"Durian"

Thai durian farmers were recently applauded for focusing on good agricultural practices (GAP) that are in line with China’s Zero-Covid policy.

Eight thousand durian saplings worth THB240,000 were confiscated at a border checkpoint in the northeastern Ubon Ratchathani province on Friday as they were being transported across the border.

The Agriculture Department plans to establish a research team on economic crop breeding and genomic technologies to ensure the sustainability of Thailand's agriculture.

The first Tianjin Air Cargo flight carrying Thai durians landed at Nanning Airport in Guangxi, China on Friday, opening a new shipment route for Thailand’s No 1 fruit export.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) on Thursday launched a “durian metaverse”, the first of its kind that offers virtual tours of Thai durian orchards and an opportunity to virtually own durian orchards on the metaverse.

The government has tightened Covid-19 controls on durian exports after China temporarily blocked Thai shipments of the fruit earlier this month.

The Challenges of Exporting Durian into China

Over the years the demand for durian has been exceptionally high, especially in China where Thai durians are always in demand. But the Covid outbreak led to many restrictions on import of goods into mainland China, and durian farmers are facing the heat of these policies.

The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry will help boost sales of locally grown durian and mangosteen through its online media campaign, a senior official disclosed on Thursday.

Two containers carrying 40 tonnes of durian and one container filled with 20 tonnes of coconuts entered China for the first time on a train on Sunday.

In a bid to discourage the practice of harvesting and selling unripe durians, Thai authorities issued a statement reminding sellers that it is a criminal offence and carries a penalty of up to three years in prison. Repeat offenders will also face a much harsher penalty.

China Eastern Airlines is making an effort to find ways to help Thai durian exporters after it cancelled five chartered flights following a plane crash in China, a Thai academic said on Wednesday.