In Bac Giang, lychee is the main crop, helping farmers earn several trillion dong each year.
According to a report from the Department of Industry and Trade of Bac Giang, in 2023, the total consumption of lychee in the province will reach over 201,600 tons. Of which, exported lychee output is estimated at nearly 111,200 tons, accounting for over 55.1% of total consumption. Domestic consumption is estimated at 90,500 tons, accounting for nearly 44.9%.
This year, lychee gardens suffered a crop failure, losing 100,000 tons of fruit. Photo: Tam An
The revenue value from lychee and ancillary services is estimated at over 6,876 billion VND, the highest ever. Revenue from lychee alone is estimated to reach over 4,658 billion VND.
But this year the lychee crop failed. Mr. Nguyen Van Thi, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Bac Giang province, said that the area of both early lychee and main lychee flowering this year is about 14,000-14,500 hectares out of the total area of 29,000 hectares of lychees in Bac Giang.
“This year’s lychee output is estimated to decrease by 50% compared to 2023, reaching only about 100,000 tons,” Mr. Thi said. The reason is that the weather is not favorable for tree growth.
As a rule, after a good harvest for 3-4 years, the plant’s health deteriorates and there will be a year of crop failure. Bac Giang lychees have had consecutive good harvests from 2020-2023, so this year’s output is forecast to decrease. Along with that, last winter was cold but it was cold late, the average temperature was about 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than other years. With lychee, it must be cold early for the tree to differentiate flower buds, the late cold has passed. At that stage, the tree had no flowers, only leaves, Mr. Thi further explained.
Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Bac Giang province said that due to a sharp decline in output, the price of lychee this season is expected to be higher than in previous years.
The deputy director of a company specializing in exporting lychees in Luc Ngan is concerned that businesses not only have to calculate how to buy enough goods, but also worry about expensive prices. If it’s 2-3 times higher than last year, I’m afraid it will be difficult for partners to accept.
This person said that in 2019, Luc Ngan lychee crop failed, fresh lychee exports reached 60,000-70,000 VND/kg. This year, the lychee crop loss is heavier than in 2019, and output is reduced by 50% compared to 2023, so it is unknown how high the price will be.
Despite the crop failure, this year, Bac Giang province still maintains its plan to organize lychee consumption promotion activities like every year. It is expected that at the end of May, there will be trade promotion activities for consuming early ripe lychees in Tan Yen district, and in early June with lychees in Luc Ngan district.
