Need to properly manage growing area codes and packaging facilities for "billion dollar trees"

After the merger, Lam Dong is the locality with the largest area of ​​durian trees (known as "billion dollar trees") in the country. Currently, durian products of Vietnam in general and Lam Dong in particular are mainly exported to the Chinese market with increasingly strict quality standards.

The strength of the "billion dollar" tree

Durian trees have been bringing high income to farmers in Lam Dong province.

Currently, the entire Lam Dong province has a durian area of ​​up to 43,960 hectares and is considered a "billion dollar" tree; of which, the business period area is 22,058 hectares, accounting for 50.2% of the total durian area of ​​the whole province. The total output in the 2025 crop is estimated at about 266,700 tons.

“Durian trees are mainly grown in localities such as Da Huoai commune, Da Huoai 1, Da Huoai 2, Da Huoai 3, Cat Tien 2, Cat Tien 3, Da Teh, Da Teh 2, Da Teh 3, Bao Lam 1, Bao Lam 2, Bao Lam 3, Bao Lam 5, Tan Ha - Lam Ha, Dam Rong 1, Dam Rong 2, Hoa Ninh, Hoa Bac, La Da, Dong Giang, Nghi Duc and Nam Thanh...

The entire Lam Dong province has over 7,200 hectares of durian growing area applying high technology in production.

Up to now, the area of ​​durian using high technology in production has reached over 7,200 hectares; safety certification according to VietGAP standards has reached 1,015 hectares. The Provincial People's Committee has recognized the high-tech durian production area in Ha Lam commune, old Da Huoai district (now Da Huoai 2 commune, Lam Dong province) with a scale of 300 hectares.

Lam Dong businesses promote durian purchasing and export activities in 2025

The province currently has 133 enterprises and cooperatives purchasing durian for export to the main market of China; 47 durian production and consumption chains with 1,678 participating households, covering an area of ​​4,504.5 hectares.

After being purchased, durian must go through many cleaning steps and strict quality checks before being packaged for export.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Phuc, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Lam Dong province, said: “With the existing potential and strengths of durian trees, the entire Lam Dong province has been granted 337 codes for durian growing areas for export, with an area of ​​13,127.83 hectares (accounting for 59.5% of the total business area); at the same time, 53 codes for durian packaging facilities for export. The codes for durian growing areas and packaging facilities have been approved by the General Administration of Customs of China.”

Businesses step up purchasing durian in areas granted growing area codes.

"Currently, the number of granted growing area codes and packaging facilities is divided into 3 regions, including: Region 1 belongs to the former Lam Dong province, with 197 codes, a scale of 8,009.5 hectares and 37 facilities. Region 2 belongs to the former Binh Thuan province, with 26 durian growing area codes with a scale of 1,394.72 hectares and 12 packaging facilities. Region 3 belongs to the former Dak Nong province, with 114 durian growing area codes with a scale of 3,723.01 hectares and 4 packaging facilities."

Durian processing before export

In recent times, the Lam Dong Province Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection has monitored 134 growing area codes and 12 durian packaging facilities exported to the Chinese market; at the same time, it participated in the inspection team of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection to monitor 10 growing areas and 2 packaging facilities. Recently, from July 14 to 17, the Department participated with the Chinese expert team to comprehensively monitor 2 growing areas and 2 durian packaging facilities in the province.

Growing area code, plate is "passport" for exporting Lam Dong durian

Up to now, the whole province has 75 durian growing area codes authorized for 31 enterprises and 15 packaging codes authorized for 8 enterprises to pack and export durian.

Regarding the quality control of exported products, from the beginning of 2025 to present, the Department has collected 234 durian samples for analysis of pesticide residues, heavy metals cadmium and lead, and identification of harmful organisms (mealybugs). As a result, 4 samples were found to be contaminated with lead, however, none of them exceeded the limit; 6 samples were contaminated with cadmium, of which 1 sample was contaminated beyond the allowable limit from China (0.074/0.05 mg/kg).

Immediately after the analysis results were available, the Department of Agriculture and Environment notified the cadmium-contaminated growing areas in writing; at the same time, it requested serious implementation of measures to ensure compliance with the regulations of the importing country and Vietnam.

Many difficulties in growing area codes need to be resolved

According to research, representatives of cooperatives and associated households are facing difficulties and problems related to the consumption of durian products with growing area codes.

Mr. Cao Tan Manh, Director of Huong Thanh Durian Cooperative (Da Teh Commune), said: “Recently, many businesses have taken advantage of the authorization of growing area codes to purchase durians illegally, affecting the quality of exported durians. Meanwhile, our cooperative has been granted growing area codes, but businesses do not sign contracts to purchase durian products from people.”

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Son, Director of Da M'ri Agricultural Cooperative (Da Huoai 2 Commune), the current reality is that most durian purchasing enterprises are cooperating with warehouses to purchase and package durian products for export. Meanwhile, cooperatives that are granted growing area codes have to find customers at purchasing warehouses to sell durian.

According to Mr. Son: The connection between durian production cooperatives granted growing area codes and enterprises authorized to have growing area codes is not yet tightly bound.

“Currently, the connection between durian production cooperatives granted growing area codes and enterprises authorized growing area codes is not tightly bound in the process of investing and consuming products for farmers. That has put farmers at a disadvantage in terms of durian purchase prices and support policies from enterprises authorized growing area codes. To effectively promote growing area codes, cooperatives and farmers need the cooperation of the government and functional agencies to form a chain of 4 houses: cooperatives - farmers - government and enterprises" - Mr. Nguyen Thanh Son emphasized.

Currently, the durian purchase price between households that have and have not been granted a growing area code is not clear and transparent.

As for durian purchasing businesses and repackaging facilities, they said that most of the growing area codes are being linked and authorized by cooperatives with businesses outside the province.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang, Gia Nguyen Company (Bao Loc), said: “Currently, many durian purchasing enterprises in Lam Dong province, including us, are having difficulty accessing growing area codes to purchase durian for export. Therefore, state management agencies need to have a mechanism for enterprises in the province to access growing area codes when purchasing durian.”

Mr. Le Minh Dung, Director of Rong Trung Hoa Company (Da Huoai Commune) suggested: Currently, due to the lack of specific instructions, most durian purchasing enterprises have to learn about product preservation processes themselves. Durian preservation processes and preservatives are all researched and selected by enterprises themselves when they think it is appropriate. Therefore, it is necessary to have specific instructions on the process of using preservatives to sustainably export durian to avoid unnecessary risks.

In the context of globalization and economic connectivity today, if durian is to be exported sustainably, all entities in the value chain need to join hands, be unanimous, and cooperate closely throughout the entire production, preservation, processing, and export process. Especially in the context of China tightening the management of pesticide residues, heavy metals, and yellowing substances in durian products; if not well controlled, it will greatly affect this industry, the risk of suspension and code revocation is very high.

Lam Dong Province Enterprises Promote Durian Export Activities

Along with that, localities increasingly 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. For durian growers, it is necessary to comply with production processes according to regulations, limit the use of fertilizers and pesticides containing Cadmium for durian.

Mr. Ha Ngoc Chien, Head of the Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection of Lam Dong province, emphasized: "To export durian sustainably, enterprises and packaging facilities must absolutely not use Yellow O in the preliminary processing and preservation of durian products; at the same time, strictly implement the one-way packaging process, traceability; invest in equipment to implement technical measures to meet the regulations of the importing country and durian products."

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At the Conference on “Sustainable Development of the Durian Industry” held on May 24 in Dak Lak, Mr. Vo Quan Huy, Director of Huy Long An Company Limited, stated that Vietnam has an advantage in seasonality (year-round supply) but faces difficulties in quality control. The loose management of codes for growing areas and packaging facilities not only affects traceability but also reduces the reputation of Vietnamese durian in the international market.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/can-quan-ly-tot-ma-vung-trong-va-co-so-dong-goi-cho-cay-ty-do-388577.html