Dak Nong strives to protect the brand of durian.

Dak Nong, along with the rest of the country, is seeking solutions to remove obstacles to the effective and sustainable development of the durian industry.

Báo Đắk Nông•08/06/2025

The "Zero Cadmium" Resolution

Vietnam is witnessing a strong rise in the durian industry, a tropical fruit dubbed "green gold" with the potential for billions of dollars in exports.

However, behind those impressive figures lie a series of challenges related to product quality, technical standards, and barriers from import markets, especially China.

Faced with these pressures, farmers and authorities nationwide are striving to overcome obstacles and build a sustainable durian industry.

111(1).jpg — Farmers in Dak Nong are raising awareness about producing cadmium-free durian.

In Dak Nong, one of Vietnam's major durian-producing provinces, the issue of cadmium (a toxic heavy metal) that was once rarely found in agricultural products is becoming a major concern.

Cadmium residue in durian originates from the uncontrolled expansion of cultivation areas, coupled with the overuse of chemical fertilizers containing heavy metals such as DAP and phosphate fertilizers.

In response to this situation, the Thien Phu - Nhan Co Durian Club in Dak R'lap district proactively launched the "Zero Cadmium" action campaign. With 40 members cultivating over 500 hectares of durian, the club simultaneously conducted soil sample testing starting in March 2025. Based on the test results, the club used biological products to care for the durian trees, helping to reduce cadmium in the soil by up to 60% in just one month.

img_5103(1).jpg — Mr. Nguyen Thai Binh, Chairman of the Thien Phu - Nhan Co Durian Club, shared solutions to reduce cadmium in durian.

Mr. Nguyen Thai Binh, Chairman of the Thien Phu - Nhan Co Durian Club, shared: “We invest about 4 million VND per hectare to treat cadmium, and we have already applied this to 200 hectares of durian. The goal is to ensure that the entire durian growing area of the club is free of cadmium traces, thereby contributing to building a brand of clean durian for Dak Nong and Vietnam.”

In addition to proactively improving soil and controlling fertilizer use, the club focuses on using safe plant protection products produced to export standards. Club members regularly share experiences, cultivation techniques, and access to new technologies in durian farming.

img_5078(1).jpg — Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Trung, owner of Gia Trung Farm in Gia Nghia City, proactively sought solutions to control cadmium in his 17-hectare durian orchard.

The case of Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Trung, owner of Gia Trung Farm in Gia Nghia City, is another example of commendable proactiveness. He invested 7 million VND in a cadmium meter to monitor soil and water quality.

He is currently experimenting with using Calcium Chelate (Ca-EDTA), a biological product costing only 400,000 VND/ha, to care for durian trees without cadmium residue.

“My durian farm has been in operation for over 20 years. Over the years, I have produced durians that meet VietGAP standards. However, following the information about cadmium, I am implementing a treatment solution for all 17 hectares of my family's durian orchard,” Mr. Trung shared.

Working with farmers to protect the "green gold" brand.

By 2025, Dak Nong province is expected to have nearly 13,500 hectares of durian orchards, with a production of approximately 68,000 tons. However, the rapid expansion of durian cultivation is raising many issues regarding planning, standards, and sustainability.

According to Mr. Ho Gam, Chairman of the Dak Nong Farmers' Association, since the beginning of the year, farmers' associations at all levels have actively provided information, propaganda, advice, and support for solutions to improve the quality of durian.

In this context, the Provincial Farmers' Association, in coordination with the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, scientists , and experts, held a seminar on solutions for the sustainable development of durian in Dak Nong.

gen-h-11(1).jpg — Gia Trung Farm in Gia Nghia City uses cadmium meters to protect its durian orchards.

According to Nguyen Van Muoi, Deputy Secretary General of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, durian growers need to raise the soil pH using lime or soil conditioners, combined with intercropping plants that can absorb cadmium to biologically purify the soil.

"In the long term, it is important to change farming mindsets and ensure transparency regarding fertilizer quality, especially clearly defining the cadmium content in each product," Mr. Mười emphasized.

Mr. Mười also expressed optimism, stating that the recent strong action taken by authorities against the production and sale of substandard fertilizers is a positive sign. This contributes to making the agricultural sector, including durian cultivation, cleaner and more professional.

img_5038(1).jpg — Nguyen Van Muoi, Deputy Secretary General of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, shared solutions to eliminate cadmium in durian fruit for farmers in Dak Nong.

As of 2024, the total durian cultivation area nationwide reached nearly 180,000 hectares, with a production of approximately 1.5 million tons. According to the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, durian cultivation faces several potential risks such as: fragmented cultivation areas, difficulty in quality control, lack of irrigation water, and overuse of pesticides.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is studying the development of concentrated durian growing areas and encouraging staggered planting to avoid simultaneous harvesting, which would put pressure on the market.

The Ministry is coordinating with the Chinese Customs Administration to remove technical barriers and issue codes for durian growing areas and packaging facilities that meet standards.

The phytosanitary procedures for durian will be issued in 2025, serving as a basis for reassessing Vietnam's durian export capacity.

At the "Sustainable Durian Industry Development Conference" held on May 24, 2025 in Dak Lak, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy affirmed that three key factors are crucial for the durian industry to achieve breakthroughs: investment in cold storage, logistics, and modern processing facilities.

The Vietnamese agricultural sector aims to achieve $5 billion in durian exports in the near future. To realize this goal, several major bottlenecks need to be addressed.

This includes addressing the lack of planting area codes, high testing costs, weak post-harvest capacity, and increasingly stringent technical standards from China...

Minister Do Duc Duy affirmed: "We cannot rely on rapid growth to maintain market stability. We must have a solid legal foundation, synchronized technical standards, and a transparent management system."

On May 28, 2015, in Beijing, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy held talks with the Director General of the General Administration of Customs of China, Sun Maijun, on promoting the export of durian, lychee, and many other agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products from Vietnam.

Your side has essentially agreed with all the proposals from Vietnam. This is an important step in resolving technical obstacles in exports, including durian.

Source: https://baodaknong.vn/dak-nong-no-luc-bao-ve-thuong-hieu-cho-sau-rieng-254968.html