Dak Nong durian farmers enjoy bountiful harvests and improved prices thanks to sustainable farming practices initiated by the province. - VNS
DAK NONG: Dak Nong Province durian farmers enjoy bountiful harvests and improved prices thanks to the sustainable farming practices initiated by Bayer in collaboration with the local agricultural extension centre (PAEC) and the Plant Protection Department (PPD).
Established in October 2023, this public-private partnership aims to develop and replicate effective and sustainable durian farming methods across the province.
In the 10 months since, their collaborative efforts have yielded improvements in durian farming, including a significant decrease in pest and disease levels, higher productivity and fruit quality and the ability to meet export standards, ultimately resulting in favourable market prices for farmers.
Nguyen Dinh Truong, a durian farmer in Dak Wer hamlet, expressed his delight at being one of the farmers to take part in the project and adopt sustainable durian farming practices.
Truong has grown 800 durian trees over the past six years, harvested 100 tonnes of the fruit this year, and sold them at VNĐ73,000 (US$2.87) per kilogramme.
“It is quite difficult to grow durian trees, especially in extreme weather conditions and severe fluctuations in temperatures.
“However, thanks to the support from Bayer and the Dak Nong PAEC, I have switched from traditional methods to sustainable cultivation, ranging from pest and disease management to effective flowering and fruiting and control of crop protection residues. As a result, this year’s crop has a higher yield and quality than previous years,” Truong said.
Phan Viet Cuong, another durian farmer in the same locality, will also reap a bumper harvest at a good price this year.
In his three-hectare orchard, he has 500 Monthong or "Golden Pillow" durian trees grown using sustainable farming practices.
This year, the farm is expected to yield over 60 tonnes of durian and fetch a price of VNĐ82,000 per kilogramme.
"I am extremely happy with the outcome this season. Through diligent care and support from Bayer’s experts, my trees have thrived, exhibiting robust health with lush, verdant leaves.
“I observed a remarkable 90 per cent decrease in pests and diseases, leading to a significant productivity increase of 20 per cent to 20 tonnes per hectare.
“The fruits have attained substantial size and display consistent quality for an impressive 80 per cent classification as Grade A," Cường said.
The findings from the two durian orchards reveal that on average, 97 per cent of trees exhibited healthy growth during the harvest period.
The cooperative programme between Bayer and the Dak Nong PAEC also promotes safe, responsible crop protection product use to ensure environmental protection and community well-being.
KG Krishnamurthy, country commercial lead at Bayer Vietnam’s crop science division, attributed the achievements to all the stakeholders, including Bayer, the Dak Nong PAEC and the durian farmers themselves.
"At Bayer, we are committed to supporting farmers by providing suitable solutions to address issues in their gardens. We focus on crop protection, nutrition and irrigation solutions to enable farmers to adopt sustainable durian care processes.
“We aim to transform farmers into experts in the durian field so that they can enhance productivity and earn a high income.”
Ngo Xuan Dong, deputy director of the Dak Nong Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said, in a similar vein: “Durian has become a promising fruit for Dak Nong, which is home to 11,700 hectares.
“Over the past few years, the durian farming area has increased sharply in the locality.
“The department is rolling out sustainable farming practices to form durian cultivation zones and meet export requirements. The focus is also on improving durian quality through sustainable development models,” Dong said.
Moving forward, Bayer Dak Nong PAEC and PPD remain dedicated to supporting Vietnamese durian farmers in adopting sustainable farming practices to increase productivity and enhance export quality and safety.
“Through continued collaboration and training, the programme aims to drive transformation across the durian industry in Dak Nong, fostering sustainable development and a brighter future for local farmers. - Vietnam News/ANN
