According to statistics from the General Department of Customs, the turnover of vegetables and fruits in June reached 807 million USD, an increase of more than 30% compared to the previous month and an increase of 20.2% over the same period last year. This is also the first month of the year that fruit and vegetable exports have increased after 5 consecutive months of decline. In particular, the recovery of the durian industry has contributed significantly to this growth, with about 360 million USD in June, an increase of more than 70% compared to May.
This is not only a positive change in the Vietnamese vegetable and fruit industry but also a good signal for many durian growers nationwide.
Recorded in Can Tho City, durian is one of the city's main fruit trees, with an area of 12,944 hectares. Of which, the area of fruit harvested is 6,584 hectares and the area of fruit not yet harvested is 6,360 hectares, with durian varieties mainly including Ri6, Dona, Musang King, etc.
Receiving good news as the export market gradually recovers, gardeners are urgently taking care of and preparing for the new crop after a period of being affected by output pressure and fluctuating prices.
Selling durian at the end of April this year, Mr. Nguyen Van Tho ( gardener in Can Tho City) had to sadly prepare for a low price because the export market was slow to consume.
"Although the crop is not yet complete, the yield is still low, but the price of durian has decreased sharply. The company reduces purchases or only purchases at quite low prices due to difficulties in export, our gardeners have to struggle to sell all of them to traders at a price of 25,000 - 35,000 VND/kg, depending on the quality and shape of the fruit," Mr. Tho shared.
According to this gardener, with a price of 30,000 VND or more, if the farming measures are applied correctly, there will still be a profit. On the contrary, if they sell below this level, gardeners will definitely suffer losses.
The recovery of the durian export market is expected by this gardener to bring more stable and positive prices to producers. This not only helps them to compensate for the costs spent in the previous difficult period but also motivates them to continue investing and improving product quality.
Mr. Tran Van Chien - Director of the Cooperative of Truong Khuong A Fruit Garden (Can Tho City) - said that currently, the cooperative's durian has been harvested completely. Through assessment, the consumption situation this year is not favorable, in addition to exports, the cooperative also has to link up with large fruit units and plantations in Dong Thap (old Tien Giang).
With the capital earned from durian consumption, the cooperative is urgently taking care of the garden, preparing for the new crop. The cooperative's durian gardens have entered the sprouting stage, with only about 2-3 hectares currently covered with pus. After creating the sprouts and covering the pus, the sprouts will come to the bud. This is the most important period affecting the harvested durian output.
"We are starting to cover some durian gardens with latex, the peak period will fall in the 7th lunar month. The members are hoping for favorable weather so as not to affect this stage. Because if the pus is covered smoothly and there is little rain, the crab's eyes will be strong, and after about 15 days, we can switch to shoots. The flowering rate is also higher, said Mr. Chien.
