This stall at Taman Sutera in Johor Baru is busy catering to durian lovers.
DURIAN is living up to its name as the King of Fruits by contributing over RM81mil in export value to Johor’s economy in the last two years.
State agriculture, agro-based industry and rural committee chairman Datuk Zahari Sarip said fruit yield in 2024 was expected to increase slightly compared to last year despite unfavourable weather conditions.
He said durian crop production in 2022 were 138,945.51 tonnes and 119,309.60 tonnes in 2023.
The Buloh Kasap assemblyman said the durian season occurred thrice a year.
“Durian season is from January to February, June until September and November to December. The second season started at the end of June and so far, the yield is 20,284 tonnes in Johor.”
He said durian cultivation took up 15,804.91ha with the Tangkak district holding the title as biggest producer in Johor in 2023.
Musang King tops list
Zahari said the state government had identified the Musang King variety for the export market.
He said the selling price for grade-A Musang King for export varied, with the maximum price of RM75 per kg could be expected at the beginning and end of the durian season.
A worker wheeling out the collected durians on a farm in Kulai, Johor.
“The minimum selling price, during peak season is between RM23 and RM25 per kg while the average price is between RM36 and RM38 per kg during mid-season,” he said.
“Among the countries importing durian from Johor are China, Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Italy and Saudi Arabia,” said Zahari.
“The export value for durian in 2022 was RM41.1mil and more than RM40.3mil last year (see graphics).”
He said that up to July, 464,794kg of durian had been exported, thus contributing more than RM26.3mil to Johor’s economy.
“Based on previous records, demand for durian grown in Malaysia has seen an increase of 9.5% between 2020 and 2022. The state is expecting this trend to continue,” he added.
Zahari said among durian products sold in the market were fresh durian, frozen whole fruit, freeze-dried durian, chilled pulp and frozen pulp and paste.
Maintaining top spot
Johor Agriculture Department aims to maintain the state’s position as the country’s top durian producer, he said.
“Johor Agriculture Department is carrying out various initiatives to strengthen the state’s durian industry in bringing high economic value to the state and country.
“Among the initiatives are providing agricultural improvements for mechanisation and small equipment, upgrading farm infrastructure towards smart agriculture and enhancing facilities and technology of fruit collection and processing centres,” he said.
“This is to ensure that the quantity and quality of Johor durians is maintained in line with market requirements, especially for export,” he added.
Zahari said Johor government channelled more than RM1.7mil last year to increase productivity at durian farms.
This amount was used to help 250 agricultural businesses over a 486.2ha area, he said.
According to him, RM1.4mil had been allocated this year to beef up productivity on 367.4ha involving 142 entrepreneurs.
Zahari: Demand for Malaysian durian has grown by 9.5% between 2020 and 2022.
Besides this, Johor Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority’s (Fama) durian collection and processing centre in Tangkak, which is currently operating on a small scale, would be improved, he said.
“The state government intends to upgrade Fama’s durian collection and processing centre.
“It will be a collection and processing centre for durian produced around Tangkak, Muar and Segamat,” he added.
Zahari said the state government had applied to the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to upgrade the Tangkak centre.
He said the ministry approved a RM2mil allocation for the project which would be carried out through strategic partnership with a private enterprise.
“So far, one company has agreed in principle to carry out the project that involves upgrading the building, nitrogen system supply, supplying operational equipment and other work-related processes to enhance the centre,” he elaborated.
The effort to upgrade the Tangkak processing centre will help increase productivity of processed fresh fruits such as frozen durians, he noted.
“This way, we can increase export production of frozen durian and help farmers and entrepreneurs sell their durian,” he added.
Keep stalls clean
Meanwhile, fruit stall operators are reminded to keep their trade areas clean.
Noorazam: MBJB has identified 51 areas for traders to sell seasonal fruits.
Johor Baru mayor Mohd Noorazam Osman reminded licensed fruit traders to maintain cleanliness at all times.
“Each trader must ensure that the business area is always clean and that rubbish, including durian shells and seeds, must be disposed of properly,” he said.
Noorazam said those selling seasonal fruits, like durian, were required to have a licence from MBJB.
“As of June 26, Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) received 35 applications for seasonal fruit licences and 29 were approved,” he said.
The mayor said MBJB had identified 51 locations in its jurisdiction for traders selling seasonal fruits.
He said these locations included road reserve areas, paid or non-paid parking spaces, and private land.
“If there are any complaints about traders causing nuisance, MBJB will carry out a location suitability study and find an alternative site if the complaint is valid,” Noorazam added.
