Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol. 28 i National Durian

Using Monthong as rootstock to graft Musang King produces large and round durians. The application of fertilisers cannot be increased blindly without consideration. Excessive use of fertilisers will only lead to adverse effects, such as abnormally large fruits that can affect the selling price. Durian merchants have specific volume standards and strict compliance as their basic requirement. A good example is Betong’s Monthong. When our team was in Thailand interviewing durian farmers in July 2023, the standard weight for a single harvested A-grade fruit was 3 to 6 kg, with a price per kilogram of around 140 Thai baht. The stated price is quite impressive. After all, most Monthong durians weigh more than 3 kilograms, making it seem easy to meet the standards set by durian merchants. However, 73-year-old durian…

When new branches grow to a certain extent, they need to be bonded to the main trunk. Based on his method, he will cut off some low branches, allowing new branches to grow, and let the new branches grow upward. When the surrounding old oil palms and rubber trees were cut down for replanting purposes, Kiwi’s durian orchard on the hills suffered wind damage. It caused the branches of his old trees to break and some trees even overturned. “Since the surrounding area is empty, strong wind blow freely without any resistance. As a result, my old durian trees suffer the consequences,” Kiwi said with a wry smile. His orchard which is located in Jerantut, Pahang has a variety of matured durian trees such as the 101, D2 and other…

The Philippines, recognised as one of China’s top three fruit suppliers, has garnered attention for its fruit exports, with mainly bananas (32%), coconuts (15%), and the popular durian (14%) in the lead. These three fruits independently hold significant market shares, highlighting the Philippines’ prominent position within the Chinese fruit industry. Currently, the durian cultivation area in the Philippines spans 16,677 hectares, primarily concentrated in the southern regions, with Davao being the largest, taking up 49.77% which is equivalent to 8,300 hectares. Soccsksargen and Caraga regions contribute 13.2% and 11.7%, respectively, to the total cultivation area. In terms of production, Davao leads with a 76% contribution to the overall yield. This is attributed to the region being less affected by typhoons and having relatively higher yields. The Philippines’ Department of Agriculture…

Puangmanee durians has vibrant yellow flesh, similar to the Musang King variety, and its taste is akin to the Kun Poh variety from Penang which is rich, thick and predominantly sweet. Betong - An Excellent Example where Government Subsidy is Key to Durian Development. In Betong, Thailand, the local government body plays a crucial role in driving durian cultivation. Through a series of subsidies, they encourage rubber plantation owners to switch to cultivating durians. Benefiting from these policies, Aryiw said that “Betong durian farmers receive government subsidies for switching to durian cultivation in which they are paid 16,000 Thai Baht per Rai (0.7 acres).” However, there are conditions to be met in order to qualify for these subsidies. For instance, landowners must possess relevant land titles for the designated land…