The irradiation and quality quarantine of fresh litchi for export to Australia. (Photo: VNA) As irradiationis compulsory to the export of farm produce to some markets, including the US,a legislator from the northern province of Bac Giang, a lychee farming hub,asked the minister about measures for conducting irradiation of lychee, which isentering the harvest season, and many other fruits in the northern region so asto meet technical requirements in some importing countries.
Dat saidthat previously, lychee of Bac Giang had to be sent to Ho Chi Minh City or LongAn province in the south for irradiation, leading to high expenses. As the UShas strict requirements for fruit irradiation, the MOST is coordinating with theMARD to negotiate with the US to open an irradiation centre in the northernregion.
By theend of the year, lychee can be irradiated in the north in accordance with theUS standards to enter this market, he noted, expressing his hope that the movewill help boost the export of lychee and other fruits.
MOST Minister Huynh Thanh Dat at the session (Photo: VNA) The MOSTand the MARD are also working closely together to step up the application. Manybusinesses have engaged in this effort such as Loc Troi (rice production), THTrue Milk (dairy production), and Dabaco (livestock farming).
In 2022, agro-forestry-fishery exports and imports stood atabout 53.22 billion USD, which is partly attributable to the application ofscience and technology, statistics show.
However,the official admitted that there remains numerous barriers to the application,noting it requires large capital for infrastructure, production, and manpowerdevelopment while there are also many latent risks in the field.
The MOSTwill consider revising mechanisms and policies while asking localities todevelop high-tech agricultural zones in line with targets and orientations, andpromote productivity and goods quality, Dat added./.
VNA
