Vietnam’s billion-dollar durian industry is facing growing pressure as contamination from banned substances, weak farming practices and loopholes in management systems threaten exports, particularly to China.
In Can Tho City, farmer Le Van Nhan displayed dozens of durians along a roadside, hoping to clear his stock before the fruits spoiled. He said retail prices had fallen so sharply that he no longer expected to make any profit this season.
Five years ago, he converted 3,000 square metres of rice fields into durian orchards after seeing strong returns enjoyed by other growers.
This year, he harvested around two tonnes of durians, but prices have dropped by nearly 40% in recent weeks. The decline forced him to sell directly on the street to avoid losses from unsold fruit.
Nhan said he only vaguely understood that difficulties in exporting to China had contributed to the falling prices, but admitted he did not know the market’s actual requirements.
“To me, if the fruit looks good, then it can be exported,” he said.
Farmers unaware of export standards
Another farmer, Nguyen Van Trung from Dong Thap Province, who has cultivated durians for a decade, admitted he paid little attention to export standards and focused mainly on maintaining healthy trees and increasing yields.
He said he rarely checked whether fertilizers or pesticides contained ingredients that could leave banned residues.
“It’s not just me. Many farmers around here are the same,” he said.
The lack of awareness among farmers over banned substances has become one of the factors affecting access to the Chinese market, the largest importer of Vietnamese durians.
As exports slowed, many farmers were forced to sell domestically at prices between VND20,000 and VND30,000 per kilogramme, the lowest levels seen in years.
A study conducted by Can Tho University on the use of plant protection chemicals among farmers in the Mekong Delta found that 72% of growers purchased pesticides based on recommendations from dealers.
The study also found that when agricultural prices rise, many orchard owners tend to increase chemical spraying to protect yields and profits.
Cadmium contamination raises concerns
Among the banned substances detected in durians exported to China is cadmium, a heavy metal linked to industrial activities.
Improperly treated industrial waste can spread cadmium into the environment, contaminating soil and water sources.
Bui Thanh Liem, former head of the agriculture and rural development office in Cho Lach District, Vinh Long Province, said cadmium accumulation in soil mainly came from organic fertilizers containing high levels of heavy metals.
He said weak market oversight had allowed toxic chemicals to circulate widely, resulting in long-term use by farmers.
According to him, the Mekong Delta, as one of Vietnam’s oldest fruit-growing regions, faces higher cadmium accumulation compared to many other areas.
Liem also pointed to poor compliance with farming procedures, weak management of growing-area codes and dishonest testing practices as additional problems affecting exporters.
He stressed that stricter control was needed throughout the supply chain, including production, purchasing, packaging, testing and export processes.
Authorities tighten monitoring measures
Dong Thap Province, one of Vietnam’s major durian-producing regions, has collected thousands of soil samples to test for cadmium residues.
Authorities there are shifting from experience-based farming to a more data-driven system, allowing traceability down to individual orchards when required by export markets.
Farms that meet standards will be linked with export companies.
Meanwhile, Vinh Long authorities are also collecting soil samples and carrying out residue analysis to support remediation efforts. Measures include increasing soil pH levels, controlling fertilizers containing cadmium and treating contaminated soil.
Tran Tri Quang, chairman of the Vinh Long People’s Committee, said durian cultivation had expanded rapidly without proper planning while supply-chain coordination remained weak.
According to the Plant Production and Protection Department, Vietnam now has more than 150,000 hectares of durian plantations, more than double the area targeted for 2030.
The Mekong Delta alone accounts for over 56,000 hectares, producing around 750,000 tonnes annually.
