• Society

Farmers Suffer as Heat and Drought Hit Durian Crop

• By Chhum Chantha
• May 8, 2024 11:55 AM

PHNOM PENH – Drought in Kampot province caused by the El Nino phenomenon has cut durian production by more than half, with farmers expecting big losses in income. 

Yang Narith, owner of a four-hectare farm in Teuk Chhou district, said this year’s harvest had dropped by more than 60 percent compared to 2023 due to the increased temperatures in recent months.

His durian trees produced fewer flowers and the young fruit could not survive in such conditions while some trees wilted and died because of lack of water.

By the time of harvest, some durian skins cracked before they were ripe, he said. With 250 trees, Narith expected to harvest about 4-5 tonnes of durian this year, a significant decrease from 2023 when he was able to collect 12 tonnes.

The durian were smaller while the taste and quality of the meat was also reduced reduced as weather conditions and lack of water made the durian ripen before maturity, which made it less sweet.

It normally takes 90 to 135 days to harvest durian, starting from flowering to when it is ripe, depending on the type. 

This year’s drought has largely increased Narith’s costs, including fertilizer, workforce and irrigation. He said that, like other durian farmers, he expected a huge loss this season.

Another farmer from Teuk Chhou, Ou Samphors said her durian production had fallen by about 70 percent. Of her 200 trees, some were flowering, some were withering and about 20 had died because there was no water. 

She estimated that only 200 fruit or 400kg would be harvested. 

“Early the season, the weather was not so cold and there was no dew which made the durian flower less,” she said.

“Towards the end of the harvest, the temperature rose to over 40 degrees, causing the durians to crack and ripen prematurely which reduced the quality and taste.” 

“Speaking of durian growers in Kampot province, almost everyone is affected by this heat. Some are less affected and some are affected a lot. This year, everyone has lost a lot, and so have I.”

Teng Vanthoeun, director of the Office of Agriculture and Agricultural Productivity of the Kampot Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, said durian did not bear much fruit due to the hot weather and lack of rain. This reduced the quality of the meat and the taste.

“This year, the weather is very hot and there is no rain, so our farmers lack of water,” he said.

 

Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this article was translated by Torn Chanritheara for Cambodianess.