New device for checking Durian ripeness

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN, May 8 (TNA) – Vocational students invented a small device that can measure maturity stages of durians with 100 per cent accuracy. Jitwattana Boonlert, head of the Machine Shop Department of Bang Saphan vocational college in Prachuap Khiri Khan said that the new instrument to determine the ripeness of durians, the delicious fruit with thorny thick skin is the research projects of three students – Methee Khampuang, Pantiwa Khamkaew and Somsong Chaeng-aksorn. Their new invention won the first prizes in the provincial and regional levels and also won the national prominent innovation competition in the category of the occupational invention, he said. The device looks like a pen with a needle to puncture into the durian’s thick skin. The reading will be displayed on the three scales, which can determine three stages of durians, unripe, half-ripened and ripe durians. The materials for making the device costs only 200 baht and its effectiveness has been already tested with durian produce in Bang Saphan district. The invention will be applied for a patent before it will be produced for selling. Now, many people are interested to buy the device, which is easy to use instead of cutting the durian’s skin to see its flesh and check its ripeness. (TNA)