Son La longan sub-sector analysis, Vietnam, 2008
| Implementing agency(ies) | SNV | |
|---|---|---|
| Date completed | November 2008 | |
| Issues/challenges | Over the past decade, Vietnam's national agriculture and forestry initiatives have promoted large scale planting of longan trees under Programme 327 and more recently Programme 661, the '5 Million Hectare Reforestation Programme'. Government support for longan expansion has concentrated on the provision of seeds, seedlings, preferential loans, grants and supply of technical skills direct to the farmer through agricultural extension agencies, the Farmers Union and the Gardeners Association. At this time there was little or no regard for market analysis of the supply and demand for either fresh or dried longan at the provincial, national and international market level. Increased supply through expanded cultivation areas and the introduction of improved varieties in other longan growing regions of Vietnam has had a detrimental effect on the longan sub-sector in Son La province. |
- Summary of results
The research team found that directed interventions in the longan sub-sector have the potential to improve the livelihoods of upland households in Son La province. These interventions should focus on improving quality and yield of longan fruit from existing cultivation areas with the ultimate goal of encouraging the use of low cost/high quality processing techniques at the household level.
Main findings of Son La longan sub-sector analysis:
- Under the 5 Million Hectare Reforestation Programme the area under longan cultivation in Son La increased from approximately 50 hectares in 1992 up to 12,781 hectares in 2001 and has remained stable at that level since.
- The majority of Son La's longan trees currently produce low quality fruit
- The majority of Son La's longan trees produce relatively low yields, with many only bearing fruit once every two seasons.
- The current price of fresh longan is approximately one third of prices achieved five years ago
- Son La longans have a higher than average sugar content (18-22%). Increased sugar content reportedly produces a higher quality dried fruit.
- Up to 90% of Son la longan is processed (although only between 10-15% at the household level)
- In the past three years some upland farmers have started to replace longan trees with alternative "high value" crops