Upgrades on the Hanoi Irradiation Centre are expected to pave the way for more Vietnamese fruit, particularly those from the northern region, to reach overseas consumers.

Previously, the center, founded in 1986 under the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute, could irradiate some agricultural products such as onions, garlic and dried medicinal herbs, but it operated on a small scale and not professionally.

Director of the Center Dang Quang Thieu said the upgrade was approved last year, with funding of some 20 billion VND (896,400 USD), which includes adding a 200sq.m freezer storage unit, modern irradiation equipment and other technology, will allow the center to irradiate fruit such as lychees and longans this year onwards.

 Irradiation is considered a safe technology that helps to kill all bacteria and microorganisms and keep fruit fresh for longer periods, even up to a few months. Major fruit importers such as Australia, Canada and the United States require fruit to be irradiated before they enter the countries..

Director Thieu said when fruits grown in the northern region were irradiated in Hanoi, fruit firms were able to save some 16 million VND per tonne, as they no longer had to transport them to the south for irradiation. The center can handle up to 10 tonnes of fruit daily, using techniques similar to those used in neighbouring countries.

Le Son Ha, head of the Plan Quarantine Division under the Plan Protection Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said last year was the first year that Vietnam had sent lychees to the United States and Australia, where there are strict quarantine regulations on fruit. At that time, firms in the north had to transfer their lychee crops to the south for irradiation treatment, which increased transportation costs.

The upgraded Hanoi Irradiation Center will help resolve that transportation issue.

Ha said the Plan Protection Department had sent the relevant documents and samples to Australia for verification. “If accepted, this year’s lychee for export will be irradiated in Hanoi,” he said.../.

Source: VNA