Latest news with #DepartmentofAgriculturalExtension
Bangkok Post
07-07-2025
- Bangkok Post
Thai Durian: strong smell, bold flavour - the 'King of Fruits'
Thai durian is one of the country's most iconic fruits, earning the title "King of Fruits' thanks to the rich, distinctive flavour that sets it apart from other varieties. If you're looking to try durian at its best, it's a seasonal fruit available about six months a year, typically from April to September. According to Thailand's Department of Agricultural Extension, the durian season is divided into two main periods: to June - Eastern Thailand produces most of the country's durian, with May being the peak month. to September - Southern Thailand takes over as the primary durian producing region. While some farmers now grow off-season durian, making the fruit available from February to October, factors like weather can affect the fruit's quality. In-season durian typically offer better taste and consistency due to more controlled growing conditions. There are five main Thai durian varieties that are especially popular: (Golden Pillow): Pale yellow flesh, smooth and dry texture, thick meat with small seeds. Very sweet with a mild aroma. Deep yellow flesh with a rich, creamy texture. Medium fibre content. When fully ripe, the flesh becomes soft and bold in bothsweetness and smell. Golden yellow flesh, soft and fine texture with a balanced sweet, creamy taste. Medium fibre, pleasantly aromatic. Deep yellow, sticky flesh with a thin layer of fruit. Intensely sweet with a fragrant aroma. Bright yellow, soft textured flesh with a thinner layer of fruit and larger seeds. Mildly sweet, less creamy and tends to become mushy when overripe. If you are travelling in Thailand, durian is widely available when in season at local f resh markets and fruit stalls across the country. As long as you visit during the right time of year, you will have no trouble finding this unforgettable fruit.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Farmers devastated by unprecedented drought as mango crops fail across key region: 'This year's production will barely cross last year's amount'
Rural Bangladeshi farmers are suffering losses as high as 60% of immature mangoes due to a catastrophic heat wave and drought, according to BSS News. Extreme weather has caused farmers across Bangladesh to try to keep their mango and lychee orchards alive by desperately emptying pails of water at the bases of their trees. "I harvested 4,000 maunds (164 tons) of mangoes last year, but this year's production will barely cross last year's amount," farmer Anwar Hossain Polash told BSS News. That figure from last year was a 40% drop in yields from the year prior. Farmers in nearby Nepal are facing similar challenges. Similar conditions in the region have even led to the rise of extortion for water access. The increasing severity of droughts is just one of many harmful results of a shifting climate. As dirty fuel usage increases, so too does the pollution it emits. That pollution traps heat and exacerbates extreme weather patterns, including a lack of rain or torrential downpours, causing flooding. While productive agriculture is sorely needed, Bangladesh's own rice production creates a large amount of methane, contributing further to the problem. Reducing emissions in any number of ways can help stabilize weather patterns so farmers can reliably feed the world. This includes switching from gas furnaces to heat pumps, adding solar panels to your home, upgrading to an electric vehicle, or trying a more veggie-friendly diet. Bangladeshi government officials are suggesting farmers engage in flood irrigation in order to save mango crops, even though the method is not especially efficient. "Moderate irrigation will not work this time. Growers need to keep their mango orchard under constant irrigation," said a Department of Agricultural Extension official, per BSS News. What is the biggest reason you don't grow food at home? Not enough time Not enough space It seems too hard I have a garden already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- General
- The Hindu
College of Agriculture students kick off week-long rural awareness programme
Agri-clinics, interactive sessions with farmers and kitchen garden development drives are among the highlights of a week-long rural awareness programme kicked off by the final-year undergraduate students of the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, in the Kattakkada grama panchayat on Wednesday. Titled 'Gramodaya 2025,' the programme is designed to to explore local farming practices, understand the challenges faced by farmers, and suggest practical solutions based on both traditional knowledge and modern agricultural science, the students said. Organised by the college's Department of Agricultural Extension in collaboration with the Kattakada grama panchayat and the Krishi Bhavan, 'Gramodaya 2025' kicked off on Wednesday with an awareness rally from Amachal to Plavoor. The event, which will be on till May 7, will be formally inaugurated by I.B. Satheesh MLA on Friday (May 2). The programme will feature agricultural seminars, agri-clinics, training and interactive sessions with farmers and local representatives, kitchen garden development drives, agricultural exhibitions and cookery competitions. On Saturday (May 3), agri-clinics will be held in eight wards, followed by a training session on mushroom cultivation and a soil testing session at Kollode ward. By integrating indigenous knowledge with modern agricultural technologies, Gramodaya seeks to develop a sustainable and comprehensive agricultural development plan, the students said in a statement. 'This participatory model, involving farmers, elected representatives, and officials, aims to serve as a roadmap for future agricultural initiatives in the region, paving the way for a more resilient and self-reliant farming community,' they said. Seminars on poultry farming and indigenous farming knowledge and a kitchen garden construction workshop will be held on May 5. The students will conduct agricultural seminars and competitions for farmers on May 6. Agriculture Minister P. Prasad will inaugurate the valedictory session on May 7. The final day of the programme will also feature an agricultural produce expo and market fair, showcasing farm products, traditional performances by farmers and local artists, cookery contests by Kudumbashree members and awareness programmes against substance abuse.
