New Zealand is set to begin a 5-year programme to enhance the value of
Vietnamese dragon fruits and help the country become a global leading
exporter of the tropical fruit.
Under the programme,
New Zealand’s Plan Food Research Institute will work with
Vietnamese experts from the Southern Horticultural Research Institute
(SOFRI) and the Sub-Institute for Agricultural Engineering and
Post-harvest Technology (SIAEP) to produce high quality, different
disease resistant dragon fruits.
Besides, the
project aims to support the advancement of the country’s developing
dragon fruit industry and improve incomes for dragon fruit growers and
those who get involved in the supply chain, through the development of
sustainable production techniques and post-harvest systems that meet
high-value international market requirements.
It
will also help train and up-skill local growers and pack-house workers,
improving efficiency of production for farmers and quality of products.
According to the New Zealand institute, the
project will create a model for other cooperation programmes in order to
develop tropical fruit trees. The long term goal includes the
development of international brand.-VNA