Lesson 1: Durian acreage increases "hotly"

(LĐ online) - Lam Dong is a locality with favorable geographical location, climate and soil conditions for growing large-scale, high-quality durian trees. In order for durian products to reach the market, especially for export, the provincial agricultural sector has been implementing a series of solutions in organizing cultivation, improving product quality and value. Along with that, Lam Dong province focuses on implementing solutions in attracting investment in the processing industry. However, the "hot" growth of this tree in terms of area and output is also posing a problem that needs to be solved by functional sectors.

These days, thousands of durian farmers in Lam Dong province are entering the 2023 durian crop year with high expectations for a year of good harvest and prices.

According to statistics by the end of 2022, the entire Da Huoai district has a total area of over 5,580 hectares of durian; of which, the harvested area is 2,567 hectares, the average yield is estimated at 129.4 quintals/hectare with a total output estimated at 33,213 tons. In particular, the durian area in 2022 increased by 1,406 hectares; of which, the area converted during the year is 573 hectares, the area converted in previous years but not yet reviewed is 833 hectares.

According to the assessment of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Da Huoai district, the locality has favorable natural conditions for this crop to grow, with most communes and towns being able to grow it. Durian grown in the production areas here includes 3 varieties: Monthong, Ri6, Musaking, with most of the area applying advanced production processes and water-saving irrigation models.

According to Da M'ri Agricultural Cooperative, up to now, the Cooperative has 85 members with a total agricultural land area of 226.8 hectares; of which, the area under durian cultivation is 134 hectares. Thanks to durian cultivation, the members of the Cooperative all have a comfortable life, not only that, many members are also constantly investing and expanding the production area.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Son - Director of Da M'ri Agricultural Cooperative, Da Huoai District said that on average, each durian tree takes nearly 5 years from planting to harvest. The investment cost for each durian tree is about 5 million VND and the profit from this crop is very high. If cultivated according to the correct process and techniques, each tree can earn a profit of tens of millions of VND/year.

Meanwhile, in emerging localities in crop conversion such as Da Teh and Cat Tien, durian is also the top choice of people in a breakthrough in economic development.

In the southernmost commune of Lam Dong province, Dong Nai Thuong (Cat Tien district), the locality has also developed the durian area to more than 270 hectares. Mr. Le Quang Chuong - Chairman of Dong Nai Thuong Commune People's Committee said that most of the durian area above was converted from here by people. Therefore, the economic efficiency on the same unit area increased from 40 million VND per hectare to many times, there are many durian production models with income of over 500 million VND, even earning billions/ha.

In Da Teh district, the locality currently has about 1,700 hectares of durian; of which, the area entering a stable business period from the 6th year onwards is 900 hectares, with a total expected output of more than 20,000 tons. Some communes with large durian growing areas are Da Kho, My Duc, Quang Tri, Da Pal... Compared to other traditional crops in the locality, growing durian helps people increase their income many times over.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, durian trees have been growing rapidly since the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam signed a protocol on official durian exports to China. This has also led to people developing this tree rapidly.

From the beginning of 2021 to the end of 2022 alone, the durian area nationwide has increased by about 26,000 hectares, bringing the total area to about 100,000 hectares. Meanwhile, according to Decision No. 4085 dated November 27, 2022 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on approving the Project on Developing Key Fruit Trees Nationwide to 2025, with a vision to 2030, the recommended durian area is about 65,000 - 75,000 hectares, with an output of 830,000 - 950,000 tons.

In Lam Dong province, according to statistics, the durian area is estimated to reach 17,163 hectares in 2022, an increase of more than 3,500 hectares compared to 2021. Durian and some other fruit trees grown purely or intercropped in industrial gardens have contributed to improving agricultural production efficiency and increasing income for producers.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chau - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Lam Dong province commented that the situation of rapid development in area, expansion of new durian planting in areas without advantages, spontaneous cutting down of other crops to plant new durian... has the risk of leading to a situation of supply exceeding demand, disrupting the stability of the market in the coming time.

Faced with the recent sharp increase in the area of this agricultural product, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's view is not to encourage further development of durian growing areas but to focus on improving the quality of commercial durian, meeting the standards to be granted a growing area code by China as well as serving the domestic market.

In addition, ensuring durian consumption in the context of rapidly increasing acreage and output is a problem that needs to be solved. In the immediate future, it is necessary to continue to improve information support on production techniques, quality management of durian seedlings, ensure the supply of seedlings meeting quality standards for producers as well as the inspection and examination of durian processing facilities for export, ensuring food hygiene and safety... which need to be implemented synchronously by units and localities.

(TO BE CONTINUED)