Sigh! The umpteenth time healthy branches broke due to excessive weight (sometimes wind). This is easily at least the 8th time. Estimated loss @ RM 500 based on value of fruits just for this bunch; multiply that by 8, we’re looking at RM 4,000 minimum (some fruits are still small). Opportunity loss? Infinite.
What further challenges are we up against? Less surface area to sequester carbon and harvest energy from the sun. Drop in efficiency to pull nutrients from ground. Exposure to more wind damage to surrounding trees.
A branch of this size (some bigger) takes time to grow. All those time is now history and the possibility to support/bear fruits from this one branch(es) is absolutely lost. This season since 2019 seems to be the best with abundant fruits. But there’s no point having so many hanging fruits if the branches can’t support the weight of them all.
Worker suggests to restrain some branches with cables. At least those that we can reach as some trees are 80 feet tall! Personally, I feel it has to be a systemic inside out approach, that begins with a superbly healthy and even stronger iron-like branch. Time to remedy the soil and uptake of nutrients to buff up the trees after this durian season is over. Even that takes time.
Meanwhile, the trees have to hang on until mid-end June when the branches will be slowly relieved of the weight. Truly it’s a case of durian runtuh, literally!
