At the thematic workshop "Developing a sustainable and low-emission durian value chain in Dong Thap province" on the morning of August 20, Mr. Tran Thanh Tam - Head of the Sub-Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection (TT&BVTV) of Dong Thap province, shared many important information about the current situation of this industry in the area.
According to reports, the area of durian cultivation in Dong Thap has grown significantly year by year. If in 2023, the whole province had only about 25,500 hectares, by 2025 it had reached 32,100 hectares. The latest data shows that the total durian area of the province has now reached about 34,000 hectares.
However, the durian industry in the locality still has many "bottlenecks". Because small-scale production areas, intercropping many types of crops, cause difficulties in pest management, do not apply uniform technical processes, affecting product quality when exporting. The province has not yet formed an organized concentrated raw material growing area.
In particular, the situation of heavy metal Cadmium contamination is one of the biggest challenges for durian cultivation. In addition, management agencies also face difficulties due to lack of information about actual export output from packaging facilities and businesses in the area.
The Sub-Department has coordinated with companies to implement the initial process so that we can find solutions, before scientists have official solutions to implement in practice" - Mr. Tam said.
Accordingly, based on the process, the Sub-Department built 5 groups of technical solutions. Analysis results show that the solution of using organic fertilizer combined with biological products, Biochar (coal husks) has reduced indicators for analysis on soil, leaves and fruits.
Continuing the success of the Cadmium-contaminated durian remediation model implemented in 2025, in 2026, the Sub-Department of Information and Plant Protection of Dong Thap province will continue to coordinate with Can Tho University and related businesses to replicate this model.
The solution applied is to cultivate according to the integrated intensive farming technique for durian for the Southern provinces (using fertilizers that do not contain or contain cadmium at extremely low concentrations) combined with processing biological products and activated carbon (Biochar).
Also at the workshop, representatives of the Sub-Department of Information and Plant Protection of Dong Thap province requested the Durian Association to continue to promote propaganda and mobilize members and farmers to promote sustainable farming and ensure food safety.
Along with that is the pilot research model of export companies and enterprises directly participating in cooperatives and cooperative groups. This linkage will help orient production, strictly control Cadmium indicators from planting areas to pre-harvest products, and establish sustainable links between gardeners and businesses to proactively source raw materials that meet export standards.
The Sub-Department of Plant Protection and Conservation of Dong Thap province also recommends that farmers who grow durian prune branches, create canopies, clean gardens, collect vegetable residues and take them out of the garden, increase lime fertilization, and improve pH,...
