The provinces of Southern Thailand have boosted support for high-quality durian farms, rivaling the traditional production base in the country's eastern provinces for a bigger export market share amid the enthusiasm of Chinese consumers for the spiky fruit.

The number of durian orchards in Southern Thailand has surged dramatically in recent years.

The region's total area of durian orchards increased from 631,698 rai (101,072 hectares) in 2020 to 870,593 rai this year, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension.

At a recent seminar on boosting confidence in southern Thai durians for the global market, officials from the DOAE revealed they have implemented eight stringent measures to promote high-quality fruit production, ensuring both quality and safety to meet export standards.

Key initiatives include intensive farmer training on Good Agricultural Practices, a voluntary certification program that verifies the use of sound food safety practices. Farmers also need to learn strict orchard hygiene protocols and pest surveillance to boost the confidence of buyers.