BATU PAHAT: Drones spraying pesticide, sensors taking soil readings, sprinklers that squirt fertiliser on the contact of a button – a Malaysian plantation is utilizing high-tech strategies to enhance its crop of pungent durians.
Grown throughout South-East Asia, followers hail the spiky durian because the “king of fruit” due to its bittersweet flavours and creamy golden flesh, and it’s significantly well-liked in China.
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But to its detractors it’s the world’s smelliest fruit, with an overwhelming stench like rotting meals that has seen it banned in accommodations and on public transport throughout the area.
In a aggressive market, Malaysian grower Top Fruits Plantations has turned to high-tech strategies to elevate its output.
“It’s a much faster way to get more consistent results,” managing director Tan Sue Sian advised AFP throughout a latest tour of one of many firm’s plantations in Batu Pahat, southern Johor state.
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Using know-how permits farmers to gauge extra exactly how a lot fertiliser and water the bushes want, he mentioned.
“When you give what is needed, the fruit will be much more consistent. The shape will be better, and the aroma will be better,” added Tan, who has greater than 30 years’ expertise rising durians.
Sensors important
Key within the drive are sensors unfold throughout 400 acres (160 hectares) of Top Fruits’ 700-acre Batu Pahat plantation, relaying knowledge on soil high quality and content material to staff’ handheld units.
The sensors are packing containers mounted on poles, related to the soil with a sequence of cables. By 2024, the complete plantation needs to be kitted out with them.
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Sprinklers hooked up to a community of pipes are remotely activated to spray fertiliser onto the bushes, whereas drones hover over the plantation squirting pesticide.
Such strategies are extraordinary on Malaysian durian farms, the place growers usually depend on a big labour drive, intuition and educated guesses.
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The funding has been hefty – Top Fruits has spent about RM4mil (US$900,000) over the previous three years on the know-how.
But it has led to a rise in yields of 40%, whereas its workforce has shrunk by 30%.
The firm is now in a position to produce 800 tonnes of durians from its farms yearly, with greater than 80% of its crop frozen in factories to be exported abroad, a lot of it to China.
In a bid to additional enhance their crop, Top Fruits is moving into analysis by organising a lab and collaborating with native universities. – AFP
