Expanding production areas to boost the export value of Phu Tho’s fruit crops

In recent years, Phu Tho has made significant progress in developing specialty fruit-growing areas aligned with quality standards and export markets. Many localities have established concentrated production zones meeting VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards, with planting area codes and traceability systems, while building strong agricultural brands representing the midland region of the ancestral land.

Mr. Bui Duy Linh, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Phu Tho Province, said that Phu Tho has great potential to develop a wide variety of fruit crops thanks to its favorable natural conditions and diverse soil types. After the provincial merger, Phu Tho now has a total natural area of 9,361 km², including over 226,000 hectares of agricultural and aquaculture land, with fruit crops covering approximately 36,000 hectares.

Based on production zoning plans and market advantage assessments, the province has focused on developing key fruit crops such as pomelo, orange, and banana, while also prioritizing the conservation and expansion of high-value specialty varieties such as Doan Hung pomelo, Tan Lac red pomelo, Cao Phong orange, Gia Thanh seedless persimmon, Phan Vang banana, Tieu Hong banana, early-ripening Hung Long lychee, and PH40 lychee.

To date, Phu Tho has established multiple concentrated fruit-growing zones, forming a solid foundation for developing raw material areas serving both domestic consumption and export. Specifically, the pomelo sector has been granted 65 export planting area codes covering over 664 hectares and 18 domestic ones covering more than 1,686 hectares. The banana sector has received 13 export planting area codes with nearly 358 hectares, 54 domestic planting area codes with 519 hectares, and 3 packing facilities certified for export to China and the EU. Meanwhile, the dragon fruit sector has been granted 23 planting area codes over 338 hectares, including 14 export codes for 147 hectares and 11 domestic ones for 191 hectares.

In particular, Doan Hung pomelo, the renowned agricultural brand of Phu Tho Province, has helped thousands of local households achieve prosperity, contributing to transforming the landscape of the midland region. The province currently has 162 production facilities with 1,742 hectares of pomelo granted planting area codes, including 18 codes for export. Nearly 980 hectares of pomelo have been certified under VietGAP standards. The adoption of safe production practices and traceability systems has created major opportunities for Phu Tho pomelo to reach international markets.

In Cao Phong commune, citrus fruit cultivation covers about 1,000 hectares, spanning all local hamlets. The local authorities are implementing strategic measures such as citrus crop replanting in line with VietGAP and organic standards, encouraging enterprises to invest and form production linkages, and establishing closed value chains from cultivation and care to consumption and processing.

The goal is to ensure 100% of the production area meets food safety certification, with 85% reaching VietGAP standards. Most orange-growing households are expected to join cooperatives or partner with enterprises. This approach aims to improve product quality, ensure stable market access, and enhance competitiveness.

Right after the provincial merger, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Phu Tho directed specialized units to review and thoroughly assess the soil, climate, and production conditions of each area. Based on these findings, the province restructured its crop zoning plan to ensure a more scientific and practical foundation for the sustainable development of key crops - particularly specialty fruit varieties that have already established strong brands. This is considered an important step enabling the province to proactively orient production toward high-quality standards, laying a long-term foundation for both domestic and export markets.

Alongside zoning efforts, Phu Tho is accelerating the application of scientific and technological advances and digital technologies in production, processing, and cultivation management. The adoption of new varieties, sustainable intensive farming techniques, post-harvest technologies, digitalization of cultivation data, and traceability systems is seen as the “key” to improving productivity, quality, and export value.

At the same time, the province is focusing on leveraging the strengths of each locality by integrating fruit cultivation with agricultural and eco-tourism development. Utilizing hillside landscapes, specialty products, and local cultural identities is opening a new direction - creating experiential tourism models right in the growing areas, which not only add value to agricultural products but also diversify livelihoods for local communities.

Aiming for a model of “green, friendly, and sustainable agriculture,” Phu Tho is gradually affirming its position. Signature products such as Doan Hung pomelo, Cao Phong orange, and Tieu Hong banana are not only a source of pride for the people of the ancestral land but also stand as distinguished representatives of Vietnamese agricultural produce in international markets.