InfoQuest, (April 1, 2019) -- The total output of durian, mangosteen, rambutan and Longkong fruits in Wat Khao Sukim, Rayong and Trat, Eastern Thailand in 2019 will reach to 886,535 tons, a total of 219,510 tons or 32.91 percent more than the 667,025 tons in 2018 (data dated on March 27, 2019), according to the forecast released by Mr. Chanthanon Wankajorn, deputy secretary general of the Office of Agricultural Economics (AEO) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.
The output from mid-April to mid-May will be the highest. Among that, the output increase of mangosteen will be 144.11 percent, the sharpest rise. Favorable weather conditions mean that mangosteen trees can accumulate enough nutrients, hence fruits in large sizes. On the contrary, mangosteen fruits were small in size in 2018, and the output was 52.12 percent of that of 2017. The second comes Longkong fruit in terms of output increase, namely 24.35 percent, then 22.69 percent of durian and 10.31 percent of rambutan.
All in all, favorable weather conditions enable the output increase of the four fruits. Over the past year, some fruit trees bore less fruits, hence the decreased output. But that also means that fruit trees had more time for rest and nutrient accumulation. Especially, the output of mangosteen and Longkong fruit per rai (one rai equals to 0.0016 square kilometers) realized sharp increase. It is predicted that mangosteen trees have accumulated enough nutrients. Besides, in late 2018, sound weather conditions enabled sharp increase in the flowering and fruit-bearing amounts of durian, mangosteen and rambutan trees. What's more, the total planting area of the four fruit trees is 692,810 rai (about 1108.50 square kilometers), up 14,607 rai (about 23.37 square kilometers) or 2.15 percent from the 678,203 rai (about 1085.12 square kilometers) of 2018. The planting area of durian has increased 6.20 percent, that of rambutan has decreased 2.10 percent, that of mangosteen decreased 0.28 percent, and that of Longkong fruit decreased 5.08 percent.
The total fruit-bearing area of the four fruit trees is 626,339 rai (about 1002.14 square kilometers), up 11,167 rai (about 17.87 square kilometers) or 1.82 percent from the 615,172 rai (about 984.28 square kilometers) of 2018. The fruit-bearing area of durian has increased 5.31 percent, that of rambutan has increased 0.69 percent, that of mangosteen decreased 2.43 percent, and that of Longkong fruit decreased 3.84 percent.
Mr. Suchai Kittinanthasil, director of AEO 6 in Chon Buri, said that unstable weather conditions and water shortage will lead to the increase or decrease of fruit output. The weather in the late of 2018 is beneficial for the fruitage of trees in the East, especially for durian, mangosteen and rambutan which come into blossom more quickly. As a result, the harvest of fruit in this region comes earlier in 2019 than last year. AEO 6 will keep monitoring fruit trees and farmers in the three provinces mentioned above.
For the moment, all durians have come into bloom and most are in the middle stage of fruit-bearing. The trees which bear fruit earlier are varieties that are light and use preparations to accelerate blossom. Among these varieties, there are "Jialun" and "Monthong". In the late of January, the durians began to bear fruit and the fruit will enter market during the period from Songkran (Thailand Water Festival) to the middle of May.
All mangosteen trees have come into blossom and also begin to bear fruit, but the fruit is still small. In the late March, mangosteen in Trat Province can be picked and can keep being harvested till the early August. It is expected that mangosteen will arrive market in the middle of May.
All rambutan threes have blossomed and the fruits are in small and medium size. At the end of March, the fruits can be collected, and from late April (after Songkran) to the early May, it will be launched into market completely. About 60 percent of Longkong fruit trees have come into blossom and most remain in the stage when blossoms turn from green buds to clusters. The flowering period of Longkong fruit is throughout the year.
Source: InfoQuest, by Nisarat Wichiensri/ Rachada, translated by Xinhua Silk Road
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