The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment stated that the ministry has paid special attention to and deployed solutions to remove bottlenecks and promote durian exports in recent times.

At the Government press conference on the afternoon of September 3, a reporter requested representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to elaborate on recent measures taken to resolve difficulties facing durian exports.

Responding, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Dang Ngoc Diep stated that durian is a key commodity in the crop production sector, contributing approximately 40% of export volume. Consequently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has paid special attention to and deployed comprehensive measures to resolve difficulties and facilitate growth.

First, the ministry dispatched working delegations to coordinate directly with localities, especially major durian-growing regions such as the Central Highlands, Southeast, and Southwest regions, to address hurdles and bottlenecks.

On July 1, the ministry launched origin traceability on its digital transformation platform. Buyers can access end-to-end data spanning cultivation, crop care, fertilization, and farming practices for various agricultural products, including durian.

This has fostered confidence among buyers, particularly international clients. Commercial counselors from the US and China both highly praised the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment's inaugural rollout of nationwide origin traceability.

Second, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment resolved prior difficulties and bottlenecks that enterprises encountered regarding the issuance of growing area codes.

Third, the ministry carried out strong decentralization and delegation of authority to local levels in issuing growing area codes for all crops, including durian. All durian categories have also been decentralized down to commune and ward levels for the issuance of growing area codes and packaging facility codes.

These corrective solutions have proven effective in recent times.

Most notably, leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment recently visited China. Through bilateral engagements, the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) approved 567 growing area codes for Vietnamese durian, raising the total number of approved codes to around 1,800. Currently, there are approximately 1,599 durian growing area codes and 281 packaging facilities approved.

Ministry leadership outlines 5 solutions for upcoming implementation

First, intensify trade promotion and diversify export markets. In July, India approved the import of fresh Vietnamese durian. This represents a billion-consumer market with immense projected demand in the coming period.

Second, accelerate trade promotion, reorganize production, and develop sustainable raw material zones; review production zoning plans to align with soil, water, and climate conditions.

Third, standardize product quality, food safety, and origin traceability; enhance the capacity for research, application, technology transfer, and digital transformation.

Fourth, upgrade preservation, processing, and logistics infrastructure; incentivize investments in cold storage, primary processing hubs, preservation facilities, and deep processing plants right within concentrated production zones.

Fifth, expand, consolidate, and elevate the capacity of the testing laboratory network; continue socializing and accrediting qualified testing laboratories, prioritizing equipment investments and boosting analytical capacity for Cadmium, Auramine O, and parameters mandated by importing markets.

"In the coming time, we will continue working with competent authorities to establish additional testing laboratories capable of satisfying quality inspection requirements prior to export," the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment added.

Source: Bao dien tu Tuoi Tre