Durian businesses are not big yet but are already 'fighting' each other on their home turf

On September 11, in Buon Ma Thuot City ( Dak Lak ), the forum "Identifying the current situation of durian consumption and export linkage in 2023 and solutions for effective and sustainable development of the Vietnamese durian industry" was held by Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper (the standing unit of the Steering Committee for the 970 Agricultural Product Connection Forum - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) in coordination with the Dak Lak Durian Association, Dak Lak Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Plant Protection Department, Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development).

Durian price turmoil

At the forum, Mr. Le Anh Trung, Director of External Relations of Van Hoa Holding Group, said that in this year's crop season, the group has a contract to jointly purchase durian 15-20 days before harvest. However, about 2 months before durian enters its main season, traders and brokers have flocked to the gardens to lock in and stake gardens, causing confusion in durian prices and distracting people.

In addition to price turmoil, Mr. Trung said there was market division, with businesses in this commune and that commune sharing the purchase of durian.

Durian Industry Forum held in Dak Lak

"Foreign partners are happy when Vietnamese businesses are divided. We have to face reality and solve the situation where domestic businesses are fighting each other before they have even grown up. This will inevitably lead to the consequence that we lose at home," said Mr. Trung.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Chien, Director of Tan Lap Dong Agricultural Service Cooperative (Krong Buk District, Dak Lak) expressed his frustration about the management of durian growing area codes. Mr. Chien said that some units own growing area codes but have not been able to buy products from the codes. On the contrary, from these growing area codes, some units still carry out normal export procedures.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Chien expressed his frustration about the loose management of durian growing area codes.

In addition, the planting area codes are standardized as logbooks, monitoring, and pest monitoring... so the selling price is equal to, or even lower than, other units.

According to Mr. Chien, Tan Lap Dong Cooperative has an output of about 1,400 tons of durian. This year, many people came to the Cooperative to buy durian but no one cared about the growing area code. "I asked why the product was exported without caring about the growing area code, the traders patted me on the shoulder and whispered that they could take care of that themselves," Mr. Chien was upset.

At the forum, Mr. Chien suggested that management agencies control and monitor more closely the issuance and management of growing area codes, ensuring fairness for businesses with a passion for the durian industry.

Will there be a decree on growing area codes?

Receiving the opinions of the delegates at the forum, Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Hien, Deputy Director of the Legal Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), said that she will synthesize and submit to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development the regulations on growing area codes and the most appropriate rules for regulating behavior in the durian industry.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Hien said she will absorb the opinions of the delegates to synthesize and report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

"The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is directing very strongly to advise the competent authority to issue a decree on growing area codes. Along with that, there will be regulations on behavior and sanctions for buying and selling, and violations of growing area codes," said Ms. Hien.

Participating in the online forum from Hanoi , Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said that this forum is an opportunity for all parties to contribute ideas, helping the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have the right orientations and solutions to develop the Vietnamese durian industry.

Minister Le Minh Hoan said that Vietnam's durian industry has a lot of potential and advantages but is also facing many challenges. In the context of high durian prices, the biggest challenges are controlling durian growing area codes, product prices and durian growing areas.

A durian garden full of fruit in Krong Pak District, Dak Lak

"If we want the durian industry to develop, we must start with production, not consumption. We must clearly understand that sustainable development here is not about sustainable durian trees, but about the people participating in the sustainable durian industry chain. Businesses must build the foundation with farmers from the time they plant seedlings, not wait until the fruit ripens on the tree," Minister Le Minh Hoan emphasized.

According to Mr. Vu Duc Con, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chairman of the Dak Lak Durian Association, durian is currently grown in 12/15 districts of the province, with an area of ​​over 28,000 hectares, an increase of more than 6,000 hectares compared to the end of 2022, with an estimated output of about 200,000 tons. Mr. Con said that Dak Lak durian is mainly sold in the form of fresh fruit, with a low processing ratio. Therefore, the development of the durian industry needs to focus on the deep processing chain.

According to Mr. Con, the area of ​​intercropping durian in Dak Lak has not yet been approved for a growing area code. "We will propose that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development study and evaluate the intercropping of durian with other crops, creating a basis for negotiations with China to approve the granting of a growing area code for this form of cultivation. Otherwise, it will be very difficult for intercropping durian," said Mr. Con.

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