Fruit production in Thailand is forecast to decline by 10 per cent this year due to dry conditions, according to figures from the country’s agricultural extension department. Shortfalls in production of durian, rambutan and pineapple and a poor outlook for longan are the main reason for the decrease.
Durian output is likely to fall by 10 per cent on last season to 460,000 tonnes, while the rambutan crop is expected to drop 310,000t - a 13 per cent decline.
“If the drought is prolonged for a few weeks more, longan and lychee will also be affected since now is their flowering season,” said Thongchart Raksakul, director general of the department.
The authority previously expected longan output to grow by 10-15 per cent and reach 600,000t this year.
The dry season could also affect pineapple sizing. Smaller fruit with less juice could therefore cause a revision of earlier estimates of a 1 million tonne output.
Other major fruits such as mangosteen and mango are planted on a larger commercial scale with sufficient water, said Thongchart and rains recently in the eastern region are cause for optimism.
