Improvement of domestic and export markets for Vietnamese fruit through improved post-harvest and supply chain management

The fruit industry in Vietnam has a great potential and plays an important role in agricultural production. About 85% of Vietnamese households are involved in some way in vegetable, fruit and flower production. These people, especially the farmers, are experiencing dramatic changes in moving from a centrally-planned to a market-orientated economy (Nguyen Dinh Hung et al., 2004). Exports of fruit and vegetables in 2000 were US$213 million, in 2003 they fell to US $151 million, but in 2007 exports have now risen to US 283 million, in 2008 up to US$ 470 million,, and the first 5 months of 2009 is about US$ 240 million. Vietnam is experiencing difficulties in competing with other Asian nations in export markets and its own domestic market, especially with China and Thailand. This suggests that Vietnam's horticultural industries require substantial development to be globally and domestically competitive. With increasing living standards Vietnamese consumers are also demanding safer and higher quality fruit. This project mapped current domestic supply chains to determine customer and consumers preferences and needs. This information was then used to design training programs that focusing on the total supply chain to implement quality management and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) systems that provide benefits to Vietnamese farmer, supply chain participants and ultimately the consumer. During project time, 572 farmers, 79 collectors and wholesalers have had training by this project in pre-and post-harvest GAP practices.