The first durian association in the Mekong Delta was launched

The Tien Giang Durian Association, headquartered in Hoa Tri Hamlet, Long Khanh Commune, Cai Lay Town, was established on July 8, 2024, according to Decision No. 1240 by the People's Committee of Tien Giang Province. The association has 42 members, including 34 official members, 2 affiliated members, and 6 honorary members.

The first congress elected 9 members to the Executive Board, which then elected 1 President and 2 Vice Presidents. Mr. Vo Tan Loi, Director of Phuong Ngoc Cai Be Import-Export Company, was elected as the President of the Tien Giang Durian Association for the 2024-2029 term.

The billion-dollar industry still faces many issues needing attention.

According to Mr Tran Hoang Nhat Nam, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tien Giang Province, durian is one of the province's key crops, with an area of 21,790 ha by the end of 2023. Of this, the area producing products reaches nearly 15,000 hectares with a yield of over 386,000 tons, concentrated in Cai Lay and Cai Be districts, as well as Cai Lay Town. The main markets include China, the United States, Japan, and South Korea. Currently, 155 planting areas have been assigned codes, covering more than 6,927 ha, along with 66 codes for packaging fresh durians for export to China.

Ms Nguyen Nhu Thuy Tien, Director of Nhu Thuy Tien Import-Export Company Limited and also Vice President of the Association, shared that the current difficulties in the durian industry that need attention include climate change and unusual weather, inconsistent product quality, inadequate transportation and preservation systems, market fluctuations, intense international competition, and a shortage of labour.

According to Mr. Luu Van Phi, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, in the first nine months of the year, the durian industry exported $ 2.7 billion. Domestically, durians are available in major supermarkets like AEON and GO, as well as large wholesale markets, indicating a promising industry. However, alongside these achievements, he noted limitations such as many farmers lacking market information, not applying high-quality standards, inconsistent products, and a high rate of post-harvest spoilage. The establishment of the Association will address key issues such as organization and connectivity, brand building, technical support and training, and market development for durians.

Addressing urgent issues immediately

Mr. Vo Tan Loi stated that the Tien Giang Durian Association not only supports exporting companies effectively but also connects with farmers through cooperatives to transfer technical knowledge and improve product quality.

"We will immediately address the disagreements between farmers and traders regarding durian harvesting. In the future, durians need to be harvested at the right age to ensure customer confidence and enhance the value of our billion-dollar industry", Mr Loi said.

Mr. Pham Van Trong, Vice Chairman of the Tien Giang Provincial People's Committee, expressed his hope that the association's members would strictly comply with regulations on professional organizations' activities. The association also needs to demonstrate its role as a centre for solidarity, gathering strength, and protecting its members' rights. He emphasized that provincial departments and agencies should pay close attention and create favourable conditions for the association's development, enhancing its role in operations.

The Tien Giang Durian Association was established to unite and protect the legal rights and interests of businesses, support effective production activities, and connect the consumption, preservation, processing, and distribution of durians, contributing to the socio-economic development of the province.