After identifying increasing demand for durian, Soem Sochet, a fan of the Kingdom’s most pungent fruit, made the decision to dedicate himself to learning as much as he could about the “King of Fruits”. 

He has since become an expert on this type of crop and shares the secrets of his success on social media.

Like so many others – agriculture makes up approximately 95 per cent of the Kingdom’s economy – Sochet farms for a living. He began in 2013, when he began growing his first crop, mangoes. 

After just one year, the novice farmer anticipated that the price of mangoes would decline in the future. This was when he opted begin learning durian planting techniques from neighbouring countries.

Sochet told The Post about the decision.

He reasoned that durian is a valuable crop, so if he acquired excellent planting techniques, he could share his knowledge with others, and they in turn could pass it forward. He believed that this would lead to the Kingdom becoming a nation which excels at producing the valuable fruit.

Soem Sochet pictured with some of the durian he grows using his innovative cultivation techniques in non-traditional soil. Supplied

He travelled to neighbouring countries to learn planting techniques from numerous teachers. Upon completing his studies, he embarked on a mission to explain and guide durian growers in various provinces in 2015.

“At that time, I had not yet planted durian myself. I travelled to plantations all around Cambodia, explaining to durian farmers that their plantations would be affected in this way next month, that there would be a shortage of this, and that there would be a disease next year. You could say that at that time we would go and predict, and what I predicted came true, so people gradually began to recognise my expertise,” he explained.

Sochet's accurate predictions quickly gained him a reputation among the durian farming community. His ability to foresee upcoming challenges, from pest outbreaks to seasonal shortages, earned him their respect and trust.

He became a sought-after advisor, offering valuable insights and guidance to fellow farmers.

Row of durian seedlings ready for planting in various soils. Supplied

“I became quite famous for my knowledge of durian planting in O Som. People knew I was an expert on durian. I would discuss pests, for example, if I arrived at a durian tree with old leaves. I would predict that within 20 days, the durian would be affected. And I would explain what kind of insect posed a danger to the durian that month and what diseases to watch out for. Then we would discuss it, and my predictions started to come true,” he said.

“At that time, in O Som, people were unaware that durian could be cultivated, and my knowledge became famous throughout the country. People came to see it. I am very pleased. I have been well known for ten years, but I have only recently been actively involved in growing them myself,” he added.

In 2019, he began to cultivate durian himself in Samlot district, Battambang province, which is renowned for its delicious durian.

Although the Samlot area is renowned for its rich red soil, he does not plan them there. Instead, he cultivates them on rice or bamboo fields.

Sochet explained his reasoning.

Farmers carefully mix soil and other substances to create the perfect environment for durian tree growth. Supplied

“I have never grown durians on red soil because being skilled means cultivating in less favourable conditions. If we farm in ideal locations with abundant water and nutrients, it doesn’t showcase expertise. I grow durians in rice fields or bamboo lands, where the soil lacks water and nutrients,” he said.

“The main challenge was the lack of water. I drilled wells, but there was no water. I dug ponds, but they were insufficient. Still, I persisted because durians need only water to thrive. I worked on water management, gradually solving the issue. Now, my farm no longer lacks water—it’s like a river. I currently grow about 1,000 durian trees and understand their characteristics thoroughly,” he added.

He hopes that his story will inspire other people to plant the valuable crop in land which some might consider unsuitable.

As he shared his experience, Sochet recognised the positive impact of social media. 

Soem Sochet pictured with durian fruits and seedlings. Supplied

He also began using his mobile phone to conduct live broadcasts and record videos about planting durian trees, posting them on Facebook under the name Soem Sochet, where he has amassed over 26,000 followers.

He frequently creates videos explaining planting techniques, tree care, identifying signs of danger, treating diseases and the use of natural fertilisers.

Sochet noted that durians are popular and can fetch a good price. During the durian harvest season, traders from neighbouring countries purchase durian from Cambodian farmers in large quantities. 

“Witnessing this, I have been diligently promoting durian cultivation on social media to help other growers in the Kingdom achieve better yields."