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New Straits Times
a day ago
- Climate
- New Straits Times
Cloudy with a chance of durian: Kedah town experiences bumper crop
KUALA NERANG: Favourable weather and improved farming practices have led to a bumper durian harvest in Padang Terap, making the district a top destination for durian lovers in Kedah this season. A check around Kuala Nerang town found crowds of visitors from across the country flocking to the northern border town during the short school holiday period, eager to sample a wide range of local durian varieties. Durian trader Jaafar Bakar, 63, said this year's supply from farmers in the district has been overwhelming, with daily deliveries reaching up to three tonnes. "Alhamdulillah, it's been a huge blessing. Today alone, we received over two tonnes of durian, including Musang King, Blackthorn and kampung varieties," he told the New Straits Times when met at his stall today. He said the weather had been ideal during the crucial pollination period, cloudy but not overly wet, leading to excellent flowering and subsequently high yields. "With more fruits per tree, prices have been reasonable this year. Musang King is going for RM45 per kg, Blackthorn at RM50 per kg, and kampung varieties are as low as RM6 per kg, that's RM2 cheaper than last year," he said. Durian orchard owner Syed Amaluddin Hafeez Syed Musa also attributed the high yield to optimal weather conditions and consistent orchard management. Syed Amaluddin, who owns 30 trees on a two-relong (0.52hectare) plot, said strategic use of fertiliser and regular watering during dry spells were key to maintaining plant health. "Yields have been exceptional. Some of my larger trees have at least 40 fruits ripening at once," he said. State Agriculture and Food Security Committee chairman Dzowahir Ab Ghani said this year's success in Padang Terap could be credited to a balance of good weather and improved agricultural knowledge among farmers. He noted that while weather plays a role, proper care is still critical. "Durian trees are sensitive. You have to treat them like a full-time job. If it's done half-heartedly, the results won't be great. More farmers today understand this and are more consistent," he said. He credited the state's Durian Kampung Premium initiative, conducted in collaboration with the Agriculture Department, for the improved yields. However, growers in other districts, including Sik, Kuala Muda and Baling, reported less promising outcomes this season. Orchard owner Mohd Amin Zakariya, 40, from Sik, said although his yield in his 85 hectare farm had improved, overall output in the Sik and Baling remained lower than last year's due to ageing farmers and poor upkeep in surrounding orchards. "Many orchard owners here are retirees. Due to age, their farms aren't as well managed, and that seems to be a contributing factor," he said.
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Weather woes can't stop the ‘king'
GEORGE TOWN: 'They smell like hell, but taste like heaven', exclaims Martin Yan as he poses with a variety of Penang durians. The award-winning celebrity chef, who is in Penang as part of his Asia Culinary Tour 2025, could not resist the temptation of the king of fruits on his latest visit. 'Penang is a food heaven. Here in front of me are a variety of the king of fruits. The best durians in Penang,' he said. Besides tasting some of the best food in town, Yan, who was invited here to promote Visit Malaysia 2026, also explored the epic rainforest at The Habitat in Penang Hill. Despite erratic weather conditions which affected durian harvests, this year's export to China is expected to surpass last year's target by 10%, said state agrotechnology, food Security and cooperative development committee chairman Fahmi Zainol. 'The setback is minimal and not likely to affect the supply this year. 'The demand from the overseas market, especially China, remains strong, particularly for premium varieties such as Musang King and Black Thorn,' he said. With the durian season starting about a week ago, it is expected to stretch until September, giving farmers more time to fulfill both the local and international demands. Fahmi said that despite a marked increase in cultivated land, from 1,817ha to 2,199ha, the overall durian output in 2024 actually declined by 10.8%, dropping from 20,082 metric tonnes in 2023 to 17,911 metric tonnes last year. 'This drop in yield is largely due to the unpredictable weather patterns including prolonged droughts and irregular rainfalls. This disrupted the fruit development and led to a premature fruit drop. 'Other factors included pest and disease outbreaks, as well as inconsistent farm management practices,' he said. Despite the production setback, Penang successfully exported more than 67,000kg of fresh durians in 2024. This, he said, reflected the state's ability to meet both domestic demand and overseas orders. Fahmi added that he remained cautiously optimistic about the outlook of exports, particularly for frozen durians to China. 'Penang recently secured approval to export directly to China, eliminating the previous dependence on transit through states such as Johor or Pahang. 'This breakthrough is expected to streamline logistics and boost export efficiency moving forward,' he said. Fahmi said last year, the state managed to ship out 12,346kg of durians, including 10,441kg of fresh durians and 1,905kg of pulp to Thailand and Singapore. 'The Chinese market holds immense potential due to rising demand and a preference for premium durians. 'With ongoing efforts by the state government and the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority to improve the processing and packaging facilities, frozen durian export to China is expected to grow significantly over the next two to three years,' he said. Meanwhile, a check at several durian stalls in George Town revealed that prices vary widely, depending on the quality and grade of the fruit. Teoh Cheng Hin, 37, said while the prices of the local durians have dropped slightly, branded durians still command a high price especially Musang King and Black Thorn. 'The Musang King is now priced between RM68 and RM90 per kilogramme. 'Other premium durians such as Black Thorn and Hor Lor are being sold at around RM118 per kilogramme. 'The Tupai King, which is new in the market, cost about RM130 per kilogramme due to its rarity. 'There are other affordable brands too such as Ang Hair, Capri, Lipan and Butter,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Durian farmers mull out-of-court settlement to shift focus on new land dispute
The Save Musang King Alliance said it is exploring the possibility of legal action against the new company which it alleges is encroaching the durian farmland. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : The Save Musang King Alliance (Samka) is considering an out-of-court settlement with Royal Pahang Durian Resources (RPD) to redirect its resources against a new company accused of taking over farmland. Samka president Wilson Chang claimed that a newly established firm has occupied farms without consent, evicted farmers, tagged trees, and refused to present any legal documents showing authorised operations. 'There is strong reason to believe that the firm intends to harvest durians during this season and profit from the hard work of local farmers, without any compensation,' he said in a statement. Chang said the group and its lawyers are exploring the possibility of legal action against the company to stop their actions and protect the farmers' rights. 'We reaffirm our core belief that the land is the lifeblood of our farmers, and that every tree represents years of hard labour and care. No corporation should be allowed to exploit this without consequence,' he said. He claimed that the new firm may be targeting control of some 2,400ha of farmland, exceeding the area previously contested with RPD. The trees and potential harvest involved are believed to be worth more than RM100 million. Chang said records from the Companies Commission of Malaysia showed that the company's directors are from Penang and Sarawak, and that the firm is less than a year old. He questioned how such a large tract of land could be granted to outsiders and called on the Pahang government to explain. He said that while talks with RPD have not fully met the farmers' demands, there has been 'meaningful progress' after five years of resistance by Musang King durian farmers in Raub. 'Among the gains are better pricing terms, including an increase in the price of Grade A durians from RM30 per kg in 2020 to RM35 today, and clearer grading standards to ensure fairer payments to farmers,' he said. He said negotiations with RPD are ongoing, and the alliance respects the decision of farmers who choose not to register with the firm. Last month, Pahang ruler Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah emphasised that state land must not be arbitrarily encroached upon, and called for firm action against those involved. He also called for an amicable resolution, with all shortcomings addressed in a harmonious manner.
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Penang to launch track and trace system to safeguard local durian industry
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government will roll out a smart Track and Trace system starting June 1 to allow comprehensive monitoring of locally grown durians, particularly from Balik Pulau, timed with the arrival of the upcoming fruit season. State Agrotechnology, Food Security and Cooperative Development Committee chairman Fahmi Zainol said the initiative, developed in collaboration with MIMOS Sdn Bhd, aims to address complaints from growers regarding fraudulent sales and and the misrepresentation of Penang durians. 'There have been many cases where durians from other states are falsely claimed to be from Balik Pulau, Penang, which sidelines our local growers. Some vendors even sell Thai durians by the roadside and market them as Penang durians when they're not,' he said when contacted today. Fahmi expressed hope that the tracking technology will help curb such practices by enhancing product traceability, improving regulatory compliance, and restoring consumer confidence in the Penang durian brand. He added that the initiative is also part of the state's broader efforts to strengthen the industry and protect the livelihoods of local growers. The project is a collaboration between the State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee, Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA), Department of Agriculture, Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS), and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) in Penang. Fahmi said Malaysian durians, particularly those from Penang, are in high demand overseas due to their quality, backed by the myGAP certification recognised by importing countries such as China. Last year, Penang exported 67,203 kilogrammes of durians. Among the most sought-after varieties are Musang King (D197) and Ochee or Black Thorn (D200). The latest registered clones introduced in the state in 2023 include Kim Long D230 and Cenderawasih D229. Penang is home to over 30 durian varieties, including Dato Nina (D2), Lipan Bara, Ikan Emas, Kulit Hijau (D165), Tekka (D160), Labu (D163), Lipan, Kunyit, Ang Bak Kia, Khoon Poh (D164), Ais Krim, Lin Feng Jiao, Muntri (D14), and Yi Dian Hong.
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Penang launches durian tracking system starting June 1
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government will roll out a smart Track and Trace system starting June 1 to allow comprehensive monitoring of locally grown durians, particularly from Balik Pulau, timed with the arrival of the upcoming fruit season. State Agrotechnology, Food Security and Cooperative Development Committee chairman Fahmi Zainol said the initiative, developed in collaboration with MIMOS Sdn Bhd, aims to address complaints from growers regarding fraudulent sales and and the misrepresentation of Penang durians. 'There have been many cases where durians from other states are falsely claimed to be from Balik Pulau, Penang, which sidelines our local growers. Some vendors even sell Thai durians by the roadside and market them as Penang durians when they're not,' he said when contacted today. Fahmi expressed hope that the tracking technology will help curb such practices by enhancing product traceability, improving regulatory compliance, and restoring consumer confidence in the Penang durian brand. He added that the initiative is also part of the state's broader efforts to strengthen the industry and protect the livelihoods of local growers. The project is a collaboration between the State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee, Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA), Department of Agriculture, Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS), and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) in Penang. Fahmi said Malaysian durians, particularly those from Penang, are in high demand overseas due to their quality, backed by the myGAP certification recognised by importing countries such as China. Last year, Penang exported 67,203 kilogrammes of durians. Among the most sought-after varieties are Musang King (D197) and Ochee or Black Thorn (D200). The latest registered clones introduced in the state in 2023 include Kim Long D230 and Cenderawasih D229. Penang is home to over 30 durian varieties, including Dato Nina (D2), Lipan Bara, Ikan Emas, Kulit Hijau (D165), Tekka (D160), Labu (D163), Lipan, Kunyit, Ang Bak Kia, Khoon Poh (D164), Ais Krim, Lin Feng Jiao, Muntri (D14), and Yi Dian Hong.
