On December 15, 2021 at Na Di District, Prachinburi Province, Dr. Natthaphop Suwannamek, Researcher of Textiles Research Team, Advanced Polymer Technology Research Group of MTEC gave a talk on the topic of “Utilization of durian wrap bag technology to upgrade durian quality to premium grade”. This talk was one of the activities of transferring the production technology to local-identity fruit (durian) under the project of the agricultural occupation promotion conforming to local identity and wisdom. In this event, Mr. Winai Laksanavilas, Director of Prachinburi Provincial Agricultural Extension Office, had presided over the opening ceremony of the training together with Mr. Arun Mueanta, Head of Production Promotion and Development Group, and Mr. Wisut Sawang-ura, Chief of Na Di District Agricultural Extension Office. Prachinburi Province has planned to support durian farmers in production and marketing along with agricultural tourism in the province.
Furthermore, there was also a talk by Mr. Samphan Boonkerd, an agricultural specialist, on the topic of pruning durians to control their quantity and quality and assessing their ripeness.
In the afternoon, Dr. Natthaphop Suwannamek had visited La-Ong Fah Garden (The Demeter Garden) and Jitniyom Garden owned by Mr. Piyaphan Udomsin. This latter durian orchard has more than 500 Rai of cultivation area.
Jitniyom Garden is an organic garden with many varieties of durians. There is a durian tree that has been developed from Kop Chainam, which is a durian variety from Nonthaburi Province; It was cultivated in Prachinburi Province and further developed into new varieties called Jitniyom. At present, the mother plant is more than 100 years old and has very high demand in the market. Each durian tree can yield around 250-300 durians and each durian has an average weight of 1.5-2.5 kg and can be sold at 13,000 baht, making a fortune for durian farmers. Today, the researchers had introduced an innovative durian wrap bag “Magik Growth” to help upgrade the quality of durians, as well as the planting bags and Magik Growth mulches for turmeric and other herbs cultivations. In the future, Jitniyom Garden plan to open a learning center for farmers in Prachinburi Province.
