Khanh Hoa charts sustainable path for durian sector

Trillion-dong revenues and internal challenges

On August 27, the Khanh Hoa Provincial Agricultural Extension Center held a conference titled “Current Situation and Solutions for Sustainable Durian Cultivation in Khanh Hoa.”

Ms. Pham Thi Thanh Ha, Deputy Director of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, emphasized that durian has become a high-value crop, concentrated in suitable ecological areas such as Khanh Son and Khanh Vinh. The development of commercial production, market-oriented cultivation, and the expansion of planting area and packing facility codes have created new opportunities for local farmers. However, the sector is facing numerous challenges due to spontaneous development, inconsistent cultivation practices, and increasingly stringent requirements on quality, food safety and traceability in export markets. Going forward, the focus should not simply be on expanding cultivation areas, but more importantly on improving quality, efficiency and sustainability.

Durian has now established itself as one of the province’s key fruit crops, concentrated in localities such as Khanh Son, Tay Khanh Son, Tay Khanh Vinh, Nam Khanh Vinh, Khanh Vinh, Lam Son and Bac Ai Tay. The province currently has around 3,700 hectares of durian, of which 2,500 hectares are under harvest, with an average yield of 12 tonnes per hectare and an estimated output of 30,000 tonnes. Each year, the sector generates revenues of more than VND 1.5 trillion, making a significant contribution to agricultural production value and helping ethnic minority communities improve their livelihoods.

In particular, Khanh Son durian, which has been granted geographical indication certification and a collective trademark, has established a strong market position thanks to its off-season ripening advantage and high-quality fruit with golden flesh and small, flavorful seeds. To date, the province has been granted 21 planting area codes for official export to China, covering more than 635 hectares, with output in 2026 projected at 14,724 tonnes. In the first seven months of 2026, the locality officially exported 8,140 tonnes of fresh durian, supported by two packing facilities with a combined capacity of 100 tonnes per day.

However, despite these achievements, several shortcomings have emerged that could undermine the sector’s sustainability. Some farmers have expanded cultivation spontaneously into areas lacking irrigation water or with unsuitable soil conditions, and even into areas associated with forest planning. The cultivation practices of some growers still rely heavily on experience, while the excessive use of chemical fertilizers has contributed to soil degradation and acidification. More alarmingly, the risks of cadmium and pesticide residues, as well as the unauthorized use of banned chemicals during post-harvest handling to improve the appearance of the fruit, pose a direct threat to planting area codes and the reputation of durian exports in demanding markets.

Concerns over cultivation techniques and food safety

During the discussion session, the conference heard a number of practical concerns from durian growers. Farmer Bo Bo Xuan Hien from Khanh Son Commune raised questions about controlling residues of the heavy metal cadmium and Auramine O, while also asking about the occurrence of hard, unevenly ripened durian flesh. In particular, he referred to claims that the excessive use of microbial organic fertilizers and insufficient irrigation could be contributing factors.

Rejecting this claim as scientifically unfounded, Dr. Do Ngoc Chung, an agricultural expert at Hai Duong International Joint Stock Company, affirmed that the application of microbial organic fertilizers does not cause hard or unevenly ripened durian flesh. On the contrary, it helps improve soil aeration and structure, supports healthy root development, and enhances drainage during the rainy season.

According to Dr. Chung, the underlying causes of the disorder stem from three main factors: excess water, when prolonged rainfall causes trees to absorb too much water while insufficient sunlight limits photosynthesis and sugar accumulation; nutrient imbalance, resulting from farmers applying too many types of fruit-filling fertilizers promoted by dealers within a short period; and competition for nutrients when trees produce new shoots during the fruit-bearing stage.

Regarding food safety, Nguyen Duc Thuan, Director of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Department of Plant Production and Protection, said that after three years of sample testing in Khanh Son’s durian-growing areas, authorities had not detected any samples contaminated with cadmium. However, the risk of cadmium accumulation remains if farmers overuse low-quality fertilizers or if irrigation water sources become contaminated.

Regarding Auramine O, an industrial dye prohibited for use in food due to its potentially high carcinogenic risk, Nguyen Duc Thuan warned that some traders and orchard owners have been found dipping, spraying or brushing the substance onto durian rinds to improve their appearance. Such practices risk detection during inspections by export markets, particularly China, which could lead to shipments being rejected and cause severe economic losses for producers as well as damage to the reputation of the entire industry.

Shifting cultivation practices and tightening management

Amid the durian sector’s growing need to shift from a focus on “increasing productivity” to improving quality, efficiency and sustainability, representatives of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Agricultural Extension Center said future extension services would focus on supporting farmers with producers at the center, while using technological advances and digital transformation as key drivers. Agricultural extension officers will move beyond simply providing technical training to accompanying farmers throughout the entire production process, from orchard design and crop care to pest management and market linkages.

To address soil degradation and the risk of cadmium contamination, agricultural extension services are guiding farmers on measures to improve soil pH, apply microbial organic fertilizers in a balanced manner, adopt IPM/IPHM and strictly follow the principle of the “four rights”. In practice, durian intensive farming models under VietGAP standards implemented by the Center in Khanh Son and Khanh Vinh during 2024-2026 have delivered clear results, increasing yields by between 10.4% and more than 19% compared with conventional practices.

From a regulatory perspective, the head of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Department of Plant Production and Protection outlined a set of fundamental measures to promote sustainable durian development. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the current cultivation scale and focusing on improving productivity and quality, rather than expanding acreage at all costs. The agricultural authorities are reviewing and carefully assessing soil conditions to identify and issue warnings for unsuitable growing areas, while strongly advising farmers against spontaneous expansion or encroachment into forest-planned land.

In particular, the department’s leadership stressed the need to tighten the management of planting area codes and strengthen transparency in market linkages. Authorities warned that some farmers have entrusted their codes entirely to intermediaries, creating opportunities for planting area codes to be misused for fraudulent purposes. Strict action will also be taken against cases involving the misuse or impersonation of planting area codes and violations of pesticide residue regulations.

* 1$ = 26,270 VND (source: Vietcombank).