Seedless lemons from Vinh Long enter export supply chains

From a few households converting rice land, the model quickly expanded in a linked production direction. Phan Duc Tai, Director of Thanh Chi Agricultural Cooperative, said the cooperative was established in October 2022 with 10 members and has now grown to 234 linked members, building a raw material area of about 286 hectares across 16 communes in the province and expanding into Soc Trang.

Beyond expanding acreage, the key point of the model is reorganizing production along the value chain. Seedless lemons are fully purchased by the cooperative to supply The Fruit Republic Can Tho Co., Ltd. (100% Dutch-invested), which exports to the Netherlands, a market with strict requirements on quality, residues and traceability. Each week, the cooperative purchases about 9-15 tons, equivalent to 50-70 tons per month, creating a stable commodity flow rather than the fragmented sales of the past. Establishing a centralized purchasing hub reduces intermediary costs and improves farmers’ bargaining power within the supply chain.

The pricing mechanism clearly demonstrates the role of linkage. The cooperative applies a floor price of VND 10,000/kg; when market prices rise, farmers receive an additional VND 3,000/kg and an extra VND 1,000/kg if GlobalGAP standards are met. “Without joining the linkage, it would be difficult for farmers to maintain such stable prices,” a cooperative member shared. This mechanism not only ensures immediate benefits but also motivates growers to improve product quality toward higher standards, thereby creating long-term value.

To access the European market, production processes are strictly controlled from the input stage. Farmers must comply with approved lists of plant protection chemicals, maintain cultivation records and undergo periodic supervision by engineers. These are mandatory requirements to meet the technical standards of importing markets, something that small-scale production previously struggled to achieve.

At the same time, the cooperative is oriented toward reducing costs and improving quality through organic-oriented cultivation. Farmers are encouraged to use by-products to produce compost and to apply fertilizers more efficiently. Initial investment costs range from VND 10-13 million per 1,000 m², but thanks to reduced input costs and stable output, economic efficiency has improved significantly. This approach not only brings economic benefits but also helps protect the environment, improve soil fertility and lay the foundation for long-term sustainable agriculture.

After 18-24 months, lemon trees begin their first harvest. After 36 months, production stabilizes with yields of 30-50 tons/ha/year. Profits reach about VND 300-500 million per hectare per year, significantly higher than rice cultivation on the same area. However, according to experts, this profit does not come solely from the crop itself but largely from participation in the value chain, where inputs, processes and outputs are all controlled.

Practical production shows clear changes. Thach Day, a farmer in Song Loc Commune, said that after converting 5,000 m² of rice land to seedless lemon cultivation, his family’s income increased several times. “Previously, rice farming depended heavily on market prices, but now with purchase contracts and stable prices, we feel secure in production,” he said.

However, the model still faces challenges. Maintaining GlobalGAP standards requires farmers to change traditional practices and strictly follow technical procedures. In addition, lemon trees have an economic lifespan of about seven years, after which replanting is required, while risks from pests, diseases and climate change remain. Without strong market linkages, economic efficiency would be difficult to sustain.

Currently, Vinh Long Province has more than 47,000 hectares under citrus cultivation, but most are still produced on a small scale with limited linkages. In this context, the seedless lemon model provides a clear direction for reorganizing production in line with standards and markets.

According to Chau Van Hoa, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Vinh Long Province, the locality aims to develop about 500 hectares of seedless lemon raw-material areas by 2028, linked to value-chain models. The focus will be on reviewing planning, standardizing production processes in line with VietGAP and GlobalGAP, and building transparent linkages to ensure stable output.

The participation of a Dutch enterprise in developing a sustainable citrus value chain is serving as a “driving force” throughout the chain. Beyond providing technical support, the enterprise also guides standards, controls quality and connects markets, key factors enabling local agricultural products to reach international markets.

From a crop conversion model, seedless lemons in Vinh Long are shaping a new approach: production must go hand in hand with standards and markets. When linkages are firmly established, farmers do not simply sell products but participate in the value chain, in which agricultural value is determined by quality and market responsiveness rather than by seasonal dependence.

* $1 = VND 26.364 - Source: Vietcombank.