Durian farmers reap gains from smart solutions

Advanced technology boosts productivity to meet booming global demand. Yang Wanli reports

- YANG WANLI

Durian may have more than its fair share of detractors, but that has not stopped it from becoming Chinese consumers' favourite food import from Southeast Asia.

China's love affair with the pungent smelling but sweet and creamy fruit is being met by farmers from Thailand, renowned worldwide as the king of durian producers. And now Chinese agricultural experts have stepped in to help their Thai counterparts upgrade and modernise the industry to meet the booming global demand and improve productivity.

The Thai Digital Economy Promotion Agency set up the Digital Durian Initiative late last year in an effort to modernise agriculture through smart technologies. It aims to help Thai durian farmers deal with uncertainties by using applications for recording, storing and tracking crop data.

"Thailand has perfect natural conditions for growing tropical fruits, and its durians are among the best in the region," said Zhou Zhaoxi, a researcher in the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences in Haikou, Hainan province. 'With more than 200 species, Thai durians enjoy a global reputation."

Although China has been investing in durian cultivation in the country's coastal region, such as Hainan, Zhou said production is so limited it can barely meet domestic demand.

"In the long term Thai durians will remain competitive in China because of customers' preference, along with their quality and production volume."

Thailand is the largest regional supplier of durian to China, its biggest international consumer market for the fruit.