Thai durian farmers reap gains from smart solutions

Most people either love it or hate it, but durian — the spiky tropical fruit that "tastes like heaven, and smells like hell" — tops the list of Chinese consumers' favorite food imports 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 exporters". And now, Chinese agricultural experts have stepped in to help their Thai counterparts upgrade and modernize the industry to meet the booming global demand and improve productivity.

The Thai Digital Economy Promotion Agency launched the Digital Durian Initiative late last year in a bid to modernize agriculture through smart technologies.

The program 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. With more than 200 species, Thai durians enjoy a global reputation," said Zhou Zhaoxi, a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences.

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

"For the long term, Thai durians will remain competitive in the Chinese market due to customers' preference, along with their quality and production volume," he added.