The region of the "king" of fruits

Da M'ri Agricultural Cooperative focuses on growing 3 healthy durian: healthy soil, healthy trees, healthy people

Land of billionaires

The land in the South of Lam Dong province is a gathering place for residents from the provinces of the North and Central of our country to settle down. When they arrived, they brought with them the names of the land and the old village names to preserve such as: Ha Lam, My Duc, Quoc Oai, Quang Tri, Trieu Hai, Huong Lam, Quang Ngai, Gia Vien... According to the elders, in the past, people who came to this land to settle down mostly grew rice, corn, potatoes, cassava... and lived a life of hunger every day. Up to now, it has developed remarkably, with big houses and billion-dollar cars running all over the streets. It is durian that has created a dramatic change in the income of the people here.

Since the 1920s, when the French chose this land for experimental planting, and until now, the Da Huoai area in general has become the "capital" of durian with many farmers earning billions of dong. The communes in Da Huoai alone have more than 1,000 households with an income of 500 million dong or more, and more than 400 households with an income of over 1 billion. Up to now, the number continues to increase as the communes have established Billionaire Farmer Clubs, focusing on investing in durian care. Giving such figures to prove that every time you go to the Southern Central Highlands, you will meet a durian billionaire in the garden.

Many years ago, I often met comrade Nguyen Quy My, who was then the Secretary of the District Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Da Huoai District (old) and Secretary of the District Party Committee of the new district after the merger (including Da Huoai, Da Teh, Cat Tien). Comrade Nguyen Quy My was a man of few words, but when talking about durian, he was very excited about the success of 3 thematic resolutions to focus on leading and directing the development of key crops, especially durian, which has helped many farmers become billionaires on their own land. Starting from 2010, durian was defined as a key crop, the local government made great efforts to promote people to focus on investing and caring for it, and so far it has brought about clear results.

Similarities in climate and soil have helped the Da Huoai, Da Teh, and Cat Tien regions successfully grow the tree considered the “king” of fruits. The communes of the Da Huoai, Da Teh, and Cat Tien regions currently have over 10,000 hectares of durian. The durian products of the region have the advantages of being delicious, sweet, smooth, and low in fiber; and have been trusted by domestic and foreign consumers.

Passing through the steep passes that the people used to call Ma Thien Lanh, Ma Oi when they reclaimed the land... all appear a rich, prosperous appearance of durian gardens stretching across the Ton K'Long location, a formerly difficult village, or the remote villages of the Ma and Stieng people in Cat Tien, durian has also been harvested. Previously, most of the ethnic minorities lived on growing upland rice, short-term crops, cashew trees, and receiving contracts to protect forests. When the "king" of fruits took root and flourished, it gave a prosperous harvest.

Ms. Ka Hien, in Da Huoai 2 commune, grows more than 4 hectares of durian with over 600 trees, with an average yield of 30 tons/year, bringing in a stable income of over 2 billion VND per year. Ms. Ka Hien confided: The story of a poor household rising from a poor household after a few years to a well-off household with an income of several hundred million VND to 1 billion VND thanks to growing durian is no longer a rare story for ethnic minorities here, there have been many households that have changed their lives thanks to this crop.

Currently, some people in the Southern region have boldly processed frozen durian products. Typically, Mr. Luu Hoang Tuan, in Da Huoai commune, has successfully processed frozen durian to increase its value. Currently, he earns more than 5 billion VND each year, creating jobs for many local people. Frozen durian products will be processed to preserve the full flavor, improve quality, and serve the domestic and international markets.

Chairman of the People's Committee of Da Huoai Commune, Luu Hong Long, affirmed that durian is one of the main crops of the locality. Thanks to the suitable climate and soil, the crop grows and develops well; the product is of high quality and is favored by the market. Thanks to growing durian, many farmers in the commune have earned billions of dong, built spacious houses, and the appearance of the new countryside is changing more and more clearly.

Durian gardens stretch as far as the eye can see in the communes of Da Huoai, Da Teh, and Cat Tien.

Sustainable with durian

Although a large durian growing area has been established, local farmers sometimes have to face gummosis, root rot, and fruit wilting due to heavy rains. However, according to local authorities and farmers in the Da Huoai, Da Teh, and Cat Tien areas, this situation does not occur on a large scale, only in a few small areas. The durian wilting only occurred in the last crop season due to heavy rains at the right time in the area, when some durian crops were about to be harvested.

Mr. Le Quang Son - Director of Ha Lam Agricultural Tourism Cooperative said: Although lower than previous years, with a price of over 60,000 VND/kg, farmers have made a big profit. Many members of the cooperative have an income of several hundred million VND to several billion VND per year. Only in the last crop season did durian growers experience the problem of fruit being unripe in some gardens.

Currently, farmers in the southern part of the province have focused on growing 3 healthy durians: "healthy soil, healthy plants, healthy people". Mr. Nguyen Thanh Son - Director of Da M'ri Agricultural Cooperative, together with the members of the Cooperative, has built organic durian gardens, Viet GAP, thanks to which the durian gardens always grow and develop well, giving productivity and quality. In addition, local authorities in the communes have also built the image of "kind" durian farmers; implemented climate change response to develop sustainable durian.

Mr. Tran Quang Trung - Chairman of the People's Committee of Cat Tien 3 Commune said: Currently, the whole commune has about 850 hectares of durian, of which about 500 hectares are grown in the Dong Nai Thuong area. This is where most ethnic minorities live; thanks to durian, many households have high incomes and stable lives. The local government is interested in building a production organization, growing sustainable durian, growing area codes, transferring science and technology so that people can focus on caring for, preventing and controlling diseases on crops.

In the communes of Da Huoai region alone, the planning of concentrated durian production areas, application of high technology, promotion of production development towards modernity, large-scale production, high productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness has been implemented. 5 durian production planning areas applying high technology with an area of over 1,120 hectares have been formed. The communes in Da Teh and Cat Tien regions are also actively building durian areas applying high technology to produce durian in the direction of organic, VietGAP...

Going by car to Da Huoai, Da Teh, Cat Tien, durian, mangosteen, jackfruit, rambutan, and tangerine fields stretch endlessly. In particular, durian is planted in straight rows on the vast hillsides; affirming its position as one of the main crops, the “king” of fruits.

Land of billionaires

Sustainable with durian

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