Durian Farming in Kerala: A Profitable Rubber Intercrop Success Story

Durian is not a fruit to be kept at a distance. This is how M. Thankachan and his children, M. Ajitha and M. Manoj, and son-in-law S. Krishnadas, are running around without much rest.

M. Thankachan doesn’t have large estates. What they own is a plot of land that ends if you look across it. On this land is a beautiful house and a farm. When the family got into farming together, what was primarily before them was durian cultivation.

Various foreign varieties of durian like Musang King, D24, Red Prawn, Monthong, and Gan Yao are cultivated here. Along with them, fruits like Red Lady Papaya, Rambutan, Mangosteen, Seedless Java Apple, and Longan are also cultivated. There are vegetables too.

They have also started planting Thai varieties like N18 and Gamyo. If durian is planted, it can be harvested from the fourth year onwards. The experience is that a good yield is obtained after seven years.

This farmer family is moving forward by providing help wherever they can and being a model for the region. They distribute saplings of durian varieties like Muscat, Dubai, Doha, Saudi, Qatar, D101, Red Prawn, and Chanee.

World-class saplings are prepared by grafting. All grafted saplings will bear fruit within 4-5 years. The soil in Kerala is most suitable for durian cultivation. It also has the ability to survive all weather conditions.

The house and farm are on the riverbank. Therefore, there is no scarcity of water. Durian has been cultivated as an intercrop with rubber in a plot of about 4-5 acres on the riverbank. A large income is being received from this itself.

Their decision is to expand durian cultivation to the remaining area after stopping rubber tapping. They also have the full support of the family. They did not have to think about anything else to get into farming. They find their livelihood from farming.

It’s not for nothing that durian is described as the King of Fruits. There are many customers for durian saplings that have a good market. People come even from distant places to buy saplings from their farm. His son Manoj leads this.

Prices start from Rs. 500 in the market. Manoj has 500 durian trees in his orchard. Planting was started 25 years ago.

There should not be tall trees near where it is planted. Coir pith, dried cow dung, and bone meal are used as fertilizer. Dried leaves from the orchard are put at the base of the plant. Only organic fertilizer is used.

They are watered during summers. In places that receive a lot of rain, one must ensure that water does not stagnate.

Durian holds a top position in the list of the world’s most valuable fruits. A yield may not be obtained just in the name of farming. Scientific care is required.

Grafted saplings will bear fruit in 4-5 years. In the very first harvest, you will get 50-100 fruits. However, for the sapling to grow, proper application of fertilizer must be done. This helps to increase the yield.

Grafted saplings have a shorter lifespan and less strength. Therefore, care is important. Normally, it takes up to 10 years for a durian to bear fruit. Therefore, farmers mostly buy large saplings.

This is a fruit that is in demand at all times. It is also ahead in price. When farming became profitable, they started expanding the cultivation. There is a good demand for grafted saplings. This is something that grows in the climate of Kerala.

Through grafting, good quality saplings can be produced. However, native saplings will have lower quality. There should be a distance of 40 feet between each sapling. Only then will they grow well.

Cow dung and goat manure can be used as fertilizer. A good yield will be obtained in 4-5 years.

If you tap on the skin of a ripe durian, a special kind of sound can be heard. It will have a special smell. When the thorns start to separate from the outer rind, you can be sure it is ripe.

It is good to cut and remove dry twigs. There is a chance of fungal diseases during the rainy season. For this, Bordeaux mixture is sprayed. A disease where branches dry up is seen during the rainy season.

When the durian fruit forms, they climb the tree and lower each fruit with a rope. By lowering it this way, they can ensure not a single one is damaged.

An average of up to 40 fruits are obtained from one tree. Each one will weigh up to five kilos. The farm is known by the name M. Thankachan’s Durian Farm.

From a single tree itself, an income of Rs. 50,000 to one lakh rupees is received per season. At a time when the fall in rubber prices is putting farmers in a crisis, durian farming is a big relief.

Durian cultivation has now been started in a plot of 87 cents. The goal is not just income.

Durian fruits are grown 100 percent organically. Vegetables for household needs are also cultivated here. Their farming method is mainly aimed at the market.

They receive instructions and help from agricultural officers. There is a great demand for durian, rambutan, and mangosteen. Saplings are also sold through Kudumbashree.