Dak Lak: Learn from Thailand's experience in growing durian

Each country will have a different path and formula for successfully exporting fruit abroad. However, to overcome competitors, the Vietnamese fruit industry first needs to learn Thailand's ways and methods that have been very successful.

On November 22, Mr. Nguyen Hoai Duong, a Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, the Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dak Lak province, led a working group including the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dak Lak Fruit Tree Association, and Dak Lak Durian Association and 15 businesses and cooperatives visited and worked in Thailand. The delegation visited and worked in Thailand until November 24.

In Chanthaburi province, receiving and working with the delegation were Mr. Monsit Paisarntanawa, Governor of Chanthaburi province, and leaders of local units.

Mr. Nguyen Hoai Duong, on behalf of the delegation, introduced the purpose and content of the business trip and conveyed greetings and good health wishes from the Chairman of Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee, Pham Ngoc Nghi, to the Governor of Chanthaburi province.

Chanthaburi province has a population of about 550,000 people, and agriculture is considered a strength because of favorable climatic conditions, fertile land, and rich natural resources. The agricultural cultivation area of 365,600 hectares accounts for 58% of the entire province's area, mainly developing high-quality, safe fruit trees according to international standards.

In 2023, it is estimated that the amount of fruit harvested will be 1 million tons, with an export value of over 100 billion Bath, of which durian is the primary fruit of the province with an area of over 40,000 hectares, an output of 550,000 thousand tons (about 50% of Thailand's durian output) is worth the equivalent of Bath 86 billion (about VND 60 trillion); 387,000 tons of labels worth equivalent to Bath 8.9 billion; Mangosteen 160,000 tons worth equivalent to Bath 7.6 billion Bath. The total value of agricultural export turnover is over Bath 100 billion, ranking first in Thailand.

Members of the delegation introduced and discussed with specialized agencies of Chanthaburi province about the agricultural development situation of the two localities.

In particular, the two sides focus on contents related to the sustainable and effective development of the durian industry, such as: Policies to support durian seed production; Policies to support the application of effective agricultural production practices; Supporting organic agricultural production and supporting the use of high technology in durian production; Policies to support, build and develop durian supply chains; Technical issues such as planting, care and pest prevention; Linking production along the value chain; Experience in managing the quality of exported fruits and many related problems.

The two sides also pledged to continue discussing cooperation in agriculture, especially in developing a stable and sustainable durian industry, creating positive effects and results for each side of the international market. The two provinces have sent representatives from each side to act as the focal point to continue working in depth on specific cooperation issues in the coming time.

Chanthaburi province has also invited authorities, associations, and businesses of Dak Lak province to attend important events such as exhibitions, fruit festivals, and agricultural production and processing technology in Thailand and Chanthaburi province in 2024 and beyond.

At the end of the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Hoai Duong, on behalf of the delegation, thanked the respectful welcome of the Governor and leaders of departments, branches, and associations... of Chanthaburi province and hoped that in the coming time, the two sides would continue to have discussions and work to promote cooperative relationships in many aspects in the agricultural sector, especially focusing on the durian industry.

Mr. Duong also respectfully invited authorities, associations and businesses of Chanthaburi province to visit and discuss cooperation issues between the two provinces in the near future.

Previously, on the afternoon of November 20, the delegation visited and worked at the Center for Agricultural Research and Development of Kanchannaburi province on the asparagus model using the new variety KC417-3 with high productivity, quality and Good disease resistance, suitable for ecological and soil conditions in Dak Lak province.

According to the work program, the delegation will continue to visit and study several models such as: Durian processing facility; durian model garden; Suphatraland garden is a model of tree planting combined with typical eco-tourism and a visit to the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand.