Farmers' Association of Binh My commune visits the durian orchard of Mr. Tran Van Thao. Photo: THANH TIEN
The "money-making" plant
In Binh Phuoc hamlet, you'll be surprised by the rows of durian orchards providing shade even on a sweltering midday. As a pioneer in bringing durian trees to the hamlet, Mr. Tran Van Thao has achieved success with this farming model. Mr. Thao shared: “I visited other provinces and saw that durian trees yield high economic returns. If successfully cultivated, farmers don't need to worry much about income. A single durian tree can bring in nearly ten million dong per harvest, something that farmers with little land always dream of.”
With determination and learned experience, Mr. Thao succeeded with his first 5 acres of Ri6 durian. Building on this success, he expanded the area to 5 hectares, with over 1,000 durian trees. However, he also switched to cultivating the Monthong variety (Thai durian), as this type has a longer shelf life, is convenient for export, and usually fetches a higher price than Ri6 durian.
“In terms of economic value, durian trees yield high income. With 2 hectares of durian trees currently in the harvesting stage, I can earn over 2 billion VND per year. But this result is not easily achieved due to the technical requirements and years of accumulated experience. Durian trees are not as easy to grow as other crops; they require a high standard of clean water, an irrigation system, and experience in dealing with certain diseases…,” Thao explained.
With 10 years of experience cultivating durian in Binh Phuoc hamlet, Mr. Tran Van Di has also prospered with this model. Currently, he harvests about 2 tons of fruit per season, earning a profit of 100 million VND per hectare after deducting all expenses. Mr. Di affirms: "If durian trees are planted using the right techniques, and the selling price is above 30,000 VND/kg, the income for farmers is quite substantial."
According to the Farmers' Association of Binh My commune, there are currently 30 farmers participating in the association's groups and branches cultivating durian in the commune, with a total area of approximately 25 hectares. In addition, there are farmers who are not members of the association but also grow durian, with the total actual area in Binh Phuoc hamlet potentially exceeding 40 hectares.
Standardizing farming processes
Despite being a highly valuable crop, durian farmers in Binh My commune are facing many difficulties in cultivation. “Our cultivated area is located within the durian development planning zone of the former Binh Chanh commune, now Binh My commune. However, growers are struggling because the main source of irrigation water depends on the Tu Tang canal. If this canal becomes polluted, the durian orchards are significantly affected,” Mr. Di explained.
According to Mr. Dĩ, shrimp farmers in the hamlet often discharge wastewater into the Tư Tảng canal, causing difficulties for durian growers. When pumping out wastewater from shrimp ponds, durian trees suffer from leaf burn and shedding, resulting in heavy losses. Besides the difficulties in farming conditions, durian farmers also face challenges with market access, price manipulation by traders, and durians failing to meet cadmium inspection standards.
According to Nguyen Huu Kil, Vice Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Binh My commune, "We propose that the Provincial Farmers' Association utilize the Farmers' Support Fund to assist members who wish to expand their durian cultivation area. The estimated capital is approximately 1 billion VND." Mr. Nguyen Huu Kil affirmed the necessity of standardizing durian cultivation processes. Accordingly, the commune's Farmers' Association will coordinate with relevant departments to provide training on durian cultivation techniques that meet market demands. "Farmers must be trained in durian cultivation techniques according to VietGAP standards to ensure consumer health and safety. Farmers should participate in cooperatives and associations to link production and consumption for stable operation, reducing dependence on middlemen as is currently the case," Mr. Nguyen Huu Kil emphasized.
With its high economic value, durian trees are becoming increasingly accessible to farmers. Therefore, solutions are needed to support them with capital, technology, and market connections so that Binh My durian trees can continue to assert their role as an economic model that helps farmers get rich in their own homeland.
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/sau-rieng-binh-my-truc-bai-toan-chuan-hoa-a487138.html
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