Durian prices drop
Tien Giang is one of the provinces with a large durian growing area, with more than 22,000 hectares, most concentrated in Cai Be and Cai Lay districts. Currently, farmers in Cai Lay district have implemented measures to control Cadimi content in durian to ensure quality and meet export requirements.
With a durian growing area of 5,000m2, Mr. Le Thanh Hoa (residing in Hamlet 5, Phu An Commune, Cai Lay District, Tien Giang Province) said that recently, information about some durian batches for export being detected infected with Cadimi has caused many large markets such as China to tighten control. Domestically, durian prices have dropped.
Previously, I earned hundreds of millions of VND for each durian crop, but this year the price has decreased sharply due to the Cadimi problem. Many traders are still hesitant and do not want to buy without a clear inspection, said Mr. Hoa.
According to Mr. Hoa, currently, durian prices have decreased by 30 - 50% compared to the same period last year. If traders previously bought durian type 1 at 150,000 - 160,000 VND/kg, now there are only about 60,000 - 80,000 VND/kg, some places are even lower. For durian of type 2 and 3, the selling price has also dropped significantly, causing many difficulties for farmers.
Mr. Vo Tan Loi - Chairman of the Tien Giang Province Durian Association - said that recently, many shipments of durian exported to China have been returned due to inspection results of detection of O-Gold and Cadimi contamination. Since then, some businesses have suffered losses. Through this incident, it can be seen that China is a major durian consumer market in the world, and when they issued regulations to control the above two substances, we must comply to bring durian to this billion-people market.
According to Mr. Loi, in the coming time, the agricultural sector and localities need to step up propaganda to clearly inform the farmers of durian growing the causes of the two substances. At the same time, it is necessary to review and inspect growing areas, care processes, fertilizers, packaging facilities... so that durian meets the criteria for export abroad.
Improving the farming process
Mr. Le Van Phuoc Lac - Director of Phu An Agricultural Service Cooperative (Cai Lay District, Tien Giang Province) - said that the cooperative has 105 members with a total durian growing area of over 100 hectares. In response to information about the Cadimi content in durian, the cooperative coordinated with the agricultural sector to propagate and clearly inform the cause of this situation.
"Currently, the cooperative has trained and transferred techniques to farmers on sustainable durian cultivation. At the same time, provide instructions on growing, harvesting and preserving techniques properly to improve product quality. In particular, we instruct the use of organic and safe fertilizers, reduce Cadimi-containing chemical fertilizers and replace them with microbiological and organic fertilizers to ensure crops are not contaminated with heavy metals, said Mr. Lac.
As a member of Phu An Agricultural Service Cooperative, Mr. Le Thanh Hoa said that he was recently transferred by the cooperative to his durian farming technique. Accordingly, to treat Cadimi-infected soil in durian gardens, farmers need to fertilize the soil to improve the pH, reducing the ability of crops to absorb Cadimi. At the same time, use potato host manure and microbiological fertilizers to help improve soil structure, reduce the ability of plants to absorb Cadimi, etc.
"In the coming time, I will apply the above techniques to cultivating my family's durian area to contribute to the sustainable development of this specialty fruit tree," said Mr. Hoa.
