Dak Nong, July 9, 2024 – Bayer, in partnership with the Dak Nong Provincial Agricultural Extension Center (PAEC), has successfully organized the Durian Harvesting Day at Dak Wer Commune, Dak R'Lap District, Dak Nong Province. This event marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between the two organizations to promote sustainable durian farming practices.

Harvesting Day drew strong participation from local leaders and officials, including representatives from the Dak Nong Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dak Nong Plant Protection Department, and over 100 local durian farmers. The event featured a tour to 2 demonstration durian farms owned by local farmers, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Truong and Mr. Phan Viet Cuong, spanning across 10 hectares and 3 hectares respectively, providing an opportunity for participants to witness the successful implementation of sustainable farming techniques. It also included on-site harvesting and purchasing activities in collaboration with fruit traders.

This provided an important platform to evaluate and report on the achievements of the partnership between Bayer and the Dak Nong Provincial Agricultural Extension Center (PAEC). Established in December 2023, the partnership aims to develop and replicate effective and sustainable durian farming methods across the region. With an ultimate goal of addressing challenges faced by durian farmers, the partnership also seeks to improve competitiveness in the global market, contribute to socio-economic development locally, and better protect the environment.

Mr. Phan Viet Cuong, a durian farmer from Dak Wer Hamlet, expressed his delight at being one of the farmers supported by Bayer and the Dak Nong PAEC in adopting sustainable durian farming practices. Previously, he relied primarily on traditional methods passed down, which proved to be less effective in durian care. He stated, "I am extremely happy with the outcomes on my farm this season. Through diligent care and support from Bayer agronomists, my trees have thrived, exhibiting robust health with lush, verdant leaves. I have observed a remarkable 80-90% decrease in pest and disease levels on my farm, leading to a significant productivity increase of 20%, reaching an estimated 20 tons per hectare. The fruits have attained substantial size, displaying consistent quality, with an impressive 70-80% classified as Grade A."

As a result of these improvements, Mr. Cuong has successfully sold his entire output to a trader at a favourable price, with the majority intended for export to overseas markets, ensuring a good return on his investment.

One of the key contributors to this success was "Much More Durian", a comprehensive range of crop protection solutions by Bayer. The solutions effectively manage fungal diseases, particularly Phytophthora fungus causing fruit rot, insects such as mealybugs, and weeds, guaranteeing optimal crop productivity. When used correctly, the "Much More Durian" solution helps control residues, enabling farmers to meet export quality and safety requirements.
 

Mr. Kg Krishnamurthy, Country Commercial Lead of Crop Science Division at Bayer Vietnam expressed his enthusiasm for the successful organization of Durian Harvesting Day and the positive impact it has had on the local durian farming community. He stated, "At Bayer, we are committed to supporting farmers by equipping them with innovative solutions and empowering them with knowledge to enhance productivity and meet global standards. Our collaboration with Dak Nong PAEC holds immense value as we deeply understand cultivating strong partnerships throughout value chains. By leveraging our expertise and resources, we can expand our reach and maximize our impact, ultimately delivering added value for farmers."

Furthermore, the cooperative program worked to disseminate information and raise awareness about proper waste management, treatment of agricultural materials, and promotion of safe, responsible crop protection product use. These efforts ensure agricultural development goes hand in hand with environmental protection and community well-being.

“The partnership between Bayer and Dak Nong PAEC is driven by our shared commitment to empower durian farmers with effective and sustainable farming methods. Through our collaboration, we have seen the transformative impact these methods have had on the productivity and competitiveness of our local durian industry, even in the face of adverse weather conditions. This serves as a catalyst to scale these impactful solutions across the province, offering potential to uplift our farmers livelihood and address their challenges in farming.” Mr. Nguyen Van Chuong, Director of the Dak Nong Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, also commented on this meaningful collaboration.

Moving forward, Bayer Vietnam and the Dak Nong PAEC remain dedicated to supporting Vietnamese durian farmers in adopting sustainable farming practices to increase productivity and enhance export quality and safety. Through continued collaboration and training, the program aims to drive the transformation across the durian industry in Dak Nong, fostering sustainable development and a brighter future for local farmers.

About Sustainable Durian Farming Program by Dak Nong PAEC and Bayer

In December 2023, Bayer Vietnam and the Dak Nong Provincial Agricultural Extension Center (PAEC) launched a public-private partnership focused on sustainable durian cultivation. The collaboration aims to improve farmer livelihoods and incomes, promote environmental sustainability, and enhance the global competitiveness of Vietnamese durian.

Activities include establishing demonstration models of sustainable durian farming in Dak R'lap district in close collaboration with local growers. Leading experts from universities and research institutes have been engaged to provide guidance to participating farms, introducing solutions to optimize efficiency.
The partnership also enhances farming capacity and knowledge through specialized technical trainings. To date, over 50 agricultural extension officers and 400 farmers have benefited from trainings covering all stages of durian cultivation.

Additionally, the project facilitates connections between farmers and purchasing/export partners aiming to create sustainable sales opportunities for their harvests. This not only boosts farmer’s confidence in their production but also provides them with a stable income and a sense of security for the future.