Lesson 1: Durian – A New Hope for the Rural Economy

From intercropping to becoming the main crop

Krông Pắc is a mountainous district in Đắk Lắk province. With a relatively flat terrain, most of the land in the district is fertile reddish-brown basalt soil, very favorable for the development of long-term industrial crops and perennial fruit trees such as coffee, pepper, durian, avocado, etc. Of these, the area planted with durian alone has reached over 8,000 hectares.

Dak Lak has now risen to the top position nationwide in terms of durian cultivation area, reaching approximately 34,000-35,000 hectares, with a production of over 300,000 tons. Photo: Dak Lak Newspaper

According to Mr. Y Djoang Niê, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Krông Pắc district, durian trees were introduced for intercropping in coffee gardens in the district in 2004, implemented by Phước An Coffee Company in Ea Yông commune with an area of ​​approximately 400 hectares.

The results show that the soil and climate conditions in the district are very suitable for durian cultivation, so durian trees continue to be intercropped in coffee gardens by the local people.

According to data reviewed in March 2023, Krông Pắc district has 7,157 hectares of durian, an increase of more than 3,000 hectares compared to 2022. Of this, 610 hectares are planted exclusively with durian, and 6,547 hectares are intercropped in coffee gardens; more than 3,300 hectares are in the production stage, mainly concentrated in Ea Yông, Ea Kênh, and Ea Knuếc communes. The main durian variety is Dona, with the remainder being Ri6, Musang King, etc.

In 2024, the entire district increased its durian cultivation area by nearly 1,000 hectares compared to 2023; the area of ​​durian trees in production also increased by 695 hectares; the total durian production for the entire district is expected to reach over 92,000 tons. The area of ​​durian trees certified under VietGAP has reached over 1,200 hectares.

Durian, a profitable product, has become one of the main and key crops contributing to increased income for the people and economic development of the district. Krông Pắc durian products possess superior quality compared to those from other localities, as recognized by businesses, traders, and consumers. Specifically, the durians are fragrant, delicious, with yellow flesh and a characteristic high level of sweetness and richness.

According to Mr. Y Djoang Niê, durian trees currently play an important role in the agricultural production development of the district, bringing high profits and income to the people as well as the establishments and agents involved in purchasing, processing, packaging, and selling durian in the area.

To ensure the sustainable development of durian production and meet market demands for quality and product safety, Krông Pắc district has recently intensified investment and support for organizations, individuals, and durian producers to adopt safe production processes according to standards such as VietGAP and organic farming; build and manage production areas and packaging facilities to ensure product traceability according to domestic and export market requirements; and encourage people to cooperate and link production and consumption with cooperatives, production groups, and businesses that have been assigned codes for purchasing, packaging, and exporting.

Simultaneously, the development of a brand and trademark for fresh durian products in Krong Pac district has been certified by the Intellectual Property Office of the Ministry of Science and Technology with certificate number 413207, certifying the registration of the trademark "Krong Pac Durian" for the collective of the Farmers' Association of Krong Pac district according to decision number 16552/QD-STT, dated March 8, 2022, of the Intellectual Property Office - Ministry of Science and Technology.

Currently, there are 153 establishments in the district involved in purchasing, processing, and packaging durian products. Durian purchase prices have increased sharply in the last two years, giving durian growers more options to sell at reasonable prices and achieve better profits.

The Clean Agricultural Services Cooperative (Phuoc Hoa village, Ea Yong commune, Krong Pac district) currently has 160 hectares of durian plantations, of which 146.7 hectares have been granted Good Agricultural Practices (VietGAP) certification; and a certificate of right to use the collective trademark "Krong Pac durian" for Krong Pac durian products in Dak Lak province, covering an area of ​​149.33 hectares.

Speaking with a reporter from the Industry and Trade Newspaper, Mr. Pham Quoc Dung – Deputy Director of the Clean Agricultural Services Cooperative (Phuoc Hoa village, Ea Yong commune, Krong Pac district) – informed that the cooperative has a total of 153 members, including 30 official members and 123 associate members. The aim is to improve services for members, expand production and business, enhance product value, create more jobs, and increase income for cooperative members.

In 2024, the cooperative invested in two new supply points for materials, fertilizers, and pesticides to meet the needs of its members and the local people. It completed the necessary infrastructure to meet the requirements of the supply chain for its main product, fresh durian fruit. It implemented a project to transform production towards "organic farming," renovating durian orchards with an organic orientation linked to the value chain. It also implemented a safe durian production model – "Organic-oriented," including planting 650 new Dona durian trees; and launched a program "Experience tasting durian in the orchard and visiting ancient durian trees" for domestic and international customers visiting Dak Lak. Due to effective production and linkages, the cooperative's output is currently quite favorable, and its products are highly valued by customers.

“The cooperative's product distribution partner is Chanh Thu Fruit Import-Export Co., Ltd. The orchards that are linked to this distribution network have been assessed as having stable yields and good product quality. The price of the output is determined by the partner based on the prevailing market price at the time,” said Mr. Pham Quoc Dung.

Bringing billions of dong in income to farmers.

Like many families in Dak Lak, in Dak Nong, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hang's family in EaT'ling town, Cu Jut district, has over 2 hectares of Dona durian trees in their 7th year. At the end of May, as the harvest season approached, she began accepting deposits from traders for all 300 trees in her orchard at a price of 80,000 VND/kg, significantly higher than last year. It is estimated that this year, Ms. Hang's durian orchard will yield over 35 tons, with nearly 3 billion VND already within reach.

Gia Lai province is also one of the places that harvests durian early compared to the rest of the Central Highlands region. Mr. Hoang Van Dat, from Binh Giao commune, Chu Prong district, has a durian orchard with 200 trees of the Ri6 variety. This year, his family expects to harvest about 25 tons of fruit. With traders currently buying at 60,000 VND/kg, his family will earn about 1.5 billion VND.

Mr. Tran The Hoang, a resident of Ea Kso village, Ea Nam commune, Ea H'leo district, Dak Lak province, said that his family has been investing in growing Dona durian for 7 years on an area of ​​more than 3 hectares, and this year's yield is expected to reach about 20 tons. "We have signed a contract with traders at a price of 90,000 VND/kg. If the purchase goes smoothly, we will earn about 1.8 billion VND, and after deducting initial investment costs, the profit will be about 1.3 billion VND," Mr. Tran The Hoang shared.

In Lam Dong province, the total area planted with durian is 21,147 hectares; of which, the harvested area is 11,554 hectares, and the expected production in 2024 is 135,000 tons. The entire province currently has 116 planting area codes with a total area of ​​5,597.13 hectares.

According to reports, at the same time, the purchase price of durian by businesses and traders was over 70,000 VND/kg for Dona durian and over 55,000 VND for Ri6 durian. Notably, the price of Dona durian at the farm was purchased by traders at over 80,000 VND/kg.

Many residents in the communes of Phuoc Loc, Ha Lam, Doan Ket, etc., in Da Huoai district, Lam Dong province (an area currently experiencing a peak durian harvest) affirm that, with the current durian prices, many families are earning high incomes, contributing to a stable life and gradually becoming wealthy.

Besides the benefits that durian trees bring, experts warn that this crop is also facing many challenges due to rapid development; in many places, the area continues to expand in pursuit of market prices, leading to concerns about quality.

Mr. Vu Duc Con, Chairman of the Dak Lak Provincial Durian Association, said:

In recent years, durian has enjoyed favorable market conditions, with consistently high prices, resulting in substantial profits for growers. Durian production has increased rapidly, especially in concentrated areas of the Southeast, the Mekong Delta, and particularly the Central Highlands, where durian is intercropped with coffee plants.

Lesson 2: Concerns about overheating development

Source: https://congthuong.vn/bai-1-sau-rieng-ky-vong-moi-cho-kinh-te-nong-thon-341818.html