Enterprises can plan to export durian at any time to China. Photo: Internet

Taking advantage of this good opportunity, it is necessary to prepare carefully and synchronously from state management agencies, export enterprises as well as farmers.

Both happy and worried

According to Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan, the official export of durian to China will create more growth room for a strong industry in Vietnam, contributing to improving the income of hundreds of thousands of farmers, especially in the Central Highlands, Southeast and Mekong Delta.

Mr. Hoang Trung, Director of Plant Protection Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) said when exporting durian to China, Vietnam has certain advantages. Currently, the total production of durian in Vietnam is about 1.3 million tons/year, with the planting area ranging from 85,000 to 90,000 hectares, spanning several ecological regions. Therefore, Vietnam can completely organize production to spread the crop and harvest for many months of the year. Enterprises can plan to export durian at any time to China.

The leader of the Plant Protection Department added that Vietnam's durian has very high quality, including taste and nutrients. There are many durian growers that have been tested for quality and received good reviews.

The leader of the agricultural sector Le Minh Hoan said recently, he also received a lot of information and feedback expressing concern about the upcoming preparation and implementation steps of Vietnam.

Chinese consumers are increasingly demanding more stringent requirements on quality, plant quarantine and food safety and hygiene, in addition to strict regulations in the prevention of the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, from farmers, the community of agricultural product exporters to local and central authorities, it is necessary to prepare carefully, avoiding the mentality of being hasty.

From the perspective of export enterprises, Ms. Ngo Tuong Vy, Deputy Director of Chanh Thu Fruit Import-Export Co., Ltd., said many export enterprises are pondering the problem of what will Vietnam have to do to change the quality and build a brand in order to compete with Thai and Malaysian products in the Chinese market.

“In addition, what will be the tax rate on durian official exports, what is the price of durian of Thai rivals are also issues that businesses are quite concerned about. China is open to Vietnamese durian, but the official game requires a clear understanding to follow the regulations, and build stable quality to survive in this market," said Ms. Ngo Tuong Vy.

Another factor that concerns this businesswoman is that opening the market is very difficult but closing is easy. Vietnam has many lessons in this regard. “Whether any enterprise is honored to be a pioneer approved by the Chinese side, it is also a good thing for Vietnamese agriculture, but businesses also carry a great responsibility because behind them are farmers and many other businesses, doing badly can have an influence,” Ms. Vy said.

Avoiding hot growth

In order to make good use of the opportunity to officially export durian to China, Mr. Hoang Trung stated that the content of the Protocol is essentially the technical requirements that the exporter must comply with.

Therefore, the Plant Protection Department recommends that localities, businesses and owners of packing facilities and growing areas must comply with these contents.

In particular, the Chinese side set out the criteria to have a very clear planting area code such as keeping a diary of planting and harvesting, measures to monitor and handle harmful organisms that China National Concern (including one species of fly, three species of aphids and two species of fungi). The Plant Protection Department has trained and propagated information for growers and local technical staff to understand and disseminate to gardeners to apply.

It’s notable that the issue of using pesticides, in addition to the regulations of the Vietnamese side, they must follow the "four right" principle, gardeners must also comply with the requirements of the Chinese side such as not use unused active ingredients; application of pesticide residue monitoring programs for durian trees.

“These are the main contents that the Department focuses on in the management of the durian area. Vietnamese durian products when exported to China do not exceed the maximum allowable residue level," said Mr. Hoang Trung.

Leaders of the Plant Protection Department said it is necessary to continue to maintain all conditions according to standards and regulations to be granted a planting area code. The Department has requested local gardeners and specialized agencies to regularly monitor and supervise to ensure sustainability and maintain all technical requirements for planting area codes. "In other words, we must maintain the quality of the growing area code as well as the packing facility," said Mr. Hoang Trung.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Chau, former director of the Southern Institute of Fruit Trees, said before the opportunity opens, it is necessary to warn about avoiding hot development, and developing massive growth of durian trees. The State needs to cooperate with scientists and farmers to do research, go to the field, and find out thoroughly to identify the durian growing areas with strengths.

If developing in a new area outside the South and Central Highlands, it is necessary to have the careful participation of scientists and farmers.