Tien Giang is the place with the largest fruit tree area in the Mekong Delta with over 82,000 hectares and a production of about 1.6 million tons. In particular, durian is the crop with the largest area, covering about 20,000 hectares, the fruiting area is over 12,000 hectares, and the production is about 300,000 tons. Pineapple covers an area of over 15,000 hectares and produces more than 250,000 tons. Jackfruit tree on 13,000 ha, production reaches over 250,000 tons.
With over 82,000 hectares, Tien Giang province has the largest area of fruit trees in the Mekong Delta. Picture: Minh Dam.
According to the Tien Giang Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the province’s fruit products are mainly consumed through export to markets such as China, the United States, Japan, Korea and New Zealand. Planting primaries are designed to facilitate export activities.
Mr. Vo Van Men, director of the provincial Cultivation and Plant Protection Subdivision, said that Tien Giang has 271 active fruit-growing areas so far, covering a total area of over 20,000 hectares. It lists 175 growing area codes for export to the Chinese market, covering a total area of nearly 19,000 hectares. In addition, the province also has 257 codes for fruit packers authorized for official export to other countries, especially for the Chinese market there are 250 codes.
Mr. Vo Van Men added that Tien Giang aims that by 2025, the area of newly granted fruit-growing areas will reach 100% (existing area), including nearly 14,500 hectares of durian. This year alone, more than 25,800 hectares of specialty orchards are expected to be designated with growing area codes, including almost 7,800 hectares of durian.
For the Chinese market, Unit 204 receives and processes additional applications for registering orchard area codes for export to that market, totaling nearly 8,900 hectares. Simultaneously received and processed another 83 dossiers for the registration of fruit export packers.
It is expected that there will be more than 25,800 hectares of fruit trees with planting area codes in Tien Giang province this year. Picture: Minh Dam.
“To date, the province’s durian area has been granted a code and near-complete records of nearly 9,000 hectares. The Chinese side has agreed to grant 66 codes covering about 2,400 hectares. “This year, the aim is for the durian area allocated to the code to reach 70%. By 2025 this must be completed,” added Mr. Men.
Ngu Hiep Municipality in Cai Lay District has nearly 1,500 hectares of durian acreage. This place focuses on education, propaganda and guidance on granting growing area codes and packing plant codes to farmers, and strives for 100% of the durian area for special cultivation to be granted growing area codes.
Mr. Huynh Tan Loc, Director of Ngu Hiep Durian Cooperative said: In February 2023, the Cooperative obtained a code for a packing plant and two area codes for durian export to China. By April, the cooperative had six more planting primaries. So far, the area of durian planted by the cooperative in cooperation with farmers in Ngu Hiep municipality is over 200 hectares. Last May, the Ngu Hiep Cooperative continued training farmers in zoning codes and durian growing techniques to ensure export standards to China across an area of over 200 hectares.
The Ngu Hiep Durian Cooperative has been trained to develop growing area codes for local durian farmers. Picture: Minh Dam.
Commenting on the benefits of officially durian export to the Chinese market, Mr. Pham Tan Loc said, Compared to three years ago, the durian export market is very stable. In December 2022, the price of durian bought in buckets from the garden was very high, ranging from 150,000 to 170,000 VND/kg. From April to May 2023, durian is in season but still has a high price. The price of buying buckets in the garden ranges from 47,000 to 57,000 VND/kg, which is 15,000 VND/kg more than in previous years. For the domestic market, due to good export, durian is also cheap, so the domestic price increases.
Mr. Nguyen Van Man, director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tien Giang Province, said that with the acceleration of the issuing and management of growing area codes and the number of fruit-packing plants for official export to China, exports in particular will increase compared to others’ markets Countries in general, Tien Giang seizes the opportunity to sustainably develop specialized fruit-growing areas with competitive advantages. This will help farmers to improve their income and successfully build the National Target Program for New Rural Development.