Thailand’s durian industry is suffering from a brutal heatwave, causing smaller yields and higher costs. Farmers and sellers are concerned about the future of the valuable fruit export.
Durian Crisis in Thailand
This photo taken on May 1 shows baskets of durian at the durian suppliers Paeng Jae Ting at Noen Sung wholesale fruit market in Thailand’s eastern Chanthaburi province. //AFP Clambering hand-over-hand, sweat dripping into his eyes, a durian labourer expertly slices a cumbersome fruit from a tree before tossing it down to land with a soft thump in his colleague’s waiting arms some 15 metres (50 feet) below. Among Thailand’s most famous and lucrative exports, the pungent “king of fruits” is as distinctive in its smell as its spiky green-brown carapace, and has been farmed in the kingdom for hundreds of years.
Threat of Global Warming on Durian Industry
This year is a crisis for durian farmers in Thailand, as the vicious heatwave engulfing Southeast Asia has resulted in smaller yields and spiraling costs. The weather-beaten durian farmer, Busaba Nakpipat, expressed concerns about the impact of global warming on the future of durian farming, as rising temperatures and drought have shortened the harvest season, affecting both quality and production. Thailand’s durian exports, which are worth billions, are facing uncertainties due to the weather conditions, with both farmers and sellers bracing for the economic challenges that lie ahead.
