Malaysian durian growers are facing difficulties caused by climate change as they strive to supply the booming Chinese market. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
In durian orchards in Karak, Pahang state, workers search for ripe fruit at dusk. Farmer Stephen Chow sprays fertilizer on trees, preparing for harvest. Harvested durians are transported by motorcycle to a collection point, sorted, and prepared for shipment.
On Penang Island in Balik Pulau, farmer Kie Kim Hwa has installed a weather and climate sensor station on his hillside orchard to monitor climate changes. He notes that the flowering and fruiting of durian trees now depend on unpredictable weather.
In Beijing, worker Hou Yuxin packs durians imported from Malaysia for delivery to customers. Demand in the Chinese market is growing year by year, but climate change is negatively affecting production.
Farmers are trying to preserve their crops using new technologies and methods. However, climate variability disrupts their plans and leads to losses. Despite these challenges, Malaysia's durian industry is striving to strengthen its position in the Chinese market.