Thailand launches digital durian initiative to boost farmers’ income

Thailand’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) has kicked off the One Tambon, One Digital (OTOD) "Digital Durian" project to help 8.8 million durian farmers improve their productivity and set Thai durian standards using digital platforms and innovations.

DEPA president Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin said the OTOD Digital Durian initiative aims to engage over 6,100 durian farming households in adopting digital platforms for recording cultivation data within a two-year timeframe.

The collection of this data will contribute to creating “big data” for Thailand’s agricultural sector, especially the durian sector.

Pantanu Wannagangsai, advisor to the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES), said the above-mentioned project aligns with the government's policies which aim to solve issues of debt, income, cost of living, and social stability.

It is expected to contribute to building consumer confidence both domestically and internationally, promoting high-value Thai products globally amid fierce competition, especially from China and countries in the Southeast Asian region, he added.

Thailand has 1.02 million rai of durian plantation areas and produce 1.53 million tonnes. Durian accounts for 69% of all exported fruits, or 991,557 tonnes last year, and the major durian export market is China. A rai equals 1,600 square meters.

In addition, 12,200 farmers in 23 provinces are expected to be trained on e-commerce applications and certification for Good Agricultural Practice (GAP), supporting the development of a national agriculture platform.