In 2022, the Department of Plant Protection reviewed and issued for Thanh Ha district: 45 growing area codes for export to China (535.2 ha); 53 growing area codes for export to Australia (569.21 ha); 38 growing area codes for export to Japan (473 ha); 9 growing area codes for export to the US (95.4 ha); and 9 growing area codes for export to Thailand (88.05 ha).
According to statistics, Thanh Ha’s 2022 lychee production is estimated at 44,000 tonnes, of which early lychee is 31,000 tonnes, and main-season lychee is 13,000 tonnes, up about 3,000 tonnes compared to 2021. Up to now, lychee has been harvested, and the selling price of lychee is stable (early lychee is about 30,000 VND/kg on average; main-season lychee is 15,000 – 20,000 VND/kg).
This small fruit has also reached the export standard of Japan, the US, Australia, the UK, and China with a volume of over 2 thousand tonnes, and the quality is highly appreciated.
The second source of income that brings a lot of value to Thanh Ha comes from guava. The district soon planned and produced guava according to VietGAP standards with a total area of 100 ha. The value of guava is estimated at over 200 million VND/ha/year.
Mr. Trinh Van Thien, Secretary of Thanh Ha District Party Committee commented that in the agricultural development strategy of Hai Duong, the agriculture department of Thanh Ha plays an important role. In the whole year 2021, the main source of income is from lychee and guava – two major agricultural specialties of the district.
In 2021, the total lychee revenue with an output of about 40,000 tonnes was about 1,200 billion VND. In the first 6 months of 2022, the revenue was over VND 1,500 billion, which is a huge contribution to the agriculture department in the province.
To increase the value of the district’s main agricultural products, Mr. Thien said that Thanh Ha will build areas specializing in guava and lychee. Currently, Thanh Ha lychee is being grown almost throughout the district, in the coming time, the priority will be given to the development of early lychee. For main-season lychee, the district will remain attention to developing and preserving the long-standing lychee of Vietnam.
Besides lychee, guava is also a high-value agricultural product for Thanh Ha, because it is cultivated at a high level and consumed all year round. According to the Secretary of the District Party Committee Trinh Van Thien, despite being consumed in the domestic market only, the value of guava is equal to the value of lychee. Therefore, the district expects to promote two famous types of fruits of Thanh Ha not only in Vietnam but also in foreign markets.
Currently, Thanh Ha’s agricultural products are mainly in raw form. To increase their value, there should be coordination between investors, factories, and enterprises. With the orientation of regional planning, the district hopes the State to invest in many processing establishments to increase the value of these products.
In 2021, Thanh Ha exported more than 2,000 tonnes of lychee. (Photo: Phung Nguyen)
With the interest of the province and some functional agencies, Thanh Ha has an agricultural product processing establishment in association with Ameii Vietnam Joint Stock Company. In 2021, this establishment helped the district export over 2,000 tonnes of lychee, mainly to Japan.
The establishment employs local labor and operates in place, pre-selects lychee growing areas, then invests in growers from the beginning to the harvest season. Selected lychees are exported to Japan and sold at the price of 500,000 – 1,000,000 VND/kg.
Thanh Ha district of Hai Duong province is surrounded by large rivers such as the Thai Binh River (in the Southwest), the Rang River, and the Van Uc River (in the Northeast). Inside, there are small rivers such as the Gua River and Huong River, and canals running everywhere, forming a dense network of rivers, connecting one village to another, one garden to another.
Along with lychee and guava, two typical types of agricultural products that bring high economic value, this river system is a natural advantage for Thanh Ha to develop ecotourism, with the same atmosphere as the Western river region.
In the past time, ecotourism, and experiences associated with fruits also contributed to promoting the brand of Thanh Hai lychee, guava in particular, and other agricultural products in general.
According to statistics, in lychee season 2022, Dong Man tourist area in Thanh Khe commune, Thanh Ha district, and the lychee reserve in Thanh Son commune welcomed over 20,000 visitors, including more than 240 international visitors. These are positive figures that prove the attractiveness of experiential tourism, community tourism, and ecotourism.
Thanh Ha is also home to the nearly 200-year-old lychee tree, the origin of lychee throughout Vietnam. The district has been building asphalt roads and direction signs for visitors to this old tree in Thuy Lam village, Thanh Son commune. The special thing is that the lychee tree is more than 200 years old, but its fruits always have a special taste.
The 200 year old lychee tree in Thuy Lam village, Thanh Son commune, Thanh Ha district, Hai Duong province. (Photo: Internet)
Besides, Thanh Ha also has green vegetable areas with many different models that can combine for the development of ecotourism with practical experiences, contributing to increasing the income for farmers.
Sharing the feelings of the visitors when visiting Dong Man Tourist Area, Thanh Khe Commune, Thanh Ha District, Mr. Trinh Van Thien said that many positive signals are being recorded. Many visitors call this land as the small West. In the future, Thanh Ha promises to be an ideal destination for experiential tourism, community tourism, and ecotourism.
“From experiencing and enhancing the value of agriculture, with river rafting activities and enjoying fruits in the Western river garden model, Thanh Ha will combine tourism and agriculture as one of the main target of the Resolution of the Party Congress 2020 – 2025″, Mr. Thien emphasized.