- C M Menzel
- Maroochy Horticultural Research Station, Queensland Department of Primary Industries, P O Box 5083, Sunshine Coast Mail Centre, Nambour, Queensland 4560, Australia
- 1992
Northern Vietnam is part of the original area of distribution of lychee. Current production is 6 000 tonnes from 1 500 hectares of bearing trees and is expected to rise to 42 000 tonnes from 10 000 hectares in the year 2000. Expansion of lychee is most likely in areas radiating from Hanoi in lowland and upland areas up to an elevation of 150 m (lat 20-22°N), where winters are cool and dry enough to provide the necessary growth check for good flowering.
While evaporation is not high in most areas (1 000 mm/year), lack of irrigation will have a major effect_ on production. Other constraints to production include limited range of cultivars, inadequate nutrition (especially nitrogen) and lack of sprays, spray application and technology for integrated pest management of erinose mite (Enophyes litchi), lychee stink bug (Tessaratoma papillosa) and lychee moth (Acrocerops crameralla).
It is proposed to export 60 per cent of the crop to Singapore and Hong Kong. However, Vietnam will need to adopt postharvest and marketing technologies being developed in Australia Thailand Israel and South Africa, if it is to compete successfully in world lychee trade.
Summary:
Vietnam is part of the original distribution area of lychee, with production about 6,000 tonnes from 1,500 hectares in 1990, expected to increase to 42,000 tonnes from 10,000 hectares by 2000.
Lychee production is concentrated mainly in northern Vietnam within a 50-150 km radius from Hanoi, with key growing districts including Nam Thanh, Luc Ngan, Dong Trien, and Ao Chau.
The climate in northern Vietnam, characterized by cool dry winters and a distinct monsoon season, provides favorable conditions for lychee flowering and fruit set.
Soils suitable for lychee production are well-drained, ranging from silty loams to clay loams, with variable chemical and pH status.
Multiple cultivars grow in Vietnam with diverse maturity times and fruit traits; prominent cultivars include Thieu, Tau Lai, Phu Ho, Vai Trung, and Tu Ho Sour Lychee.
Lychee propagation is primarily by air-layering, with planting best done in October; tree spacing varies from 100 to 156 trees per hectare depending on soil quality.
Irrigation is inconsistent across farms, with upland areas mostly unirrigated leading to variable yields and irregular flowering.
Fertilization involves organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium applied seasonally to encourage flowering and fruit growth.
Pest challenges include lychee erinose mite, lychee stink bug, lychee moth, leaf-eating beetles, and occasional stem borers; integrated pest management is developing.
Major pests like the lychee stink bug significantly reduce fruit yield and quality; biological control methods are recommended.
Harvest season lasts about six to eight weeks from May to June, with fruit sold locally mainly in Hanoi and surrounding markets.
Postharvest issues include fruit browning and deterioration; there is no maturity standard and much fruit is picked immature.
About 30-40% of production is dried on farms for preservation and export, with canned lychees produced for export mainly to the Netherlands.
Yields vary widely and production is seen as biennial, affected by flowering failure, dry seasons, and pest pressure.
Economics favor lychee production, as a small orchard can generate returns much higher than average income; strong farmer demand exists for new cultivars.
Export potential is significant with plans to increase export percentage from 30% in 1991-92 to nearly 60% by 2000 targeting markets like Hong Kong and Singapore.
Challenges to export competitiveness include postharvest handling, marketing technologies, cultivar performance, and nursery plant supply.
Domestic consumption of lychee is low but expected to increase substantially with production growth.
The article concludes that while ambitious production and export goals exist, realization depends on advances in production quality, pest control, marketing, and supply chain improvements.