Ample opportunities in Vietnamese horticulture industry

International expo to promote Vietnamese horticulture industry

The Vietnamese horticulture industry is scaling up. Better flower and vegetable varieties are being developed and field production is gradually moving towards protected cultivation. The government has even announced a VND100-trillion ($4.4 billion) package to develop hi-tech agriculture.

Vietnam’s exports of fruits and vegetables have enjoyed strong growth in the past years, with an average rate of 26.5 per cent a year, going from $439 million in 2009 to $3.5 billion in 2017. Also, Vietnam has the potential to become one of the world’s largest flower exporters.

With vast potential, around 100 exhibitors from 19 companies have gathered at the first International Exhibition & Conference for Horticultural and Floricultural Production and Processing Technology in Vietnam (Hortex Vietnam) in Ho Chi Minh City to explore the market.

According to Arie Veldhuizen, the agricultural counsellor for the Dutch Embassy in Vietnam, the Vietnamese horticulture industry is gradually taking steps to move from traditional open field production to protected cultivation, applying greenhouse technology, precision and automatic irrigation, and computerised crop management systems. Additionally, better flower and vegetable varieties are being developed by applying hybrid as well as post-harvest technology.

The horticulture sector is expected to show further growth due to strong exports and strong domestic demand. The free trade agreement between the EU and Vietnam, which will go into effect as of next year, will give an additional boost to the sector.

"Thus, the three-day event connects Vietnamese growers with experts and suppliers from the Netherlands and all over the world to introduce new technologies, plant materials, and products to contribute to the high-tech agricultural development of the region, especially Vietnam," said Veldhuizen.

On the same note, Mario Taal, the representative of Hortus Supplies International (HSI), said the company is always searching for new opportunities and emerging markets. Horticulture and floriculture are the most promising sectors of the Vietnamese economy. The export of fruits and vegetables increased tremendously and the market is focusing on sustainability.

“I am convinced that Vietnam will professionalise horti- and agriculture in the near future. I hope Hortus Supplies International will get the opportunity to contribute to that process,” he added.

HSI is a one-stop supplier for every grower around the world. The company can serve almost every product needed in and around the greenhouse. It can also give advice about growing, technical installations, transport, and documentation.

Nguyen Hong Son, director of the Department of Crop Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that Vietnam has built brands and geographical indications for key fruit products, including dragon fruit, lychee, longan, mango, and pomelo. The country’s fruit and vegetable exports have penetrated new demanding markets, such as the US, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and strict markets like Germany and the Netherlands.

He noted that the Vietnamese horticultural industry is on the rise these days. HortEx will build a bridge between suppliers and growers. It will also help promote the Vietnamese horticultural and floricultural industry.

Hortex Vietnam took place from March 14-16 in Ho Chi Minh City, alongside Agri Machinery & Tech Vietnam 2018, featuring technologies and machinery for agricultural production, and ILDEX Vietnam 2018, displaying products related to the livestock and animal feed industry.