Digital Technology Transforms Durian Farming in Lam Dong
Durian growers in Da Huoai 2 are adopting digital farming technologies to improve soil management, crop health monitoring and product traceability as the province seeks to strengthen the quality and export competitiveness of its agricultural sector.
Farmers affiliated with the Da Huoai Durian Trade Union under Da M’ri Agricultural Cooperative have begun implementing smart cultivation techniques using high-tech sensors, mobile applications and digital monitoring systems to manage orchards more precisely.
From Experience-Based Farming to Data-Driven Agriculture
Le Quang Thuyen, Deputy Technical Director of Da M’ri Agricultural Cooperative, said healthy soil remains the foundation of successful durian cultivation.
“Durian trees, like any crop, require suitable fertilizer levels, balanced pH and stable soil conditions to help root systems function effectively,” he said. “Healthy soil allows trees to grow strongly, flower properly and produce fruit on schedule.”
According to Thuyen, durian growers have traditionally relied on farming experience and observation to assess soil quality, irrigation and fertilizer use. However, even experienced farmers cannot achieve complete precision without technological support.
To address this, the cooperative is piloting a digital durian farm management model using smart monitoring systems.
Smart Sensors and Mobile Applications
At his fruit-bearing durian orchard, Vu Hong Danh, a member of the Da Huoai Durian Trade Union, demonstrated how farmers now use mobile applications to diagnose plant diseases and monitor crop development.
By photographing durian fruit and uploading images to a specialized agricultural application, farmers can receive rapid technical assessments and treatment recommendations from agricultural experts.
“We only need to take photos and upload them through the app,” Danh said. “Technical specialists quickly analyze the health of the trees, identify diseases and provide guidance on treatment. It is very convenient, fast and accurate.”
Beyond image-based monitoring, farmers are also using soil sensors placed throughout orchards to measure key agricultural indicators.
Within minutes, the sensors transmit data directly to mobile phones and centralized digital platforms, providing real-time analysis of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels, soil moisture, temperature and pH balance.
“The sensors can precisely determine whether soil lacks nutrients, whether irrigation levels are excessive or insufficient, or whether pH levels are unsuitable,” Thuyen said. “The system immediately sends recommendations and technical guidance back to the orchard owners.”
Raising Quality Standards for Export Markets
Nguyen Thanh Son, Director of Da M’ri Agricultural Cooperative, said the cooperative views digital transformation as essential to maintaining export-oriented production standards.
“We have identified exports as the primary market for our durian production, so applying modern technology is necessary to improve fruit quality,” Son said. “Digital agriculture is becoming a new direction for Da M’ri.”
He added that farmers must gradually shift away from relying solely on traditional experience and become more familiar with digital technologies and automated farm management systems.
The cooperative’s technical support network currently includes approximately 140 orchard accounts connected through digital platforms. Farmers regularly upload photos and videos documenting changes in individual trees and fruit conditions to enable continuous monitoring and rapid technical support.
According to Son, information sharing through social media groups has significantly accelerated farmers’ access to agricultural knowledge and cultivation techniques.
QR Codes Enhance Product Traceability
In addition to digital farm management, cooperative members are also implementing QR-code traceability systems for durian products.
Each fruit can be digitally traced through QR labels attached to the stem, allowing consumers to access detailed information including the durian variety, fertilization process, irrigation schedule, harvest date and the identity and location of the producing farmer.
Local agricultural officials say the adoption of digital technologies is expected to improve product quality, strengthen export standards and increase transparency across Lam Dong’s durian supply chain as Vietnam expands its agricultural exports to international markets.