The person who brought durian to Tan Thuong land

With the spirit of daring to think and dare to do, Mr. Nguyen Viet Do in Tan Thuong commune, Di Linh district, has strived to overcome difficulties, becoming a pioneer in bringing durian trees to grow locally and creating an effective and sustainable agricultural production model.

With a clear strategy, the agricultural production model of Mr. Nguyen Viet Do (second from right) has brought about efficiency and sustainability.

In 1995, when many people were still wary of the wild red basalt land of Di Linh district, Mr. Nguyen Viet Do decided to leave Dong Nai province, bringing his whole family to the new economic zone with the desire to get rich from the land. “At that time, the land was quite large and sparsely populated, and it took a few kilometers to find a house. It was hard, but I believed that this land would reward those who knew how to take care of it,” Mr. Do recalled. At first, he grew coffee trees like most people in the area. But he always had one thought in mind: how to increase income and exploit more effectively the 6-hectare land that his family had invested so much sweat and effort to build. His passion for research and learning led him to durian, a fruit tree that was then very unfamiliar to Tan Thuong. “When I decided to grow durian, it was just a trial to see if it would be suitable for this land. The land is cold, the climate is cool, and yet I am growing tropical trees. Who would have thought it would grow well, let alone produce quality fruit?” Mr. Do proudly said.

With the mindset of "farming requires strategy", he began to research techniques from several provinces to learn from the model. He chose the Ri6 and Monthong durian varieties, invested in intercropping with Huu Thien mango leaf grafted coffee, which is one of the coffee varieties that grows well and has stable productivity. After years of persistent care, the family has achieved results: the first batches of durian flowers and fruit, opening a new direction for the whole region. To date, his family has 600 durian trees, of which 500 have been harvested. "In 2023, my family harvested 14 tons of fruit. In 2024, it increased to 20 tons, with a stable selling price of 55,000 - 65,000 VND/kg, equivalent to more than 1.2 billion VND. In addition, I also have income from coffee," Mr. Do shared.

To achieve such results, Mr. Do always emphasizes the role of technology. Every year, he carries out three regular fertilizations, combining many types of fertilizers. At each stage, the plants need a different nutritional regimen. Notably, he says no to herbicides. “I use a machine to cut grass to retain the vegetation layer, create humus, help the soil retain moisture in the dry season and prevent erosion in the rainy season. Farming cannot ignore the environment,” Mr. Do confided. In addition, he also composts microbial fertilizers with Trichoderma right in the garden, contributing to reducing production costs and improving fruit quality.

Without hiding any secrets, Mr. Do often shares his experiences with the people in the commune, especially the ethnic minority households. Those who used to work for his family such as K'Kuc (Village 3), K'Luyen (Village 4), K'Loi (Village 1)... were all carefully instructed by him, from planting techniques to fertilizing and spraying. Now, they also have their own small durian gardens, helping to stabilize their family life.

According to statistics, if including the intercropping area, up to now, Tan Thuong commune has about 600 hectares of durian. In particular, in recent years, many millionaire and billionaire durian farmers have appeared in the commune... Mr. K'Duc - an agricultural extension officer of Tan Thuong commune commented: "Mr. Nguyen Viet Do is a typical farmer, with a modern farming mindset, persistent in learning and sharing. Thanks to him, durian trees have developed and gained a foothold in this commune". Mr. K'Vinh - Vice Chairman of the Commune Farmers' Association said: "Mr. Do's model not only brings economic efficiency but is also an ideal place for farmers in the area to visit and study".

Not only is Mr. Do good at business, he is also an example of a simple lifestyle, attached to the land and people on the plateau. He confided: “Lam Dong has good climate and soil conditions. As long as you are diligent and keep your word with your crops, the land will not fail you. Farming now cannot be done "blindly" like before. You have to learn, understand and do it systematically to be sustainable.”

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/kinh-te/202506/nguoi-dua-sau-rieng-ve-vung-dat-tan-thuong-1431ccf/