Elevating the value of Khanh Son durian in combination with tourism

Re-organizing the production process

The current durian production in Khanh Hoa province spans over 2,300 hectares, the majority of which is primarily concentrated in Khanh Son district with varieties such as Ri6, Dona (Monthong), and Chin hoa. Accordingly, approximately 1,300 hectares are designated for durian harvesting, with an estimated yield of 10 tons per hectare, for a total of 13,000 tons.

According to consumer assessments, Khanh Son durian surpasses durians from many other regions in terms of both taste and quality. In addition to their large size, signature fragrance, and sweetness, Khanh Son Durians feature a golden flesh with small seeds, which accounts for 30 to 40% of the fruit's weight. Furthermore, these durians have the advantage of blooming and fruiting off-season, which reduces competition and market conflicts.

According to the Khanh Hoa province's Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, the local durian production area has grown rapidly over the years, and local farmers have gradually transitioned from inefficient crops to durian production.

It is projected that the durian production area in the province will reach approximately 2,500 hectares in 2030. With the aim of sustainable durian growth, the agricultural sector in Khanh Hoa province is focusing on market-oriented durian development in lieu of expanding acreage and production volume.

Efforts are being made to reorganize production, establish production linkages, standardize the production process from cultivation and harvesting to processing, transportation, and distribution to enhance the value of local durians. Moreover, emphasis is placed on establishing and developing production unit and packaging facilitiy codes for durian exports through official channels.

Most notably, there are currently five designated durian production areas covering an area of 125 hectares in the province, and one coded packaging facility. Furthermore, four durian production regions are awaiting approval of production unit codes from the General Administration of Customs of China for export purposes.

According to Mr. Le Ba Ninh, Deputy Director of Khanh Hoa province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in order to facilitate the official export of Khanh Son durians, the Department has instructed the Sub-Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection to collaborate with local governments in supporting businesses, cooperatives, cooperative groups, and individuals in establishing new production unit and packaging facility codes. Additionally, they have implemented regular and unannounced inspections to ensure compliance with the regulations imposed by the importing countries as well as the requirements made by the Department of Plant Protection regarding production areas and packaging facilities with export codes. The Department also conducted surveys in production areas with export codes in order to detect and control harmful organisms and quarantine pests in a timely manner, ensuring compliance with the regulations imposed by the importing countries.

Exploiting tourism through durian farm visits

With the goal of enhancing product quality, Khanh Hoa province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development instructed specialized agencies to collaborate with Khanh Son district and establish a VietGAP-compliant durian production area. Thanks to this initiative, Khanh Son district has established a safe and VietGAP-certified durian production chain with the participation of local cooperatives, cooperative groups, and a durian processing business.

According to Mr. Le Ba Ninh, approximately 583 hectares of durian farms in Khanh Son district have been certified according to VietGAP standards. Furthermore, the district will continue to expand its VietGAP durian production area and further improve product quality.

"We have been encouraging the formation of additional clean durian production areas to meet the increasing demands of the market. The province's agriculture sector has also directed relevant specialized agencies to collaborate with local governments in supporting businesses, cooperative groups, and farmers pursuing the same goal," stated Mr. Ninh.

Additionally, Khanh Hoa province's agriculture sector will develop agricultural tourism in the near future, with a focus on the western part of the province. Namely, efforts will be concentrated on the mountainous regions of Khanh Son and Khanh Vinh districts, which are regarded as eco-friendly mountainous townships under Resolution No. 09-NQ/TW issued by the Politburo.

Most importantly, Khanh Son durian has effectively established its brand presence in the market. On the other hand, Khanh Hoa province possesses a distinctive advantage in tourism. As a result, the province captivates millions of tourists annually with its sightseeing and vacation activities. Consequently, the efforts to entice tourists to visit durian farms and the mountainous forest landscapes represents a strategic direction that the province's agricultural sector is actively pursuing, with the aim of fostering a unique and unparalleled allure.

The agriculture sector will continue to collaborate with relevant departments and local governments to enhance connections in agricultural and rural tourism. This collaboration will lead to the development of high-quality, diverse, and appealing tour packages for durian farm visits.

Thanh Hung Agricultural Co., Ltd, located in Ba Cum Bac commune, Khanh Son district, owns more than 50 hectares of durian farms, including approximately 22 hectares of coded production areas. Furthermore, durians produced by the company currently meets VietGAP standards. In addition to supplying fresh durians, the company has transformed fresh durians into various products, including whole frozen durians, dried durians, and durian ice cream.

According to the Director of Thanh Hung Agricultural Co., Ltd, the company's future plan is to further explore the value of durians by combining agriculture and tourism. Accordingly, the company is developing a project to redesign its durian farms. On the other hand, the company is producing organic durians to ensure that visitors to its farms can enjoy the delicious and unique durians from the mountainous Khanh Son district.