Amidst the many simple bamboo and wooden greenhouses in Vietnam's horticultural epicentre in Da Lat, more modern greenhouse structures are on the rise. Also Spanish greenhouse builder APR is scanning the market and introduces the it technology to Asian growers. According to APR´s export manager Pascual Miralles, the industry is slowly changing, step by step. "We do not expect that Da Lat will be full with high end technology in 10 years, but there is a huge potential for simple improvements." 
Vietnamese pepper grower in Da Lat
Over the last year, APR commissioned noteworthy projects in Asia. "We have realized some projects in South-Korea, Japan and Vietnam. The latter country is very interesting because there is a huge flower industry in Vietnam nowadays, in and around Da Lat. Lillies, orchids, and germination operations are big industries, but also vegetable growers are on the rise", Miralles said.
Installation of APR greenhouse controls and fertigation system at Vietnamese grower
"We built a greenhouse for a Vietnamese pepper grower, it was a very basic structure with a manual screen installation", said Miralles while he stressed out that it is important to start with a basic approach in this market. "The growers needs to learn to work with the technology, they are very introvert when it comes down to making large investments all at once. Maybe next year the grower will implement automatic climate or fertigation controls. Bit by bit the industry is developing."
Sawtooth greenhouse structure from APR in Vietnam
According to Miralles, there is a huge quantity of greenhouse in Da Lat. "Most of them are still very small basic houses, often made of wood or bamboo, and without decent ventilation. But because there are larger, serious growers trying to improve, other growers see this and they want to improve bit by bit as well. It will take a long time, but it is an interesting market. Da Lat won't necessarily be full with high end technology in 10 years, but there is a huge potential for simple improvements."
Pascual Miralles at the Horti Asia in Bangkok last month.
About APR
There are many greenhouse builders that can realize turnkey projects with the help of secondary parties for the supply of screen installations, heating, climate controllers and water treatment plants. But there are not that many greenhouse builders who can deliver a turnkey project, while they also manufacture all of the greenhouse technology themselves. APR claims to be the only one in the field that designs and manufactures everything in house.For more information:
APR greenhouses and Technology / Novedades Agricolas S.A.
Pascual Miralles Piera
pmiralles@aprgreenhouses.com
www.aprgreenhouses.com