Durian and shared sorrows

Exporting durian requires farmers to meet strict market criteria such as: participating in growing area codes, using pesticides and fertilizers according to standards, etc.

Lesson 1: Being Rich and Kind to Durian

The durian orchard in Nam Thanh has been granted a planting area code.

Durian not only brings in billions of dollars in export value but also generates billions of dong in profits for farmers. Along with this, clubs of billionaire farmers have been established to connect, share experiences, and honor skilled durian growers.

Go out into the garden and you'll meet a billionaire.

When talking about durian in Lam Dong, one immediately thinks of specialized cultivation areas such as the communes in Da Huoai, Da Teh, Cat Tien, Bao Lam, Di Linh, and Bao Loc. Further south are areas like Ro Mo, Ta Pua (Nam Thanh and Nghi Duc communes), La Day, and Da Tro (La Da commune)... The land of Da Huoai, Da Teh, and Cat Tien has become a leading durian-growing region in the country in general and Lam Dong province in particular. Currently, this area has over 10,000 hectares of durian with varieties such as Ri6, Mong Thong, and Musang King... This is also where the famous "Da Huoai Durian" brand originated.

In Da Huoai commune alone, there are over 1,000 households with incomes of 500 million VND or more, and over 400 households with incomes exceeding 1 billion VND. To date, this number continues to increase as the communes have established "Billionaire Farmers Clubs." Mr. Le Quang Son, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of the Ha Lam Garden Tourism Agricultural Cooperative, stated: "The Billionaire Farmers Club of Da Huoai 2 commune is a gathering place for farmers who are both skilled producers and pioneers in modern techniques, thinking, and production methods. The criteria are that households with durian production land in Da Huoai 2 commune achieve revenue of 700 million to 1 billion VND/hectare/year; participate in the cooperative, produce durian according to VietGAP standards, apply high technology in agricultural production, and establish planting area codes."

According to statistics from the Department of Agriculture and Environment, in 2025, the entire province had 44,283.47 hectares of durian, increasing to 45,550 hectares by May 2026, of which the area under cultivation was approximately 23,951 hectares, with a total expected production of over 310,000 tons.

In Da Huoai 2 commune, the campaign to promote agricultural production according to VietGAP standards continues to be maintained with an area of ​​466.6 hectares already certified; management of 22 valid durian growing area codes and 3 durian linkage chains covering an area of ​​538.3 hectares has been strengthened; the area of ​​durian production according to VietGAP standards in the commune is 466.6 hectares. The average production value per hectare of agricultural land is estimated at 291 million VND/ha, and the average per capita income reaches 103.5 million VND/person/year. Based on the effectiveness of durian production, Da Huoai 2 commune has established a Billionaire Farmers Club with 98 members...

Mr. Nguyen Hung Cuong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Da Huoai 2 commune, said: "Participating in the durian growing area code helps local farmers export their products through official channels to international markets, especially China, helping to increase product value and brand, ensuring traceability, complying with food standards, and managing orchards effectively thanks to gardening diaries... Farmers also don't have to worry about being pressured by traders to lower prices each harvest; therefore, they can work and produce with peace of mind."

Not only in Da Huoai, Da Teh, Cat Tien... but also in Nam Thanh, Nghi Duc, La Da, many households have been growing durian for about 5 years now. With the high price of durian thanks to favorable export conditions, they have earned billions of dong. It is no longer uncommon for households cultivating large areas to earn between 5 and 15 billion dong per harvest.

Members of the Billionaire Farmers Club

Kind farmers

In recent years, durian, once a specialty crop, has become a "billion-dollar" industry thanks to exports, generating billions of dong in income for many farming households. Consequently, in many areas, people have followed the market trend, cutting down other crops to plant durian.

This is accompanied by rapid growth in cultivated area and concerns as export markets increasingly demand higher standards, as well as violations and fraudulent use of planting area codes...

To meet the stringent demands of the market for durian, farmers in the southern part of the province are now focusing on cultivating durian with three key elements: "Healthy soil, healthy trees, and healthy people." Mr. Nguyen Thanh Son, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of the Da M'ri Agricultural Cooperative, along with its members, has developed durian orchards following organic and VietGAP standards. As a result, the orchards consistently thrive, yielding high productivity and quality. Furthermore, local authorities in the communes are promoting the image of ethical durian farmers and implementing measures to address climate change for sustainable durian development.

The kindness of farmers in the Da Huoai region will be applied to crops and livestock, especially durian. Registered farmers must commit to immediately reporting any pest or disease outbreaks to the authorities and neighboring farmers in the same industry so that prevention and control measures can be implemented. Farmers must dispose of pesticide packaging, containers, and cleaning solutions in designated areas. Durian cultivation and care must strictly adhere to established procedures, and durians must be harvested at the correct age, meaning they should not be picked unripe for sale when prices are high.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Son, the cooperative currently has 150 members with a durian cultivation area of ​​402 hectares, including 5 active cultivation zones covering 311 hectares; and 2 cultivation zones currently under approval. With these zones, farmers can export officially to international markets, eliminating price manipulation by private traders. Currently, the cooperative is encouraging and has already seen some households harvesting durians themselves without waiting for buyers. Farmers need to change their production mindset if they want sustainable durian exports. They shouldn't rely solely on experience but should also familiarize themselves with digital technology and use automated machinery to manage their orchards.

Although no cases have been detected in Lam Dong province, the buying and selling of planting area codes has appeared in some provinces and cities, causing frustration among durian growers. Those without planting area codes are being pressured by traders to lower prices, with the excuse that "without a planting area code, you can't export." Conversely, those with planting area codes registered by businesses are worried about not being able to manage them, as businesses are sourcing durian from other areas and attaching codes to their own planting area codes. Therefore, solutions are needed to develop sustainable durian growing areas that meet market demands, especially for export to demanding markets such as South Korea, Japan, the US, Australia, and India.

(To be continued)

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/sau-rieng-va-noi-niem-chung-445244.html