Hundreds of Hectares Added in Cambodia’s Durian Boom

[geovalin]

KT

 

Durian farming is thriving in Cambodia’s Stung Trang district, with hundreds of new hectares planted this year alone as growers respond to rising demand at home and abroad—especially from China.

 

Over 2,000 hectares of durian are now under cultivation in Kampong Cham province’s Stung Trang, and local authorities plan to increase this to 2,500 hectares by next year. District Governor Ban Sreng said the shift marks durian’s growing status as a “high-potential” crop, second only to rubber.

 

“Durian has great potential here due to our favourable climate,” Sreng said. “We’re working closely with farmers to scale up responsibly and meet demand.”

 

Growers are already seeing solid returns. Phat Phanny, a farmer in Baek Anloung village, earned over $100,000 from this year’s harvest, despite slightly lower prices. “The yield was better than last year, and I’m planning to expand another eight hectares,” she said.

 

Siv Tha, one of the area’s largest producers, operates a 200-hectare plantation growing multiple varieties, including the popular Thai cultivar Monthong. Known for its sweetness and long shelf life, Monthong is also in high demand among Chinese importers.

 

“We’ve already opened discussions with Chinese buyers,” Tha said. “Durian requires upfront investment, but the payoff is worth it.”

 

Beyond farming profits, the durian boom is also driving rural tourism. Visitors from nearby provinces are arriving to buy fresh, organic fruit directly from farms, drawn by Kampong Cham’s growing reputation for quality produce.

 

“We don’t trust the ones in markets,” said Sao Mom, who travelled from Prey Veng. “Here, we can see where the fruit comes from.”

 

Concerns about mislabelled durians have led the Ministry of Commerce to investigate imports. Officials found that some vendors dyed foreign durians to pass them off as Cambodian-grown. Inspections at border crossings confirmed the presence of unlabelled imports, sparking efforts to protect local producers and consumers.

 

As Cambodia ramps up export plans, the Baek Anloung Durian Agricultural Community—made up of 95 families cultivating nearly 500 hectares—has ambitions to become a model for modern durian farming.

 

Durian may once have played second fiddle to rubber, but in Stung Trang, it’s quickly becoming the district’s next golden crop.

 

-2025-06-19

[MalcolmB]

I picked up a couple yesterday for 40 baht a kilo. 
They go great with icy cold beers.