A stall assistant adjusts her display of durians near Olympic Stadium, Kampot Province, Cambodia. - Photo: The Phnom Penh Post file
Durian is certainly living up to its nickname the"king of fruits” as the entry of new varieties is pushing once-popular cash crops such as cashew nuts, peanuts, pepper and sugarcane into the back seat. HSBC Bank forecasted last year that the demand for durians could rise by up to 400 per cent annually, primarily driven by the growing popularity of durians among China’s 1.4 billion people.
Competition is rising. Cambodia and Laos are holding high-level talks with Chinese investors to woo investments and technology to develop durian farms in their respective countries to explore international markets. According to the association, 20,000 hectares are designated for durian plantations, producing approximately 900 tonnes of durians.