On December 28, Vi Nong Organic Durian Agricultural Cooperative in Truong Dong A Hamlet, Tan Thoi Commune, Phong Dien District, Can Tho City was checked online by the Chinese side for the area code for growing durian.
This is the first cooperative in the city to review the acreage to issue the acreage code for officially exporting durian to the Chinese market. With a total area of 25.39 ha and 18 households participating in the association, the cooperative was founded by Chanh Thu Fruit Import Export Co., Ltd. connected to the consumption of products.
Online test for durian growing area of Vi Nong Organic Durian Agricultural Production Cooperative in Tan Thoi Township, Phong Dien District, Can Tho City. Photo: its metal.
Inspection contents include: durian harvesting process and product traceability from temporary collection point before sending to packing plants; Measures to prevent harmful organisms after harvest; Inspect the container, pack and seal the package to prevent harmful organisms and remove damaged fruit before sending it to the packing facility. At the same time, the Chinese side also checked the recording of harvest time, yield and protective measures during transport from the cultivation area to the cooperative’s packaging plants.
The representative of Can Tho Plant Protection and Cultivation Sub-department, Ms. Tran Thi Kim Thuy, Deputy Director of the Sub-department, was enthusiastic about the information, the very positive test results, the questions and inquiries from the cooperative side. All good answers. Currently, the durian gardens are blooming in the city. If the online check is successful, it promotes the quick and easy allocation of planting preselections for cooperatives. This is a positive and expected signal for durian in Phong Dien district in particular and Can Tho city in general to be officially exported in 2023, increasing the value of the local durian fruit.
“The unit has sent 24 applications for the cultivation area code of durian cooperative groups in Can Tho city to the Plant Protection Authority and will continue to wait for the Chinese side to verify it online,” Ms Thuy shared.
According to Can Tho Cultivation and Phytosanitary Sub-department, as of Dec. 12, the whole city has registered 662 organizations and individuals for durian growing area codes, covering nearly 571 hectares in different areas. Phong Districts Dien, O Mon, Thoi Lai. Among them, there are many large companies that have participated in the cooperation and association of durian consumption with farmers, such as: Eg: Chanh Thu Fruit Import and Export Co., Ltd., Nhu Y Agricultural Products Import and Export Co., Ltd. Khang Thinh Agricultural Products Import-Export Limited, Can Tho Agricultural Materials Company, Van Hoa Development Investment Company Limited.
The durian growers in Can Tho city diligently tend to their gardens to ensure good growth and development. Photo: its metal.
Earlier, on December 8, the Plant Protection Department had received notification from the Animal and Plant Quarantine Department of the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) on the continued online inspection of growing areas and facilities packaging durian registered under the regulations for export to China of the Protocol “Pharmacy Requirements for Durians Exported from Vietnam to China” (Protocol).
In order to prepare well for the GACC inspection, the Department of Plant Protection recommends that communities organize ready resources to coordinate with the Department of Plant Protection in the process of conducting the inspection upon request of the GACC. At the same time, dispatching technical staff to guide and support durian growing areas and packers to participate in online inspections upon request from GACC to ensure correct maintenance of phytosanitary conditions, food safety and Covid-19 prevention.
The whole city of Can Tho currently has over 24,000 hectares of fruit trees. Durian in particular is one of the main products, covering an area of nearly 2,500 acres and producing over 8,000 tons. In particular, there are 8 VietGAP certified durian cooperatives and groups with an area of over 117 ha, 154 households involved in the production and a delivery capacity of 2,852 tons/year.