Khanh Son durian reaches a new record in price

Gradual increase in the price of durian

Durian farmers in Khanh Son district, Khanh Hoa province are currently occupied with taking care of their farms in preparation for the main harvest. By late June and early July, several areas of early ripening durian in the western communes of Son Lam, Thanh Son and Son Binh were already harvested and sold at an average price between 50,000 and 60,000 VND per kilogram.

According to Mr. Le Anh Quang, a durian farmer from Lien Hoa village, Son Binh commune, the main crop consisting of Monthong and Ri6 durian varieties will be harvested in approximately twenty days. However, traders from around the world have flocked to the Khanh Son durian production area to place bids on the produce for the past two weeks, resulting in the high prices of durian prices.

According to Mr. Quang, the bidding prices may vary depending on the the quality and the farm. However, the average price is around 55,000 VND for one kilogram of Ri6 durian, and between 70,000 and 75,000 VND for one kilogram of Monthong durian. These are the highest recorded prices for local durian varieties.

“The price of Ri6 durian fluctuates between 35,000 and 42,000 VND per kilogram every year. Monthong durian recorded the highest price at 52,000 to 53,000 VND per kilogram. Thanks to the high prices of durian, Khanh Son people are very optimistic. Many durian have agreed on the selling price and received the deposit," said Mr. Quang.

Similarly, many durian farmers in Ba Cuong Bac commune have established a fixed price for the fruit. According to Mr. Le Vinh, a durian farmer in Tha Mang village, Ba Cuong Bac commune, the bidding price for local durian ranges from 72,000 to 75,000 VND per kilogram. As a result, farmers are positive about the high return profit. According to local farmers, a durian tree between the ages of six and seven can yield an average of 15 to 20 tons per hectare every year. "With an investment cost of approximately 300 million VND per hectare, durian farmers can earn substantial profits at these prices," Mr. Vinh shared.

Mr. Yen's family owns a farm in Lien Hoa village, Son Binh commune where durian is intercropped with a variety of fruit trees on a total area of nearly 30 hectares. He is currently producing on 5 hectares with an expected yield of 100 tons. Mr. Yen reported his family has harvested nearly 30 tons of durian from early ripening areas. With the recent selling price ranging from 50,000 to 65,000 VND per kilogram, his family earned at least 2 billion VND in revenue.

High prices thanks to growing area codes

According to Mr. Do Nhi Huy, Head of Khanh Son district's Division of Agriculture and Rural Development, there are 2,500 hectares of durian production area district-wide, with 1,200 hectares currently in production. The total output of this year's harvest is estimated at 15,000 tons.

Despite being out of the harvest season, 50 to 60% of durian farmers have established a fixed price for of Monthong durians and recieved their deposits. Accordingly, this variety of durian is priced at an average of at least 70,000 VND per kilogram, with those from select key farms reaching up to 80,000 VND per kilogram.

Mr. Do Nhi Huy as well as many other farmers attributed this year's record high durian prices to growing area codes. As the harvest season approaches, many Chinese dealers are eager to place bids on Vietnamese durians and officially export them to the Chinese market.

According to Mr. Do Nhi Huy, the General Department of Customs of China granted Khanh Son district four durian growing area codes. In addition, there are twenty-two registered durian growing area codes, six of which have been examined online by the General Department of Customs of China in coordination with the Khanh Hoa district's Sub-Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection.

Khanh Son Office of Agriculture and Rural Development has promoted information, training, and guidance on durian cultivation and harvest in accordance with regulations in order to maintain these growing area codes. On the other hand, the district assisted farmers in producing VietGap-compliant durian as well as mobilized agricultural households to promote production linkages and synchronize production processes. The district aims to gradually meet the criteria for granting growing area codes in terms of area, production process, product quality, etc.

According to Khanh Son district's Office of Agriculture and Rural Development, the district currently has over 450 hectares of VietGAP durian. Khanh Son durian consists of many varieties including Monthong, Ri6, Chin Hoa, etc. The most popular variety is Monthong durian, with an average weight of 4 to 5 kilogram per fruit, with outstanding fruits reaching 7 to 8 kilogram each. Khanh Son's brand of yellow rice durian with flat seeds is popular among consumers. The brand was granted a trademark certificate by the National Office of Intellectual Property in March 2011.