mangosteen.
In recent years, most of Vietnam's tropical fruit exports came from this region, but they are still modest.
*Manyof our fruits are in a class of their own, especially star apple, theNam Roi pomelo and durians, yet our export volume remains modest. Why?
Thereare three main factors attributing to the problem. First, we don't havespecialised areas for growing. Second, our packaging industry is notfully developed. And finally, we are weak at marketing our products.
These factors have weakened our advantages over such countries as Thailand, which is way ahead of us in marketing strategy.
InVietnam in the last 20 years, two fruit-research institutes have beenestablished, one in My Tho (in the Me Kong Delta) and the other in GiaLam (Hanoi). The Rice Research Institute was established much earlier,in 1978.
Another factor that limits our development is acontinual shortage of money. And that's not all. Poor cooperationbetween agencies has also led to the slow introduction of advancedtechnology in fruit production.
*So in your opinion, how can we add value to our fruit?
First,more attention is needed in the development of fruit trees by theMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development and its provincialagencies.
Second, it is imperative to concentrate on growing fruit that Vietnam produces better than other countries.
Third, we must have a specific plan on who does what and what policies to follow.
Fourth, the Government should support investors, packaging agents, and institutes conducting research on fruit processing.
Fifth,cooperatives serve as a bridge linking farmers to Government. TheGovernment should buy fruit wholesale from farmers and re-sell it toconsumers at reasonable prices.
And finally, we have to promote the application of Good Agriculture Practices (GAP).
Inaddition, we have to consolidate the linkage between researchinstitutes and agricultural extension activities, between production andconsumption.
In my opinion, the central government and local authorities should play the key role in coordinating all these activities.
*Youworked for many years at the Southern Fruit Research Institute beforeretiring. What research did the institute carry out that helped increasethe value of our fruit?
The institute has done quite a good jobin improving the value of our fruit. For example, by curing greeningdisease and the application of Good Agricultural Practices in growingfruit for export.
Other successful research conducted by ourinstitute was the introduction of red-fleshed dragon fruits, seedlesscam sanh (Vietnamese traditional oranges) and seedless pomelos.
Butthe most successful work has been the training of many generations ofscientists. We have also conducted many joint research projects withforeign institutes from Japan, France, New Zealand, Australia, India andTaiwan.
The institute continues to introduce high quality fruit species to help farmers.-VNA
*What is the fruit potential of the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta?
NamBo region, in the South, has great potential. Thanks to its tropicalclimate, the region can produce many types of fruits all year around,including mangoes, dragon fruit, star apple, litchi, star fruit, jackfruit, bananas and mangosteen.
In recent years, most of Vietnam's tropical fruit exports came from this region, but they are still modest.
*Manyof our fruits are in a class of their own, especially star apple, theNam Roi pomelo and durians, yet our export volume remains modest. Why?
Thereare three main factors attributing to the problem. First, we don't havespecialised areas for growing. Second, our packaging industry is notfully developed. And finally, we are weak at marketing our products.
These factors have weakened our advantages over such countries as Thailand, which is way ahead of us in marketing strategy.
InVietnam in the last 20 years, two fruit-research institutes have beenestablished, one in My Tho (in the Me Kong Delta) and the other in GiaLam (Hanoi). The Rice Research Institute was established much earlier,in 1978.
Another factor that limits our development is acontinual shortage of money. And that's not all. Poor cooperationbetween agencies has also led to the slow introduction of advancedtechnology in fruit production.
*So in your opinion, how can we add value to our fruit?
First,more attention is needed in the development of fruit trees by theMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development and its provincialagencies.
Second, it is imperative to concentrate on growing fruit that Vietnam produces better than other countries.
Third, we must have a specific plan on who does what and what policies to follow.
Fourth, the Government should support investors, packaging agents, and institutes conducting research on fruit processing.
Fifth,cooperatives serve as a bridge linking farmers to Government. TheGovernment should buy fruit wholesale from farmers and re-sell it toconsumers at reasonable prices.
And finally, we have to promote the application of Good Agriculture Practices (GAP).
Inaddition, we have to consolidate the linkage between researchinstitutes and agricultural extension activities, between production andconsumption.
In my opinion, the central government and local authorities should play the key role in coordinating all these activities.
*Youworked for many years at the Southern Fruit Research Institute beforeretiring. What research did the institute carry out that helped increasethe value of our fruit?
The institute has done quite a good jobin improving the value of our fruit. For example, by curing greeningdisease and the application of Good Agricultural Practices in growingfruit for export.
Other successful research conducted by ourinstitute was the introduction of red-fleshed dragon fruits, seedlesscam sanh (Vietnamese traditional oranges) and seedless pomelos.
Butthe most successful work has been the training of many generations ofscientists. We have also conducted many joint research projects withforeign institutes from Japan, France, New Zealand, Australia, India andTaiwan.
The institute continues to introduce high quality fruit species to help farmers.-VNA
