Prime Minister directs to 'tighten' management of growing areas, develop durian industry in sustainable direction

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has just signed Official Dispatch No. 71/CD-TTg of the Prime Minister on a number of tasks to promote sustainable durian production and export.

According to Official Dispatch 71/CD-TTg, durian is an agricultural product with a fast growth rate, high export value, and a large contribution to Vietnam's fruit and vegetable export turnover. In 2024, the planting area will reach nearly 180,000 hectares, the output is estimated at about 1.5 million tons, the export turnover is approximately 3.2 billion USD, accounting for 47% of the total fruit and vegetable export value. The planting area will increase by an average of 19.5% per year in the period 2015-2024 and continue to expand.

However, recently, Vietnam's durian export has encountered many difficulties at some points, affecting the export scale, added value, and profits of producers and exporting enterprises.

The main reason is that some countries have applied additional control measures on durian exports from Vietnam; in addition, climate change is becoming increasingly complex; the rapid expansion and increase of durian growing areas in some localities is potentially threatening the sustainable development of the durian industry.

Restructuring the durian industry: Prioritizing quality, expanding the market, reducing dependence on fresh fruit

To respond to the above challenges, the Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to focus on directing the restructuring of the durian industry according to the Project on developing key fruit trees until 2025 and 2030, ensuring supply-demand balance, meeting domestic and export market standards, and expanding consumption markets through open negotiations with new partners.

The Ministry is assigned to review and amend regulations on the management of growing area codes and packaging facilities in a transparent, unified and consistent manner in accordance with international practices; and complete guidelines on the safe and sustainable durian production process in the third quarter of 2025.

Along with that, it is necessary to promote technology transfer and digital transformation in production, processing, consumption and traceability, especially post-harvest, cold storage and deep processing to improve quality and competitiveness.

The Government also requested the Ministry to work with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) to unify the inspection process, recognize growing area codes, packaging facilities and qualified testing laboratories, and create favorable customs clearance conditions for Vietnamese durian exported to China.

At border gates, the plant quarantine system needs to be fully staffed and equipped to conduct timely inspection and quarantine during the peak harvest season. The industry also needs to be restructured towards improving quality, deep processing, and reducing dependence on fresh fruit to stabilize output and avoid price drops.

In parallel, the Government directed the development of a program to closely monitor the issuance and management of codes for growing areas and packaging facilities, ensuring food safety and hygiene and quarantine from the source. At the same time, coordinate with localities, businesses, and industry associations to build sustainable chains, diversify products and export markets, develop brands, and control origins to improve transparency and combat trade fraud.

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Industry and Trade to preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to build a national brand for Vietnamese durian, develop an identification system and consumption channels through supermarkets, e-commerce platforms and international distribution chains.

At the same time, it is necessary to build a stable distribution system in major export markets, strengthen trade promotion, and directly connect Vietnamese enterprises and importers to maintain market share and enhance competitive advantage.

Associations and businesses are also encouraged to strengthen cooperation and expand export markets. The system of commercial counselors abroad must proactively survey the market and promote the consumption of Vietnamese durian.

The Ministry of Finance is requested to direct the Customs Department to prioritize expedited customs clearance for durian shipments. At the same time, coordinate with relevant ministries and branches to study financial support policies, preferential credit, and tax deferral for durian processing and preservation enterprises; promote research and application of preservation and deep processing technology to increase product value.

Increase control over growing areas, handle fraud, ensure stable supply chain

The Ministry of Public Security is assigned to direct the investigation and strict handling of acts of fraud in growing area codes, packaging facilities, falsification of export documents and violations of the law in the production, processing and trading of durian, in order to protect reputation and export activities.

At the same time, coordinate with ministries and localities to ensure supply chain security and prevent market manipulation that causes instability in production and export.

The Government requests the Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and cities that grow durian to organize production in accordance with the regulations and instructions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment; control the area of ​​new planting, avoid massive development, disrupt the balance of crops and inappropriate land use. Localities need to adjust the planning of growing areas towards concentration, large scale, convenient for mechanization and meeting export standards.

Local People's Committees must also monitor and inspect the codes of growing areas and packaging facilities in the area; guide businesses and cooperatives to build a sustainable production - processing - consumption - export chain; create conditions to attract investment in cold storage, logistics, and deep processing to increase product value.

In addition, it is necessary to implement a food safety monitoring and traceability program; disseminate domestic legal regulations and import market requirements, and raise compliance awareness throughout the industry.

The Government also assigned functional forces and specialized agencies to strengthen comprehensive supervision of the durian production - packaging - consumption - export chain; at the same time, guide the construction of an internal monitoring system in growing areas and packaging facilities to ensure stable operating conditions and compliance with technical standards.

The Government Office is assigned to monitor, synthesize and promptly report to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister on arising and unexpected issues related to the implementation of the instructions in the Official Dispatch.

Thanh Ha

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/thu-tuong-chi-dao-siet-quan-ly-vung-trong-phat-trien-nganh-sau-rieng-theo-huong-ben-vung-post549534.html