Duc Chinh carrot plantation enters export season

Businesses start exporting carrots to South Korea, Japan, some countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, etc. in January

Early-crop carrot farms in the provinces of Thai Binh, Bac Ninh, etc. have been harvested since the end of last December. Trucks carrying carrots flock to Duc Chinh commune from everywhere. This is also the most crowded and bustling time of Hai Duong’s carrot plantation during the year.

The agricultural product processing workshop of Duc Chinh Commune Agricultural Service Cooperative – one of the workshops with the highest capacity – is always animated with vehicles.

Nearly 30 tons of carrots are taken there each day. Muddy carrots are put on an automatic washing line, classified by size and quality, and then packed by workers.

More than 200 tons of goods have been transported to wholesale markets across the country for consumption.

Since early January, the cooperative has received a lot of orders for export of over 100 tons to Malaysia, Laos, and South Korea.

This year, the cold weather came late, but there were many very cold days, causing carrots to be harvested later than last year. Most of the carrots sold were grown in farms outside the province. Farmers in the province have just started harvesting carrots.

Carrots are purchased in fields for 5,000 – 6,000 VND/ kg, down by half compared to the same period last year. Output in some early-crop areas decreased due to much rain at the beginning of the season. Nonetheless, the output of main-crop carrots still reached 1.7 – 1.8 tons/ sao (360 m²), equivalent to the corresponding period last year, helping farmers make a profit of about 5 million VND/ sao.

According to traders, price is low because main-crop carrots in China are also being harvested.

Farmers cultivate carrots following VietGAP procedures, so most of them meet export standards

Late harvest of carrots led to late export. Not until the beginning of January did businesses receive orders for export to Malaysia, Thailand, and Middle East countries. By January 8, only about 300 tons of carrots in Duc Chinh commune had been exported.

South Korea is one of the main importers of Vietnam’s carrots. In the 2021 – 2022 winter crop, South Korea consumed about 100,000 tons of carrots, the majority of which came from Hai Duong.

On December 21, 2022, the country officially lifted its ban on the import of some Vietnamese agricultural products, including carrots, right at the beginning of the harvest season, which was a good sign for carrot growing areas in Hai Duong.

Nguyen Duc Thuat, Director of Duc Chinh Commune Agricultural Service Cooperative, said: “As soon as South Korea lifted the import ban, nearly 10 South Korean businesses directly came for survey and contracted for carrot underwriting instead of commissioning domestic exporters.

“This is the first time many South Korean businesses have directly come to buy carrots from Hai Duong, proving that the quality of the province's carrots has been confirmed in the international market.”

Carrots in most growing areas in Hai Duong are cultivated under VietGAP standard by farmers, meeting export requirements, even those of demanding markets like the Europe.

There are about 1,500 ha of carrots in Hai Duong with an expected output of approximately 80,000 tons. In addition, farmers hired thousands of hectares of land in other provinces and cities to grow carrots.

Harvest began at the end of December 2022, but not until after the Lunar New Year holiday will farmers enter the main harvest season.

Around 70 – 80% of the province’s carrots are exported. South Korea, Japan, some countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, etc. are the main importers.

TRAN HIEN