Vietnamese growers have been warned not to massively expand cultivation areas for durian and dragon fruit after prices for the fruits surged, instead they should focus on improving quality standards to boost exports to China. Officials said the surge in prices is only temporary and that the price might drop in the future due to competition from other markets such as Thailand and Malaysia.
Farmers in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Tiền Giang are currently getting high prices for their off-season durian and dragon fruit because of high demand for exports and in the domestic market. Đặng Phúc Nguyên, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said instead of expanding durian growing area, farmers need to focus on improving the quality of commercial durian to meet the standards of the Chinese market.
Source: einnews.com