Adoption of Good Agricultural Practice (VietGAP) in the Lychee Industry in Vietnam

Abstract

Bac Giang province, Vietnam has potential for growing lychee. However, the price of lychee is low and unstable. Consumers are seeking higher quality lychee by accessing international standards and control systems. In order to improve the quality of lychee, Good Agricultural Practice (VietGAP) was implemented in Bac Giang province. This paper discusses the status of the lychee industry and evaluates the extent of and factors affecting adoption of VietGAP in lychee industry in the province. Results showed that the volume of lychee production of the province grew from 29,027 tons to 213,000 tons from 1997 to 2011. The prices of lychee were different across districts and depended on the lychee class and season. Fifty-six percent of VietGAP farmers who were considered high adopters were applying 8 or more of the prescribed practices; the rest were considered low adopters. The logit model showed that farm size, net profit, accessibility to VietGAP information, and membership in lychee farmers’ group significantly influenced the probability of high adoption of VietGAP. The study recommended improving the VietGAP program implementation; providing greater access to capital, and better equipment and tools for lychee production; and encouraging membership to lychee farmers’ group.