China’s surging durian demand fuels tech partnership with Thai farmers

China imported approximately 1.56 million metric tonnes of durian in 2023, worth nearly US$7 billion, with nearly 60% of those imports coming from Thailand, the world’s leading durian exporter, according to data from China Customs.

"Thailand has perfect natural conditions for growing tropical fruits, and its durians are among the best in the region," Thaiger quoted said Zhou Zhaoxi, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences. While China has invested in durian cultivation in its southeastern regions, such as Hainan province, Zhou pointed out that domestic production remains limited and struggles to meet the high demand.

In response to this growing demand, Chinese agricultural experts are working closely with Thai farmers to modernize the industry. They are leveraging advanced technologies to boost productivity and improve farming efficiency.

Durian fruit. Photo by VnExpress/ Manh Khuong

One such farmer is 56-year-old Chord Chanbuppha, from Chanthaburi province, Thailand’s durian heartland, who has seen the benefits of Chinese agricultural innovations firsthand, China Daily reported.

"Local farmers are at the mercy of the forces of nature," said Chord, who has been cultivating durians for years. "We water the orchards with an estimated amount, despite the fact that weather conditions in tropical areas are changing dramatically."

With support from the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chord’s orchard was upgraded last year through collaboration with Beyondsoft Corp, a Chinese tech company specializing in IT solutions.

Beyondsoft has transformed Chord’s orchard into a showcase of technological innovation, integrating water and fertilizer systems, soil sensors, and real-time monitoring.

"All those data will be uploaded to an online system, providing guidance for scientific farming," Chang Canxian, Managing Director of Beyondsoft’s Southeast Asia Operations, said. "Together, the smart solutions will significantly reduce human labor costs and largely improve farming efficiency."

CP Group, Thailand’s largest agri-food business, is also embracing high-tech farming solutions. In partnership with China’s Huawei Cloud, the company has developed near-infrared sensors, powered by artificial intelligence, to assess the ripeness of each durian, replacing the traditional tapping method prone to human error, according to The Nation.

"We now manage to achieve 80% accuracy. And the accuracy will rise as more data is collected," said Jiang Yuejun, Chief Technology Officer at CP Group.

"For the smart agriculture industry, we expect AI to play a major role with the internet of things, robotics, drones and satellites. Joining hands with Chinese tech giants such as Huawei, we provide a digital transformation of the agricultural industry, which will help more farmers and the industry as a whole."