Growers earn good income thanks to durian getting good prices

Massive income thanks to durian

It’s common for people coming to Krong Pac these days to see the scene of motorbikes and tractors carrying durians busy running on the roads. According to Le Van Thanh, a durian grower living in Ea Yong commune, Krong Pac district, his family’s 1.3 ha of durian gains an output of more than 20 tons in this crop. And for one basket of durian, the current selling price is VND 50,000/kg.

The family earns approximately VND 1 billion from the durian orchard per year. Compared to other trees, durian is easy to take care of. Thanh's family only spends nearly VND 100 million on investment, but its yield is several times more than other plants.

“Growing durian brings stable income. we used to grow coffee in the past. Although it had good quality, the total profit was just over VND 100 million. Durian has low investment costs but creates much higher income. The family's durian orchard is grown according to VietGAP standards. Following these standards will help the product meet the quality criteria for export to other countries. And a higher income means a brighter future for my children, "Thanh said.

In a similar manner, the family of Dau Xuan Hoan in Phuoc Hoa village, Ea Yong commune, Krong Pac district has 3 ha of durian with an output of more than 30 tons. “My family has been growing durian since 2006. Durian was normally intercropped with avocado in the past. There were times when Booth avocado was sold for more than VND 180,000/kg. But after a while, avocados lost their yields and became lower in value, so the family decided to discard the avocados and leave only the durians to take care of. And to our surprise, there is no tree that is easy to care for and gives a high income like durian. The family grows a lot of trees, but they don't make a profit as high as durian," said Hoan.

Durian can now be exported to China through the official route, so people in Dak Lak are having their focuses on production in accordance with VietGAP standards. Orchards grown in the organic direction are a great attraction to traders, so they are willing to buy the fruit at high prices.

Durian occupies 35% of Dak Lak’s fruit tree acreage

Ngo Thi Minh Trinh, Vice President of Krong Pac District People's Committee said that the district had more than 4,000 ha of durian, of which approximately 1,200 ha had been granted 35 area codes by the authorities. The durian acreage is basically eligible for export to China by the official route.

“Krong Pac also proposes to soon grant planting area codes in the near future for an additional 1,400 ha. This is to create conditions for growers to have their orchards qualified to export to China. The whole district also has 7 packing facilities at present," said Trinh.

“Orienting durian as one of the main crops of localities, the district is enhancing quality improvement and brand management to make Krong Pac durian worthy of the international agro-product standard. Krong Pac district is concentrating all resources to make the fruit eligible to export to the China market," said the Vice President.

According to Huynh Ngoc Duong, Deputy Director of Dak Lak Department of Industry and Trade, the province has more than 15,000 ha of durian (accounting for 35% of the total fruit tree area) with an estimated output of over 170,000 tons. And this year the orchards sell durian for over VND 40,000/kg. “The people can have a good income with this price, not to mention a special event that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam and the General Administration of Customs of China has recently signed a Protocol on Phytosanitary requirements for Durians exported from Vietnam to China. This will create a great opportunity for Vietnam's durian in general and Dak Lak in particular.”