Prepare for the first official durian export to China

At the Conference on deploying durian export to China on September 12, Minister Le Minh Hoan said that the official export of durian to China resulted from "4 years of hard work and many concerns". He emphasized building community trust and responsibility between businesses and farmers, with the support of state management agencies, to bring back the Vietnamese durian brand. 

Many businesses have carefully prepared for the first batch of durian export.

On the morning of September 13, Chanh Thu Fruit Import-Export Co., Ltd. purchased durian from members of Tan Lap Dong Agricultural Service Cooperative (Krong Buk district, Dak Lak province).

In the recent assessment, Tan Lap Dong Agricultural Service Cooperative was granted four planting area codes by the General Department of Customs of China with an area of 49.5 hectares and an expected output of 750 - 850 tonnes.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Chien, Director of Tan Lap Dong Agricultural Service Cooperative, said that when he was granted planting area codes, the cooperative linked with export enterprises to sell products to the people. It helps to stabilize the output, bringing the value of durian higher.

The orientation of the cooperative in the coming time is to cooperate with the Plant Protection and Cultivation Sub-Department to organize training courses for farmers on sustainable durian farming processes to improve durian fruit quality. In particular, the branches will guide cooperative members on what to do to meet the importing country's requirements, not only the Chinese market.

For more than ten days, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hong Thu, Director of Chanh Thu Fruit Import and Export Co., Ltd., has been directly present at the plantations to give rules and people to overcome difficulties.

Mrs. Thu said, before preparing for the first export shipment, the growing areas that the company associates with cooperatives will be monitored 1-2 weeks before.

According to Ms. Thu, this is to determine and classify the quality of durian gardens. In addition, the gardens will be tested for residues of pesticides. At the same time, this is the time to re-evaluate the harvest time for people and see which garden is harvested first to ensure that the durian fruit is old enough.

"Previously, people who wholesale but now export through official channels have to choose standard fruits. However, to ensure people's interests, the company decided to buy durians ranging from VND 60,000 to 75,000 per kilogram", Mrs.Thu said.

"Tan Lap Dong Cooperative with the company is granted four planting area codes with an output of 600-700 tonnes. Therefore, the company is expected to officially export hundreds of tonnes of durian during the crop season in Dak Lak. This year, on the first day, the company will export 40 tonnes of durian to the Chinese market," said Mrs. Thu.

According to Ms. Thu, the company has prepared for the official export of durian for a long time. For now, the company is worried but also looking forward to this historic moment. Because of anxiety, the company strictly controls the protocol on phytosanitary requirements for Vietnamese durian exported to China regulates.

The export will mark a turning point in the development of the durian industry and Vietnam's agricultural sector in general.

"So far, many kinds of fruit have been officially exported to China. But businesses are also worried this time because big enterprises are responsible for developing Vietnam's economy. Because durian has a higher economic value than others. It is the duty and responsibility of enterprises to pave the way, how to do, to do for sustainability and value," said Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hong Thu.

Mr. Le Minh Tam, General Director of Dung Thai Son Trading and Service Joint Stock Company, said preparing the first official durian export to China had been completed. The company registered to export more than 150 tonnes of durian in the first batch. The company has surveyed planting areas that will cut durian for export in the first batch.

"The company has been operating in durian export for more than 10 years, so the quarantine of goods and quality has been stable. The customs clearance will be granted a quarantine code directly at the ceremony. The official export will help increase the value of Vietnam's durian industry, in which the first beneficiaries are farmers," said Mr. Tam.        

Mr. Vu Duc Con, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dak Lak province, said importing consignments is extremely important. Therefore, the first batches will be strictly inspected by the authorities.

"In the long run, products are granted the planting area codes must directly protect their assets. In addition, durian, as well as many other items, once out of the garden, are under the control of the Market Manager, the General Department of Customs. The agricultural industry can only capture information through the network of the unit. Still, there is no force to check and sanction the enterprise stealing the planting area code and packing code of other units," said Mr. said more.