Nghe An province is accelerating the shift toward seedless lemon cultivation as a resilient, high-value alternative to traditional orange orchards, which have been increasingly impacted by citrus greening disease.

Strong adaptability to local agro-climatic conditions and attractive economic returns are positioning seedless lemons as a new growth engine for the region’s citrus sector.

A Crop Suited for Long-Term Productivity

Seedless lemon trees have demonstrated excellent performance across Nghe An’s diverse soils, producing fruit with thin peel, high juice content, and minimal seeds. The trees bear fruit year-round, begin yielding within two years, and maintain productivity for more than a decade. Depending on management and local conditions, yields typically reach 20–40 tons per hectare.

Launched in 2017, early cultivation trials in Do Luong, Bach Ngoc, Van Hien, and Thuan Trung recorded yields of about 28 tons per hectare. Encouraged by strong results, Bach Ngoc and Thuan Trung have expanded plantings to more than 20 hectares, generating annual incomes of 300–400 million VND per hectare.

Scaling Up Through Planned Expansion

Provincial authorities are prioritizing expansion into semi-mountainous, hilly, and alluvial zones—areas well-suited to year-round cultivation. Plans include developing large-scale concentrated farms of 100 hectares or more, supported by improved water-saving irrigation, technical training, and off-season flowering methods to better time harvests and boost fruit quality.

Farmers are being trained to adopt VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards, ensuring stronger market access and consistency across production clusters.

Building Value Through Processing and Supply Chain Linkages

Cooperatives are deepening partnerships between farmers, processors, and export companies to stabilize procurement and open new market channels. Small and medium-sized processing units for concentrated juice, frozen lemons, and essential oils are being encouraged to add value and reduce price volatility.

Investment requirements are estimated at 150–170 million VND per hectare, covering planting materials, irrigation, and essential infrastructure. The combination of enterprise participation, government support, and farmer engagement is laying the groundwork for a competitive and sustainable citrus value chain.

A New Pillar for Nghe An’s Citrus Economy

With stable productivity, strong domestic demand, and growing export potential, seedless lemons are emerging as a cornerstone crop for Nghe An’s long-term agricultural restructuring. As the province scales up cultivation and strengthens processing capacity, seedless lemons are poised to become a key driver of rural incomes and citrus sector resilience in the years ahead.