Experts, scientists and local authorities evaluated the adaptability of durian trees in the crop conversion area north of National Highway 1A. Picture: Minh Thanh.
In Hau Thanh Township, Cai Be District, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tien Giang Province has just organized a scientific workshop to evaluate the adaptability of durian trees in , Tien Giang Province (hereinafter referred to as the Scheme) and preliminary Review of the scheme by 2022.
Accordingly, since the project’s implementation so far, the converted acreage, mainly on rice land, is 2,926 ha, reaching nearly 120% of the plan by 2022 and nearly 40% of the target by 2020. 2025 (7,327ha). Of which 368 ha of rice land for vegetables, 2,297 ha for fruit trees and 261 ha for aquaculture. Notably, durian trees have been converted the most, covering an area of over 985 ha.
Experts and scientists have focused on evaluating the development of durian trees in the northern section of National Highway 1A. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Bao, former Dean of Faculty of Agriculture (Can Tho University), analyzed and evaluated the adaptability of durian trees in each area of the project area. Since then, he has asked the agricultural and rural development sectors to conduct studies to determine the appropriate durian growing area.
Durian trees thrive well in the land of My Loi A, Cai Be, Tien Giang. Picture: Minh Dam.
Tien Giang identified durian as one of the main crops of the province, scientific and technical advances are interested in being transferred from agriculture to gardeners. Durian growers donate and invest more and more in the renewal and application of new production techniques, which not only helps to increase product quality, but also helps to provide the market with enough products from time to time.
According to the Tien Giang Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the province’s durian area will reach 17,653 ha by the end of 2022, mainly concentrated in Cai Be, Cai Lay, Chau Thanh and Cai Lay districts. The harvested area is approximately 10,539 ha, the average yield is 27.8 tons/ha.
To date, the durian planting area number issued and operational in the province consists of 5 planting area numbers covering more than 210 hectares and 149 application dossiers for a new planting area number covering more than 210 hectares. 5,985 hectares have been sent to the Plant Protection Department and waiting for the code.
The Durian Official Export Protocol signed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam with the General Administration of Customs of China has created favorable conditions for durian products to expand the market and increase export production. This year, the price of durian is between VND 100,000 and VND 190,000/kg, which is higher than VND 20,000 and VND 90,000/kg last year. Without all the costs, many gardeners earn a profit of 1-2 billion VND/ha, people are very excited.
Mr. Nguyen Van Man, director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tien Giang, instructed specialized agencies of the unit to urgently coordinate with local authorities to identify suitable durian-growing areas north of National Road 1A. Picture: Minh Thanh.
Mr. Nguyen Van Man, director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tien Giang, said: The restructuring of crops and livestock in the project area has been very different in recent years. The models and results obtained work well. Therefore, communities in the project area must continue to make and sustain changes to increase farmer income.
Regarding the “hot” development of durian trees, Mr. Nguyen Van Man instructed the Cultivation and Crop Protection Sub-Department to urgently coordinate with communities to conduct detailed surveys to identify suitable durian-growing areas to have practical impact on people and to ensure sustainability, not to be spontaneous.
After the planting area has been determined, technical documentation must be available for each region. At the same time, organize on-site seminars on durian cultivation technical guides to keep farmers engaged.