Bayer and Dak Nong Agricultural Extension Center jointly organize Durian Harvesting Day, celebrating successful collaboration in promoting sustainable farming practices.

• The partnership between Bayer and the Dak Nong Provincial Agricultural Extension Center (PAEC) has resulted in the successful organization of the Durian Harvesting Day, marking a significant milestone in promoting sustainable durian farming practices.
• Their collaborative efforts have yielded remarkable improvements in durian farming: a significant decrease in pest and disease levels, higher productivity, improved fruit quality, and the ability to meet export standards, ultimately resulting in favourable market prices for farmers.
• Bayer and the Dak Nong PAEC maintain a strong commitment to empowering farmers through knowledge and innovative solutions. Their dedication extends beyond the current project, aiming to drive transformation across the durian industry in the province, paving way for a brighter and prosperous future for local community.

Dak Nong, 9 July 2024 – Bayer, in partnership with the Dak Nong Provincial Agricultural Extension Center (PAEC), successfully organised the Durian Harvesting Day in Dak Wer Commune, Dak R'Lap District, Dak Nong Province. This event marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between the two organisations 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 more than 100 local durian farmers. The event featured a tour of 2 demonstration durian farms owned by local farmers, Mr Nguyen Dinh Truong and Mr Phan Viet Cuong, spanning 10 hectares and 3 hectares respectively, providing participants with an opportunity 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 the ultimate goal of addressing challenges faced by durian farmers, the partnership also seeks to improve competitiveness in the global market, contribute to local socio-economic development, 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 had relied mainly on traditional methods passed down over time, which were less effective for durian cultivation. He said, "I am extremely happy with the results on my farm this season. Through diligent care and support from Bayer agronomists, my trees have flourished, showing strong health with lush green leaves. I have seen a remarkable 80–90% reduction in pest and disease pressure on my farm, resulting in a significant 20% increase in productivity, reaching an estimated 20 tonnes per hectare. The fruits have grown to a substantial size, with consistent quality, and an impressive 70–80% classified as Grade A."

As a result of these improvements, Mr. Cuong successfully sold his entire output to a trader at a favourable price, with most of it 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 from Bayer. These solutions effectively manage fungal diseases, particularly Phytophthora, which causes fruit rot, as well as insects such as mealybugs and weeds, ensuring optimal crop productivity. When used correctly, the "Much More Durian" solution helps control residue levels, 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.