Vinh Long ships the first batch of sweet potatoes weighing 28 tonnes to China on April 19 . (Photo: Sggp.org.vn)

The shipment is part of a pilot scheme to export sweet potatoes to China after the northern neighbor recently agreed to purchase the Vietnamese product.

After several rounds of negotiations, China’s General Administration of Customs inspected three sweet potato growing areas and three packing facilities in Vietnam in November 2022 and shortly signed a protocol with the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to import the Vietnamese staple.

China is the largest importer of Vietnamese sweet potatoes, although exports have been largely carried out via unofficial channels, a factor which poses many risks for both farmers and businesses.

The official export of sweet potatoes to China is anticipated to open up opportunities for Vietnamese farmers as they seek to further develop the product and add economic value.

Vinh Long province boasts the largest sweet potato growing area in the Mekong Delta region, with around 10,000 hectares under sweet potato cultivation and an average output of 300,000 tonnes per year.

At present, Vietnam has 11 fruits which are exported via official channels to the Chinese market. It has so far signed protocols with China on phytosanitary requirements for three types, namely mangosteen, passion fruit, and durian.