Unlocking the potential of Krông Nô durian

These days, on the hillsides of Krông Nô commune, the lush durian orchards are in their peak growth phase.

Production linkages enhance the value of agricultural products.

Previously, most households in Krông Nô commune produced durian on a small scale, relying mainly on traditional experience. Investment and crop care lacked coordination, and access to scientific and technical advancements as well as a stable market was difficult.

Recognizing the potential for durian cultivation, in September 2022, the Thong Phong Durian Cooperative was established with 10 members, mainly from the Tay and M'nong ethnic groups. This is the first durian cooperative in the locality, managing approximately 15 hectares of durian trees aged 1 to 8 years.

A lush durian orchard belonging to a member of the Thong Phong Durian Cooperative.

The establishment of cooperatives has created a foundation for households to link production, share experiences, access scientific and technological advancements, and gradually build concentrated production areas. Instead of individual production, members work together towards the common goal of improving product quality, building brands, and expanding consumer markets.

A significant step forward for the Thong Phong Durian Cooperative is its participation in the project "Pilot project on smart technology-based durian production and the development of model durian orchards linked with agricultural tourism in Krong No commune, Dak Lak province". The project is implemented with non-refundable aid from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Global Environment Fund's Small Grants Program (GEF-SGP), and the Dak Lak Provincial Farmers' Association.

Through the project, cooperative members receive technical support, access to organic production processes, use of high-quality seeds, and application of technological solutions in orchard management.

Farmers are researching the use of traceability software to track the durian cultivation process.

As one of the households participating in the project, Mrs. Nong Thi Ho's family (Lach Doang hamlet) currently has 2 hectares of durian trees that are entering their sixth year. Previously, her family mainly cared for the orchard based on experience, and the fertilization, irrigation, and pest control were not truly scientific. Since joining the cooperative and receiving technical training from the project, she has been guided on a more systematic care process, learning how to monitor the growth of the trees to adjust the amount of water and fertilizer accordingly. As a result, the durian orchard is developing better, the trees are healthier, the fruit setting rate is higher, and production costs have also decreased significantly.

“Last year, our family's durian orchard yielded about 2 tons of fruit, but this year we expect to reach about 15 tons. This gives my family more motivation to invest in caring for the trees. I hope that in the future we will continue to receive support in terms of technical expertise and product distribution so that farmers can produce with peace of mind, increase their income, and develop their family economy more sustainably,” shared Ms. Nong Thi Ho.

Expecting bountiful harvests.

According to Mr. Chu Van Thong, Director of Thong Phong Durian Cooperative, the most important thing the project brings is not only technical support but also helping people change their perceptions in production.

“The cooperative members have gradually shifted from production based on experience to production with procedures and plans. Farmers are becoming more proactive in applying science and technology, focusing on product quality and participating in production linkages. In addition, by joining the cooperative, households not only receive technical support but also have the opportunity to build brands together, share experiences, and gradually access the market in a more professional way,” Mr. Thong said.

Besides the efforts of the people and cooperatives, local authorities are also actively involved in supporting production development, connecting product consumption, and building sustainable linkage models between farmers, cooperatives, and businesses.

Members of the Thong Phong Durian Cooperative share their production experiences.

According to Mr. Hoang Truong Giang, Vice Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Krong No commune, after more than a year of implementation, the project has contributed to raising people's awareness of modern agricultural production and developing the collective economy.

"From a newly introduced crop, durian is gradually becoming a staple crop, opening up promising economic development opportunities for many households in Krông Nô," Mr. Giang remarked.

According to the stated objectives, the project aims to enhance the collaborative capacity of approximately 200 durian-producing households in the area. After the project is completed in June 2026, the Thong Phong Durian Cooperative strives to increase its membership from 10 to approximately 50 members, while expanding its production area to about 40 hectares.

From the thriving durian orchards of today, a new direction is gradually taking shape in Krông Nô. It's not just a story of increasing income from a high-value crop, but also a testament to the effectiveness of a production linkage model, where people are changing their mindset, cooperating in development, and gradually building a high-quality durian growing region in their homeland.

Van Anh - Trong Truyen

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/kinh-te/202606/khoi-day-tiem-nang-sau-rieng-krong-no-2b82f12/