Supachai Suthammanont, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, revealed that the recent storm has affected durian orchards in Chanthaburi province, causing damage to farmers' crops in many areas, especially orchards nearing harvest.
Supachai said the Ministry of Commerce is concerned for the orchard farmers affected by this disaster and has ordered the Chanthaburi Provincial Commerce Office to coordinate with the provincial governor to promptly survey the damage. They are also collaborating with the Ministry of Interior to urgently discuss ways to assist and compensate the affected orchard farmers.
For durians affected but still ready for harvest and with a dry matter content above 30%, the Ministry of Commerce will facilitate buyers and entrepreneurs to select produce directly from orchards for processing into various products, especially fried durian. This aims to reduce damage and losses, while enabling farmers to earn some income from the affected crops.
Meanwhile, for undamaged durians still on the trees, the Ministry of Commerce, through the Department of Internal Trade, will provide special care by coordinating buyers to purchase directly. This will help create markets to absorb the produce and allow farmers to sell continuously during this season.
Additionally, the provincial commerce office, together with relevant agencies, is sorting damaged durians to process them appropriately based on quality, such as mixing into ice cream or converting into durian flour for use in snacks and other food products, to add value and reduce agricultural losses.
For durians that cannot be sold or processed, appropriate management measures will be implemented to prevent them from mixing with durians sold in the market, thereby preserving the standards and consumer confidence in Thai durians.
“The Ministry of Commerce sends its support to all durian orchard farmers affected by this event and assures that it will expedite assistance, care, and measures to manage the produce fully, so farmers can overcome this situation as quickly as possible,” Supachai concluded.
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