Establishing a sustainable durian supply chain readying for export

​(CTT-Dong Nai) - On July 21, the Vietnam Gardening Association, the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association and the People's Committee of Dong Nai province coordinated a forum called "Opportunities and challenges for the development of Vietnam's durian industry". Attending the event were Mr. Le Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), Mr.Vo Van Phi, Vice Chairman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee, and representatives of associations, leaders of Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development in other 18 provinces and cities which have a large durian growing area and 250 delegates who are businesses, cooperatives, farm owners inside and outside the province.

Vice Chairman Vo Van Phi visiting the durian display stand of Tan Phu district's farmers ​

The Department of Crop Production reported that, in the past few years, durian plantation area has increased rapidly. By the end of 2022, the country has planted more than 110,000 hectares, an increase of nearly 3 times compared to 2017, majority of which concentrated in the Central Highlands and Southern regions. In particular, in the first 6 months of 2023, Vietnam's durian exports increased to an all-time record, reaching about $850 million, double the total amount of 2022. It is expected that in 2023, Vietnam's durian exports will reach from 1.2-1.5 billion USD.

At the forum, experts and businesses in the field of durian production and export shared a lot of information about the durian industry such as: an overview of the durian industry in the world and in Vietnam; potentials, opportunities and challenges for the durian export market; solutions to improve productivity, quality and cultivation, building a stable supply chain for sustainable development of the durian industry in Vietnam; potentials, opportunities and challenges for the durian export market… ​

The forum moderators include leader of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, leader of the People's Committee of Dong Nai province and representatives of associations 

Mr. Le Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production, said that the biggest challenge of Vietnam's durian industry is not only in terms of output and quality but also in building a truly sustainable supply chain. The forum was organized to receive the opinions and recommendations from experts and components in the durian industry chain as a basis for State management agencies to adjust and amend mechanisms and policies to make it approachable.

A number of urgent matters raised by experts, businesses and cooperatives in the durian industry were: focusing on getting familiar with high-tech application techniques and organic production for durian trees; the immediate need to develop mechanisms and sanctions to manage the production and harvesting process in order to limit unfair competition affecting durian quality; the immediate need to have an investment strategy for durian seed quality; supporting farmers in off-season durian production techniques; the support to quickly increase the number of planting areas, export packing facilities to prevent the situation where there are an abundant of supply that cannot be sold or exported... 

Durian exporters voicing their ideas at the forum 

Mr. Vo Van Phi, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, commented that the forum has raised very practical contents, providing a lot of information for State management agencies, businesses, cooperatives, especially the people, to understand where the Vietnamese durian industry is standing, what has been done and what needs to be done when joining the international market. Currently, the area of planted durian is growing rapidly, the management and controlling role of the State is very important. The advantage to effectively implement solutions to develop the sustainable durian industry is coming from state management agencies to businesses, cooperatives, and farmers, each and every involved party are showing their interests.

Along with production development, Dong Nai province is actively expanding the planting area and packing facilities following the standards of the consumer markets to promote export activities. This is the basis, the premise to ensure the official, stable and sustainable durian export; contributing to the transformation of agricultural economic structure, bringing benefits to Dong Nai farmers. ​