Smart Farming: Technology offers new options in agriculture

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Durian, a fruit whose distinctive odour prompts love or loathing, is hugely popular in Asia. It is now available for sale at Alibaba, after CEO Jack Ma struck a deal with the Thai government. Tony Cheng reports.

This could be the future of farming. Enjoying a cup of coffee, in an air conditioned room, while checking your phone. Baan Suen is an experimental farm equipped with technology from one of Thailand's mobile phone companies. Using an app, the farmer is able to control water, fertilizer and temperature for optimum growth in the shortest time. The results have been promising.

PAKUNA BOONKORKUEA, BAAN SUAN MELON FARM "It's a farmer's duty in the modern to adjust with new technology. Farmers will spend less time in the farm and let technology do most of farming."

Its that sort of forward think that brought Alibaba CEO Jack Ma to Thailand recently. His company has opened an online market place for Thai products, rice and durian in particular. And he wants to invest three billion dollars in the business.

JACK MA, CEO, ALIBABA GROUP "Thailand has a unique position and has very unique resources, and there are so many farms products, like fruit that can be exported to China."

During the first sale on TMALL eighty thousand durians sold in less than a minute, at ten percent over market price. The other major commodity to attract Alibaba is rice. Thai farmers have lost out to bad weather, and competition in exports from India and Vietnam. And the previous administration's rice pledging scheme left Thailand vulnerable to price manipulation abroad.

TONY CHENG EASTERN THAILAND "PTC- One of the concerns for Thai farmers is that if they sell their products directly on Alibaba, they're not actually selling direct to consumers but to Chinese middlemen, and that means the price of their commodities can be manipulated from overseas."

The Suan La mai farm has chosen to insulate itself from volatile market prices by changing its business model. Instead of selling their product, they're now a tourist destination, where visitors can indulge their love of the pungent fruit at an 'all you can eat' durian buffet. And despite the success of the initial durian offering on Alibaba, these farmers aren't rushing online any time soon.

KAWIN BANTHERNGPHESAJSAKUL, SUAN LA MAI FARM "Actually I think that's more of a marketing and communications idea, from Alibaba and our government, to promote this type of e-commerce for agricultural products in our country."

The spiky fruit, although beloved many, has to be handled with care.And many Thai farmers are taking the same attitude to selling online waiting for the right moment before the market is ripe, hopefully revealing a rich treasure inside, Tony Cheng CGTN Rayong, Eastern Thailand.