Export opportunities for Gia Lai durian: Focus on building planting area codes

The issue of developing planting area codes for durian trees is one of the primary concerns of the government, the Agricultural sector, businesses, cooperatives and Gia Lai durian farmers.

Developing quality durian farms

Thanks to favorable soil and climate conditions, Gia Lai province has focused on developing durian trees in addition to other fruit trees over the past few years. The province currently has 4,068 hectares of durian area, including 1,706.5 hectares of production area. The average yield is estimated at 1455.7 quintals/hectare, and the output is over 24,870 tons. Durian in Gia Lai is mainly grown in the following localities: 835.8 hectares in Chu Se district, 737 hectares in Chu Prong, 658 hectares in Ia Grai, 553.6 hectares in Chu Pah, 370 hectares in Chu Puh, 343 hectares in Dak Doa, 295 hectares in Mang Yang and so on. It is expected that the durian area in Gia Lai will reach 5,000 hectares by 2025.

Most of this durian area is being developed in the direction of clean agriculture, and produced according to VietGAP standards to gradually form a value chain from production to consumption.

Durian farms in Gia Lai include key varieties such as Dona, Ri6, Musangking. Namely, the Dona variety dominates with more than 70% of durian area in the province, because this variety has the advantage of high and stable yield, short fruiting time; the tree can bear fruit after only 3 to 4 years of planting with an average yield of 12-15 tons/hectare/year. For pure durian farms, intensive farming following the correct process can yield up to 30-40 tons/hectare/year after the trees reache the 8th year. The fruits of Dona durian trees have outstanding features including thick flesh, small seeds, yellow rice, light but not pungent aroma, sweet and fatty taste; Dona durian can be preserved for a long time, meeting the needs of most consumers, as well as being convenient for long-distance transportation and export.

Variety is the most important priority to develop high-quality durian farms. By mid-October 2022, Gia Lai province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has recognized 50 top Dona (Monthong) durian trees, with a production capacity of 300 cuttings per tree, which will produce 15,000 cuttings. This figure can measure up to a new planting area of approximately 81 hectares/year.

In addition to varieties, the application of technology to durian production is also of special interest. There are currently 1,117.4 hectares of durian area with advanced irrigation technology and water-saving irrigation; 618.2 hectares of durian produced according to VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards. These areas account for roughly 7.3% of the total certified fruit tree area (the certified fruit tree area of Gia Lai province is 8,460.2 hectares).

Local governments and businesses need to cooperate

Calling on businesses and cooperatives to cooperate with farmers in growing, processing and consuming durian fruit, finding the direction for official export to potential markets marks the right development direction of Gia Lai province.

Chu Puh district has made efforts to establish a durian specialized area for many years. However, only durian products produced by Dai Ngan Organic Agriculture Cooperative in Ia Blu commune have been VietGAP-certified.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Tu - Vice Chairman of Chu Puh District People's Committee, said that: In order to support durian production in line with VietGAP, GlobalGAP standards, etc. with the goal of official export, the district has coordinated with specialized agencies and several businesses in the province, and mobilized farmers to produce according to VietGAP standards and develop planting area codes. Dai Ngan Organic Agriculture Cooperative has connected with reputable businesses to make documents and procedures to apply for a planting area code for durian trees. “The district has recently collaborated with the Center for Application of Science and Technology Advancement under the Gia Lai Department of Science and Technology, to survey and develop the durian planting area code in Ia Rong commune according to VietGAP standards. So far, the commune has formed a cooperative group for durian production according to VietGAP standards, which will open up opportunities for stable durian development in the coming years" said Mr. Tu.

According to Mr. Nguyen Viet Binh, Director of Dai Ngan Organic Agriculture Cooperative, the cooperative has actively associated with 62 households, and cultivated at least 250 hectares of durian in the direction of VietGAP. As a result, the product value increased and was certified as a provincial OCOP product. “The cooperative is currently in the process of requesting the authorities to issue a planting area code for 177 hectares of durian. The cooperative is expected to establish 6 planting area codes in this year. Additionally, the cooperative also signed an association contract with Nafoods Group Joint Stock Company to consume export products in the near future", Mr. Binh shared.

Duc Co district People's Committee and the North Central Highlands Export Cooperative have recently signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation and association in the production and trading of durian products in the area. Accordingly, the North Central Highlands Export Cooperative will build a preliminary processing facility as well as a frozen storage for durian export preservation in Ia Krieng commune; The cooperative will purchase the durian fruits; associate with supporting farmers to participate in the durian production chain, support the transfer of science and technology, and applying it to the standard durian care and production process. Likewise, Duc Co district will support the development of product labels, planting area codes and traceability for durian products under the cooperative.

Mr. Vu Manh Dinh - Chairman of Duc Co District People's Committee, said: There are over 300 hectares of durian in the district. With the capacity to purchase more than 2,000 tons of durian every year, the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the North Central Highlands Export Cooperative and the People's Committee of Duc Co district on cooperation, association in production and purchase of durian products will contribute to helping farmers maintain their output. "As a result, farmers will continue to implement intensive farming measures, ensure technical processes and meet quality standards, contributing to sustainable development of durian trees", Mr. Dinh shared.

Gia Lai Sub-Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection has coordinated with localities to set up, develop and organize appraisal to submit a dossier to the Department of Plant Protection. The Department will subsequently process and request the General Administration of Customs of China to issue 14 planting area codes for a total area of 310.57 hectares.