After four years of negotiation, on July 11th, 2022, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, Le Minh Hoan, signed a protocol with the representative of the General Administration of Customs of China regarding the official quota export of durian from Vietnam to China. The official quota export of Vietnamese durian to China also means that the value of durian is increased and the market will be more stable and sustainable.

In Can Tho City, with the support of the agriculture industry, durian export companies, and related units, farmers in cooperatives and collective groups have worked together to develop cultivation areas and comply with the requirements and standards set forth in the protocol. As a result, in recent years, durian cultivation in Can Tho City has been increasing steadily, from 537 hectares in 2015 to nearly 3,000 hectares in 2022, with a focus on planting mainly in Phong Dien district (1,731 hectares), Thoi Lai district (333 hectares), and O Mon district (233 hectares). In the process of shifting from ineffective rice cultivation and diversified farming to fruit trees in 2018, durian remained the preferred choice of farmers, with almost 90% of the durian varieties being Ri 6.

Regarding durian cultivation areas for export to the Chinese market, currently, Can Tho City has submitted 42 application sets (corresponding to 42 cultivation areas with a total area of 851.50 hectares and 1,051 participating households). The General Administration of Customs of China has inspected 8 out of 42 cultivation areas with a total area of 175.06 hectares and 169 participating households. All 8 areas met the requirements and were granted codes.

The Truong Phat Durian Cooperative, located in Truong Lac Ward, O Mon District, is one of the first 8 units in Can Tho City to be granted a cultivation area code by the General Administration of Customs of China. The 18.5-ton durian batch exported to China today is the result of more than 4 months of cultivation according to clean standards and the requested partner route. This is an important turning point not only for the durian industry but also provides motivation for farmers in Can Tho City to cooperate in producing many high-value agricultural products for export.

The export batch of Grade 1 durians consists of fruits with standard weights ranging from 1.8 kg to 5.5 kg.

Mr. Luu Van Thuong, the director of the Truong Phat Cooperative, shared that the cooperative currently has 20 members, with a total area of durian cultivation of about 30 hectares. The cooperative has agreed and signed a long-term product consumption contract with Ngoc Minh Lang Son Import-Export Company at a purchase price equal to or higher than the market price throughout the season. Grade 1 products are durians with standard weights ranging from 1.8 kg to 5.5 kg, and the rest are grade 2 products. The first batch of exported durian was sold at a guaranteed price of 77,000 VND/kg, nearly double the price that traders bought at the farms in 2022. This has made farmers very excited. According to Mr. Luu Van Thuong, the exported durian uses plant protection drugs according to the standards of the Plant Protection Department and is isolated within the appropriate time frame to ensure food safety. Currently, members of the cooperative have undergone various training courses and have mastered skills to control production costs, thereby increasing the efficiency of agricultural production and promoting sustainable export.

At the export ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc He, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City, said that today's event marks the transformation of the agricultural sector in Can Tho City to meet the demands of the market and enterprises, shifting from self-initiated, uncoordinated production to a tightly linked production model that creates value chains with enterprises. The goal is to form concentrated areas for specialized crop cultivation that meet the requirement for granted management code and to implement production techniques to ensure quality. Durian is a typical product in this regard.

To achieve sustainable development solutions for agriculture in general, and fruit trees in particular, Vice Chairman Nguyen Ngoc He requests that local authorities support gardeners in constructing planting zones in the areas where they are already established, and help them access export purchasing companies. They should also regularly monitor and support businesses and gardeners to fulfill contracts and encourage farmers to raise awareness of their responsibilities in harvesting fruit at the right age, and isolating fertilizers, and pesticides in compliance with regulations.

Vice Chairman Nguyen Ngoc He requested that the city's agriculture sector continue to pay attention and strengthen connections with businesses to link with concentrated production areas. Support production areas, and businesses to review the grant of planting area codes, and guide gardeners to implement good technical procedures to ensure quality in production. Research and deploy effective solutions to promote productivity. Timely propose to the People’s Committee of the city policies to support businesses, support people in activities and promote the connection of production areas. At the same time, promote propaganda to advise sectors and industries according to the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture and local practices. In addition, the city's Farmer's Union continues to support propaganda, mobilize members, and implement production according to closely linked solutions with businesses, effectively implementing linked contracts with businesses.

Regarding businesses, the Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee hopes that businesses will be even more proactive when working closely with cooperatives and farmers, applying scientific and technical advances in production and investing in processing to diversify products, building trust with local gardeners, and expanding market diversification.