Quality control of durian growing areas

After the merger, Lam Dong province is one of the localities with the largest durian growing area in the country, with nearly 44,000 hectares. Currently, the province focuses on closely monitoring growing area codes, packaging facilities and improving product quality to meet the domestic market, especially for export.

To date, Lam Dong province has 43,960 hectares of durian, of which more than 22,000 hectares are in the business period, accounting for 50.2% of the total durian area in the province. The output in the 2025 crop year is estimated at about 266,700 tons, of which 85% of the output is supplied to the market for fresh consumption, 15% is for peeling and freezing. The province has 337 codes for durian growing areas for export, with an area of more than 13,000 hectares, accounting for 59.5% of the total business area.

There are 53 codes for durian export packaging facilities, 47 production and consumption chains with 1,678 farmer households participating. Recently, China, the main export market of Lam Dong durian, has been tightening control of pesticide residues, heavy metals (cadmium, lead) and the banned substance Auramine O, so if these factors are not well controlled, it will greatly affect the reputation and brand of local durian.

To affirm its position as a center for durian cultivation, Lam Dong province has been implementing many measures, closely monitoring the codes of growing areas, packaging facilities and improving product quality to meet the domestic and export markets. The Department of Agriculture and Environment said that since the beginning of the year, the provincial Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection has supervised 134 growing area codes and 12 durian packaging facilities for export to the Chinese market; participated with the Inspection Team of the Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection to monitor 10 growing areas and two packaging facilities; supported the Chinese expert team to comprehensively monitor two growing areas and two packaging facilities.

The monitoring contents include: Cultivation diary, use of pesticides, fertilizers, plant quarantine, etc. The results show that the growing areas have met the requirements of the importing country, and are qualified to maintain the durian export code to the Chinese market. For product quality control, the Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection took 234 durian samples for analysis. The results showed that 4/78 samples were contaminated with lead, but did not exceed the limit; 6/78 samples were contaminated with Cadmium, of which one sample exceeded the limit (0.074/0.05 mg/kg); 6/78 samples were contaminated with harmful organisms.

Immediately after the analysis results were available, the Department notified the contaminated growing areas and requested them to take remedial measures and comply with the regulations of Vietnam and the import market. Strengthening propaganda and instructing farmers to use fertilizers and pesticides in the list of permitted use in Vietnam; using according to the four correct principles (right drug, right dosage, right time and right way) and ensuring the quarantine period before harvesting products, not using fertilizer products containing Cadmium and lead. The Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection is taking soil and water samples to assess the current cultivation situation, identify the main causes of heavy metal contaminated growing areas and provide guidance on remedial measures.

According to Mr. Nguyen Hoang Phuc, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, in recent times, thanks to the support of the Party, the State and ministries and branches, durian of Lam Dong province has been officially exported to China. The province has implemented many mechanisms and policies to support enterprises, cooperatives and farmers in linking production and consumption, associated with geographical indications and traceability; organized conferences and seminars to discuss solutions to remove difficulties for enterprises producing and exporting durian, especially exporting to the Chinese market, including Cadmium control, introducing analytical labs, etc.

For the durian industry to develop sustainably, the Department of Agriculture and Environment recommends that people comply with safe cultivation processes, monitor and treat pests and diseases, strictly control pesticide residues and heavy metals to meet the requirements of importing countries. For packaging facilities, strictly implement one-way packaging processes, trace the origin, invest in equipment to implement technical measures to meet the regulations of importing countries, and not use Yellow O in the preliminary processing and preservation of durian products. For exporting enterprises, it is necessary to organize production chains, plan purchasing and exporting, and accompany people to build sustainable value chains, not to break the links for short-term profits.

The Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection and the Department of Processing Quality and Market Development periodically inspect and monitor growing areas and facilities, packaging units that are granted codes to comply with Vietnamese law and meet the requirements of the import market. Strengthen the management of agricultural materials, ensure food safety from production to preliminary processing and packaging. Strictly handle violations related to the use of chemicals not on the list of permitted chemicals and banned chemicals.

With the advantage of having the largest durian area in the country, diverse ecological zones for durian cultivation, and many practical and effective support policies, Lam Dong province is striving to build its position as a center specializing in durian cultivation, aiming to sustainably export durian products to the international market.

Article and photos: LE GIANG NAM

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/kiem-soat-chat-luong-vung-trong-cay-sau-rieng-386726.html