Go on green: Harumanis mangoes are harvested only once a year and still appear green when ripe.
KANGAR: Demand for the harumanis mango is perpetually high, but farmers in Perlis are expecting fewer fruits this year.
Farmer and entrepreneur Mohd Nasir Salim, 32, said the unpredictable weather during the flowering season last month caused farmers to expect a smaller harvest this time around.
“This is probably due to the uncertain weather we experienced last month, where occasional rains affected the growth of the fruits,” he said.
Mohd Nasir, who has been growing harumanis for about eight years now, said compared to last year’s harvest of two tonnes, he only expected a little over a tonne this time.
Apart from the weather, farmers also faced pest attacks, he said. However, he hoped in the remaining two weeks before harvesting starts, the fruits could grow healthily.
On market demand, Mohd Nasir said he had so far received orders for over 2,000 mangoes.
“Although the mango season has not started, I’ve already received orders from as far as Singapore,” he said, adding that he had been mostly marketing his products on social media.
Mohd Nasir hoped to sell about 3,000 harumanis this year.
Perlis Harumanis Entrepreneurs Association chairman Datuk Hashim Suboh said he expected the total output this year to be only 40% of last year’s sales of RM70mil.
“Demand is high, which is good, but this year, most farmers and entrepreneurs are expecting a lower yield,” he said, adding that this was expected to increase the price of the fruit.
Harvested only once a year, the sweet and aromatic harumanis is a special breed of mango that maintained its green skin even when it is ripe.
It is also the most expensive local mango in the country, with prices reaching RM40 per kg.
The much sought after harumanis mangoes are also exported to Singapore, Japan, China and the United States.
Meanwhile, the highest temperature recorded in Perlis was 35ºC on Tuesday, and it is expected to continue until Sunday.
The weather in Perlis can be extremely hot, and can go up to 38ºC, even 40ºC sometimes.
