Binh Phuoc durian ready for export: Building qualified planting areas

Binh Phuoc is one of the provinces in the Southeast region that is currently developing durian production. Le Thi Anh Tuyet, Deputy Director of Binh Phuoc Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that durian trees were very suitable for the province's climatic conditions, bringing high income to households.

Binh Phuoc durians are highly regarded for their quality, and the cost to produce them in the province seems to be lower than in other localities. Binh Phuoc farmers thus pay keen interest in developing this agro-products, constantly perfecting and heightening their level of durian cultivation.

Binh Phuoc currently has approximately 3,400 ha of durian. The province’s plan in the near future is to develop 7,000 – 10,000 ha of durian to ensure the establishment of raw material areas in the direction of hi-tech agriculture, connect production link chains, and provide technical support, thereby helping farmers apply the most advanced techniques in farming and build large specialized planting areas.

Realizing the potential of durian fruit in terms of export, especially when China opened the door to Vietnamese durian, Binh Phuoc's agricultural industry in recent years has soon made preparation for the necessary works so that Binh Phuoc durian can export to the China market through official route without a problem.

Binh Phuoc has begun to assemble the necessities for approximately 1500 ha of durian that is deemed qualified to be exported to the China market. Nearly 33 planting area codes will be granted within this area.

To be more specific, Binh Phuoc will focus on granting codes to 15 planting areas and 1 packing facility first to clear the path for durian export to China. After that, the province will continue to review localities with large durian planting areas, re-evaluating the capacity of each cooperative and cooperative group. There will be next steps so Binh Phuoc can possess more production acreage, having durian output eligible for export to China as well as to other meticulous markets.

Over the past few years Binh Phuoc Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has organized many dissemination sessions and mobilized farmers to establish cooperatives and cooperative groups with the intention of preparing essential procedures to be granted planting area codes. There have been some cooperatives in durian production that can serve as prime examples such as Binh Phuoc Digital Agricultural Service Cooperative, Long Phu Durian Cooperative, and Long An - Minh Hung Fruit Service Cooperative.

Most of the durian cooperatives in Binh Phuoc have had the necessary documents and procedures up to this point, ready to be licensed to export durian to China in the most convenient manner.

Cooperatives and cooperative groups have thoroughly studied the production processes and techniques to ensure food safety and hygiene and disseminated the knowledge to cooperative members in a methodical manner while strictly following regulations in the process of planting durian.

Cooperative members also start producing in accordance with good agricultural practices, applying integrated pest management (IPM) programs and following the recommendations of the Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) as well as Binh Phuoc Department of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding the types of fertilizers, pesticides and growth regulators allowed to use.

Durian growers have been instructed by Binh Phuoc Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and district officials on keeping cultivation diaries, managing harmful organisms, and using fertilizers and pesticides under safe procedures without leaving residues on fruit products. They have also received guidance on building planting areas according to export-licensed standards.

Binh Phuoc Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has also specifically instructed cooperatives on the conditions to be granted planting area codes. The Department has organized technical training courses and sessions surrounding conditions and procedures to participate in granting planting area codes to durian farmers in the province.

It is worth noting that some enterprises in Binh Phuoc’s territory have actively invested in cold storage and coordinated with cooperatives to purchase and preserve durian according to standards, ready to export durian products to China right after being licensed.