(VOVWORLD) - To produce durian qualified for export to potential markets, the agricultural sector and farmers in Long An province have been setting codes for growing areas, quality standards, and regulations on plant quarantine, food safety and COVID-19 prevention.
 Farmer Tran Dang Khoa is checking pests at his durian garden which is under construction for a planting area code. |
In July, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Le Minh Hoan signed a protocol on phytosanitary requirements for Vietnamese durian exports to China under which the exported durian must comply with China's laws, regulations, and food hygiene, safety, and phytosanitary requirements.
Durian growing areas and packing facilities must take appropriate management measures to eliminate the source of pollution, meet the requirements in food hygiene and safety, and strictly comply with packaging regulations to ensure accurate traceability.
Over the past 6 years, Tran Dang Khoa, the owner of a 3.5-hectare durian garden in Tan Lap commune, Tan Thanh district, has followed planting procedures instructions by the Fruit Research Institute of the South and the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Khoa now has 48 durian trees bearing fruit and 90 others which are going to produce soon. He recalled his difficulties growing durian trees on acid soil, but by applying farming processes with great effort to improve the environment, Tan Thanh-branded durian has gained a foothold in the domestic market.
Khoa added that some countries creating favorable conditions for the import of Vietnamese durian via official channels has opened up a bright future for domestic growers.
“Granting growing area codes creates favorable conditions for fruit growers and agricultural products to be exported through official channels to the Chinese market. My product goes for a good price,” said Khoa.
 Farmers in Long An province expect their durians will have more favorable opportunities to be exported via official channels. |
Long An province has more than 320 hectares of durian mainly in Tan Thanh district whose authorities are doing their best to access the Chinese market.
To be granted a planting area code by the General Administration of Customs of China, durian growers must apply measures in quarantine, food safety, COVID-19 prevention and control, and record a production diary.
The granted code will be kept confidential pursuant to the regulations set by the Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Authorities have increased guidance for durian growers according to GAP standards and support business establishments with registering packing codes.
In the long term, the agricultural sector will transfer organic durian production techniques, encouraging local growers to switch from chemical fertilizers to organic fertilizers in combination with waste management in line with international standards.
Nguyen Van Cuong, Director of Long An Department of the Cultivation, Plant Protection and Agricultural Product Quality Control, said, “Pursuant to the regulations set by the Plant Protection Department, the growing area code is only granted to a representative of the area. No one else will know.”
Cuong explained that “It is to avoid impersonation or stealing for export. In addition, the Department has also coordinated with plant quarantine stations at border crossing to regularly keep track of planting area codes. If there is any doubt, the shipment will be stopped for inspection.”
The agricultural sector is setting up, managing planting area codes and packing establishments for export, instructing cooperatives and farmers to expand the code granting areas for official exports to the Chinese market and many other countries will address its pending issue of having a bumper crop but low prices, increasing added values, raising people's income, and contributing to sustainable agriculture.