Samut Songkhram durian farmer fears prized ‘three-water’ durian may become history after floods

Samut Songkhram, October 8, 2026 — A durian farmer in Samut Songkhram is devastated after floodwaters submerged his orchard for nine days, killing most of his 460 durian trees. Ekkachai Thianchai, the village headman of Ban Pramot subdistrict, expressed his grief as he walked through the ruined orchard, embracing a dying tree he had nurtured as if it were his own child.

The floodwaters entered the orchard on September 27 and rose up to the tops of the planting furrows by September 28, submerging the trees for nearly nine days.

The primary damage was caused by prolonged flooding, which led to "water suffocation" in the durian trees' roots. Ekkachai estimated that almost all of his orchard's trees, approximately 460 in total, would likely perish, leaving only around 20 near the road still alive. Trees that had started producing new shoots also faced a high risk of dying after the flood. While the water recedes, the surviving trees will require immediate pruning, but the long-term recovery remains uncertain.

The estimated damage to the orchard is worth several million baht, a financial loss that pales in comparison to Ekkachai's greatest concern: the future of Samut Songkhram's famed "three-water durian." He fears that the province's famed durian, known for its distinctive three-water origin, may become nothing more than a legend, as his orchard is not an isolated case.

Durian growers throughout the province are experiencing similar damage, and he expressed worry for pomelo orchards as well. If floodwaters do not recede within three to four more days, weakened roots could succumb to disease, leading to even more tree deaths.

Ekkachai acknowledged that government compensation could provide some relief, such as purchasing new cuttings, but emphasized that it cannot replace the significant time and investment required to rebuild an orchard. "We learned lessons in 1996, but this year, I have lost heart," he lamented. The durian trees in his orchard are about eight years old, many of which were personally planted and cared for by Ekkachai, while others were given as model plants.

After years of investment, he now feels defeated, saying, "I've lost heart. I can't keep fighting. I can't do this anymore. I'd rather do something else."