VIETNAM: NINH THUẬN AIMS AT SUSTAINABLE GRAPE PRODUCTION

Lâm Quang Thựu, deputy director of the province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that farmers were working with companies to increase profits by producing grapes under value chains. The south-central province, which has the least rainfall in the country, has more than 1,200ha of grape growing areas with an annual total output of 30,000 tonnes, with the red cardinal and the NH01-48 the two major grape varieties.

The province’s grape farming area accounts for less than 4 per cent of its farming area, but the revenue contributes 15-20 per cent of its total crop revenue, according to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The province’s grapes have been granted geographical indication certification by the National Office of Intellectual Property. Despite this, the province’s grapes are less competitive compared to imported grapes in terms of quality and appearance. Most processed grape products are produced by individual households.

Phạm Châu Hoành, chairman of the province’s Jujube and Grape Association, said that linkages between stakeholders for grape production under Vietnamese good agricultural practices (VietGAP) standards were still modest. The province has about 50ha of VietGAP grape cultivation, he said, adding that most grapes are sold fresh to wholesale markets.

In recent years, the province has created several new seedless grape varieties like NH04-61, NH04-128, and NH01-152, and grows them on a pilot basis. The NH01-152 variety, for instance, has an average yield of 15-18 tonnes per hectare a crop and two harvest crops a year. The NH01-152 type can be grown in many types of soil, is highly disease-resistant, and has large and juicy fruits.

Traders buy NH01-152 at a price of VNĐ100,000 (US$4.3) per kg. In 2020, the province aims to increase its grape area to 1,350ha with an annual output of 32,000 tonnes.