Business · Thailand Bureau
Trat authorities to remove 600 rai of illegal durian farms
Provincial officials in Trat have launched a crackdown on unauthorized agricultural encroachment, targeting over 600 rai of illicit durian plantations around the Huai Raeng reservoir. The clearance operation marks an escalation in efforts to prevent investor-driven land violations in the eastern province.
LSN Thailand ·
TRAT - Authorities in Trat province are preparing to dismantle more than 600 rai of unauthorized durian plantations adjacent to the Huai Raeng reservoir in Muang district, signaling intensified enforcement against illegal land occupation by private investors.
The planned removal operation targets agricultural encroachment that officials say has violated regulations governing the reservoir area and surrounding protected zones. Investigators determined that investors had established extensive durian farms without proper authorization or environmental clearance, prompting the provincial administration to take action.
The crackdown represents part of broader efforts by regional authorities to curb unauthorized agricultural expansion and land grabbing in Trat, where disputes over resource access and land tenure have persisted. Officials did not disclose a timeline for the clearance operations or detail enforcement mechanisms to be deployed.
Durian cultivation has expanded significantly across eastern Thailand in recent years, driven by strong domestic and export demand. However, uncontrolled plantation development near water sources and conservation areas has raised concerns among environmental and resource management officials across the region.