It is true that durian tree requires a lot of tender loving care for it to bare bountiful fruits that end up in the hands of the consumers.
But I can also understand where consumers are coming from when they reject the notion that the trees will still grow fruits without as much care as farmers give them.
Consumers want to the best bang for their buck.
From the farmers’ perspective, having trees grow fruit is not enough from a business standpoint. It might actually be counter-productive and incur opportunity cost. Reducing revenue that can be used to further improve the plantation.
To maximise the potential of each tree, I would like to see a tree not just produce the most fruits it possibly can with each season, but also as big a fruit as it can.
To achieve this outcome which is the goal of every proud farmer, frequent inspection has to be conducted to assess the health status of each tree.
The way this works is that we have to spot the problems before the more obvious symptoms start to present itself and take immediate action to resolve it.
Because if serious symptoms of ill health become so obvious that the average person can see it, it is already too late. While most problems can be cured, the implication is that the tree will have little to no harvest of good fruits for the season.
The best that we can do is to design and build the perfect environment for durian trees to thrive under and hope for the best. I say that because we have no control over the climate which plays the biggest role in nurturing durian trees.
And one of the most critical factors to keep durian trees in the optimal pink of heath is the water irrigation system set up to support the ecosystem.
Here are some key factors to consider when installing water irrigation systems on a farm land.
1) Time perspective
Anyone who enters this business of agriculture knows that the ideal situation is to make a main one-time investment to set up systems that can last for maybe 25 years at least.
This removes any operating costs for improving systems or even overhauling setups that are out of date some time down the road.
But this straight-forward-looking decision is not an easy one to make because durian trees are very sensitive. And there is no guarantee that the seeds and saplings planted in a plantation will grow up into adult trees that produce commercial level fruits.
And as mentioned previously, even if you’ve done every that is textbook perfect, the climate and weather can screw you leading to a slow death.
By the time you’ve realised that you have failed, it would have been years and hundreds of thousands wasted.
So many newer farmers entering this field might prefer to take baby steps and build their systems at the most basic essential level. Then slowly invest most capital into better technology and systems as success seem more and more certain.
While this is a rather pragmatic approach, it will inevitably lead to higher costs in the long run. And might also frequently cause chaos at the farmland.
The staggered approach although less risky, also does not produce the highest yields in the shortest amount of time compare to going big from the start. It can also be more manpower intensive due to the absence of an automatic irrigation system.
To manage this challenge and make a measured decision that can be very consequential, it is best to hire or invite a known expert in the field to seek his or her opinion.
Consultant can be expensive, but the expertise they bring along (assuming that they are right) will pay off in the longer sooner than you think.
2) Distance between trees
The number of 40×40 feet is often thrown about as the recommended distance between durian trees.
This can seem like a very great distance to many.
But surely you know that this seems very near for saplings. When the trees hit 10 to 15 years, you might find that the distance is just right. But at 25 years and over, you’d be relieved that you’ve set this distance at the start.
Don’t just think about how wide the girth of the trunk is or how far the roots might stretch. Also think about the foliage that opens like an umbrella up there.
In recent community discussions, I’ve seen this recommended distance shrinking to 30×30 feet and under.
This can increase the yield per acre and generate a higher revenue at a faster pace. But do realise that you might be sacrificing the long term as you are playing with fire.
I say this not because that it is a certain disaster. But I personally prefer to be safe rather than worrying about this issue for years to come.
The distance between trees is a critical decision that one has to make from the start because the arrangement of tree affects the whole setup of supporting systems built on the farm. Especially the irrigation system.
3) Water tank or not
I can see why some farmers like to have streams on the plantation. This is so that they can draw water directly from it for their trees.
Yet do realise that doing it this way means that you have little control over the quality of the water.
In any case, most would still install a backup water tank in case of emergencies.
What should be considered is whether to use a main water tank for watering the trees.
Take note that in an environment optimal for trees to thrive, each durian tree might need to be supplied up to 20 litres of water each day. A hundred trees, which is a small number, would mean 2 tonnes of water per day. This is no small issue.
Which is why the planned size of the planting area consisting of how many trees will greatly affect the type and size of the main water tank.
A tree capable of growing 2kg fruits can end up producing only 1kg fruits from a lack of water. Effectively cutting your gross revenue in half.
You could of course install another one when you expand the plantation. But that would mean additional costs again.
4) Think about potential problems beforehand
You can expect vendors who supply water irrigation systems to paint a perfect picture of how it’s going to be when you sign up with them.
But I can tell you now that it is never rosy when implementing the plans.
For example, plans for piping to be built underground might have to be trashed when you start digging and find out what’s underneath. Materials that were meant to be used might end up being unsuitable for the landscape.
The point is that you will have to be the one who knows your land best. So do identify which areas might be a challenge for the irrigation system and seek advice from experts or the vendor before starting to build.
For example, if you intend to use liquid fertilizers, you have to plan for it when designer your irrigation system.
The ideal scenario is definitely to install flexible systems with a high degree of agility that can adapt to potential problems in future. But that is often easier said than done even if budget is not an issue.
5) Have humility
Don’t be afraid to seek advice from other farmers.
While we are essentially competitors going after the same pie, my experience with other durian farmers has been very good.
Most people know that the market demand far exceeds the supply. So the pie is big enough for every player to grab a share. And it’s growing with each year.
Many veteran farmers are actually very friendly and open to share their techniques in cultivation.
I think that it’s because all stakeholders know that to grow this market exponentially, every additional durian grown by every farmer plays a role in expanding the market.
Some might be able to tell you about vendors that lack expertise, some might give you a secret to saving 30% in costs, some might even play an active role in helping you with the planning.
You never know.
Ask and you might just receive.