New policy boosts Central Highlands durian sector

Farmers welcome new policy

Pham Xuan Lan, a farmer in Ea Knuec Commune, Dak Lak Province, has grown more than 2 hectares of durian intercropped with coffee since 2005. Although his orchard has been granted a traceability code, it has yet to receive a planting area code because it does not meet the current requirement for single-crop production.

According to Lan, most farmland in the area is contracted from October Coffee Company. Under the contracts, farmers are required to maintain coffee trees and meet production quotas, making it difficult to convert their land to specialized durian cultivation.

With the newly issued policy simplifying procedures for granting planting area codes, Lan said the change is welcome news for intercropping farmers.

"Durian orchards with planting area codes have better market access and usually fetch higher prices. If intercropped orchards like ours have a better chance of obtaining these codes, farmers will be very pleased," he said.

Not only growers, but also cooperatives and purchasing companies expect the new policy to create more opportunities to expand raw material areas.

Doan Thi Kieu Thanh, Director of Phu Thanh Dak Nong Agricultural Cooperative in Bac Gia Nghia Ward, Lam Dong Province, said the cooperative currently works with local farmers to purchase durian for export, but the number of planting area codes remains insufficient to meet demand.

The cooperative is currently linked to around 10 planting area codes and exports approximately 500 tonnes of fresh durian each month. If the raw material area expands, it plans to increase its processing capacity to 1,000-1,500 tonnes per month.

"We are very pleased if the new policy makes the issuance of planting area codes faster and more convenient. With more coded growing areas, the cooperative will be better positioned to expand partnerships, increase procurement, and build a stable raw material base for exports," Thanh said.

Expanding raw material areas while maintaining export standards

Nguyen Van Ha, a durian trader in Lam Dong Province, said relaxing the minimum area requirement would enable many more growing areas to qualify for planting area codes. According to him, once growing areas are properly registered and identified, export procurement will become more transparent and efficient.

"Buyers need clearly identified growing areas with full traceability. When more orchards receive planting area codes, farmers will have greater opportunities to join export supply chains," Ha said.

However, he emphasized that simplifying administrative procedures should not mean relaxing quality standards. Durian purchased for export must still meet requirements on maturity, flesh quality, and the importing market's technical standards. Shipments that fail to meet these requirements are unlikely to be exported, even if they originate from registered growing areas.

From the perspective of an exporter, Ngo Tuong Vy, Chief Executive Officer of Chanh Thu Fruit Import-Export Group, described Government Resolution No. 36 on simplifying administrative procedures in the agriculture and environment sectors, including the issuance of planting area codes, as a positive development for Vietnam's durian industry.

According to Vy, streamlining the process will enable more eligible orchards to be incorporated into the official management system. It will also allow businesses to expand their raw material base, strengthen traceability, and build more stable supply chains.

"This is an important step forward. Simpler procedures will make it easier for both farmers and businesses to manage growing areas, while ensuring more complete and up-to-date data, thereby improving product traceability," she said.

Building momentum for export growth from the ground up

In Ea Knuec Commune, durian is the dominant crop, covering approximately 5,000 hectares. According to Ngo Thi Minh Trinh, Secretary of the Commune Party Committee, about 90% of the commune's durian output is exported, with 60-70% classified as Grade A. Given the area's large-scale production and strong dependence on export markets, planting area codes, product traceability, and quality control have become increasingly important.

Trinh said the local authorities welcomed the Government's efforts to simplify administrative procedures. The commune is reviewing and reorganizing its work plans to help farmers and cooperatives access the new policy more quickly while ensuring transparency and compliance with regulations.

"We are pleased that the practical challenges faced by farmers have received attention from the central Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. We hope the new policy will soon be implemented, making it easier for farmers to access, helping businesses expand their raw material areas, and enabling local authorities to strengthen durian quality management," she said.

According to leaders of the Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee, resolving bottlenecks related to planting area codes is of strategic importance to the province's durian industry. More flexible regulations will enable the province to standardize its production areas, strengthen linkages among farmers, cooperatives, and businesses, and increase the share of durian entering export supply chains.

The policy also presents an opportunity for the Central Highlands' durian sector to shift from rapid expansion in cultivated area toward a more sustainable development model focused on quality, traceability, and value chain stability.

The Central Highlands is home to hundreds of thousands of hectares of durian, accounting for around half of Viet Nam's total durian-growing area. Production is concentrated mainly in Dak Lak, Lam Dong, and Gia Lai, making the region the country's largest durian-producing area, with an annual output of hundreds of thousands of tonnes.

Among these provinces, Dak Lak is one of Viet Nam's key durian production hubs. The province currently has around 41,000ha of durian orchards. In the 2025 harvest season, output reached nearly 446,000 tonnes, with export revenue estimated at US$1.1 billion. However, to date, the province has been granted only around 280 planting area codes, covering approximately 7,500 hectares, along with 42 export-certified packing facilities.