Need a sustainable durian development strategy

The 2025 durian crop in Lam Dong is about to enter the harvest season.

In recent years, localities such as Da Huoai, Bao Lam, Dam Rong, Bao Loc City, etc. have promoted the development of specialized areas, built a production - consumption chain linking durian, creating jobs and increasing income for people. Statistics by the end of 2024, the total durian area in the province is 25,610 hectares, of which the pure planting area is 11,397 hectares and the intercropping area is 14,213 hectares with a total harvest output of 175,282 tons.

Regarding the export situation, in 2024, durian export output will be 25,518 tons, with a total turnover of about 104.15 million USD, an increase of 2.72 million USD compared to 2023. Of which, fresh durian exports will reach 20,214 tons (accounting for 11.5% of the province's total durian output) and peeled durian will reach 1,326 tons (equivalent to 5,304 tons of fresh durian), accounting for 3% of the province's total durian output. The Chinese market alone, the main consumer of durian exports from Vietnam as well as Lam Dong province, accounts for over 80%.

Currently, the most concentrated durian growing areas in the province are in Da Huoai, Di Linh, and Bao Lam districts with a total area of ​​19,808 hectares and an output of 140,696 tons (accounting for 77.3% of the area and 80.3% of the total durian output of the province). Da Huoai district alone is the main durian producing locality with an area of ​​10,190 hectares and an output of over 76,334 tons (accounting for 39.8% of the area and 43.5% of the total output of the province).

At Da M'ri Agricultural Cooperative, a long-standing durian production cooperative in Da Huoai district, it always guides farmers to produce cleanly, prioritizing the use of biological products to care for durian to ensure quality and limit pests and diseases. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Son - Director of Da M'ri Agricultural Cooperative said that the highlight of the change in output starting from the beginning of 2023, thanks to the opening of the Chinese market, favorable durian export, better prices than previous years, so farmers are very excited.

With an area of ​​nearly 400 hectares and 125 members, the 2025 durian season is about to enter the harvest season, Da M'ri Agricultural Cooperative estimates to harvest about 6,000 tons, with an average income of about 1 billion VND per hectare, much higher than other crops in the locality. "In order for durian to develop sustainably and be purchased by units at stable prices, farmers pay great attention to improving quality and complying with care processes. Growing clean durian, ensuring quality, and maintaining reputation is the long-term goal of farmers, whether for durian for export or domestic consumption," Mr. Son shared.

However, Lam Dong province also faces many difficulties and challenges in developing the durian industry. The durian production area is still small, there is no large raw material area, the technical level of farmers is still lacking, and the thinking of professional production of goods according to the regulations of the importing country is weak. The connection between representatives of the growing area or exporting units with the people is not really public, clear, and not sustainable. Besides, there is also a situation of "competition to buy, competition to sell" collecting durian for export, closing prices early but changing contracts...

As of 2023, according to a report from the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) has inspected and requested corrections for 17 unqualified durian growing areas with an area of ​​735.18 hectares. The provincial Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection has issued a document guiding the growing areas and inspecting the correction results of the above 17 growing areas to notify GACC to accept the issuance of export codes. However, to date, the Plant Protection Department, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the locality have not received any notice from GACC.

According to the leaders of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, the unit pays special attention and has strong direction in the management and supervision of 116 growing areas and packaging facilities and pest assessment, analysis of pesticide residues and heavy metals cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) on durian trees. The results detected 11 durian samples infected with mealybugs; 6 samples were infected with Cd but at a very low level of 0.020-0.024 mg/kg compared to the maximum limit of China (maximum allowable limit of 0.05 mg/kg). Therefore, in 2024, in Lam Dong province, there are no durian growing areas or packaging facilities that have been notified by the Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection to temporarily suspend and revoke codes due to contamination with heavy metals, plant quarantine objects and residual pesticides in products exported to China.

At the conference to discuss solutions to strengthen the management of durian product quality for export in the province last April, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Lam Dong province Nguyen Hoang Phuc emphasized that in the current context of globalization and economic connectivity, to export durian sustainably, all entities in the value chain need to join hands, be unanimous, and cooperate in the entire process of production, preservation, processing, and export.

To prepare well for the 2025 durian season starting around May, units and localities should develop early plans for durian harvesting and control the construction of durian storage facilities. In addition, localities, growing areas, and packaging facilities need to closely coordinate with units under the Department of Agriculture and Environment to strengthen inspection and closely monitor the production process.

From there, integrate programs and plans to promote propaganda and instruct people to only use fertilizers and pesticides that are allowed to circulate and be used in Vietnam. In particular, limit the use of fertilizers and pesticides containing Cadmium and ensure the quarantine period before harvest. Do not use Auramine O in the preliminary processing and preservation of durian products.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/kinh-te/202505/can-chien-luoc-phat-trien-sau-rieng-ben-vung-bf41b05/