Spoilt for choice: A customer selecting fresh local fruits at a stall in the city centre. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
PETALING JAYA: As Malaysians continue to grapple with the rising prices of tropical fruits, the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) has been at the forefront of developing fruit varieties to address the challenge.
“Mardi has been diligently putting in effort in research and development.
“We have made significant advancements in fruit variety development since 2019,” said Mardi director-general Datuk Mohamad Zabawi Abdul Ghani.
For instance, he said Mardi had introduced new, high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties such as the Bintang Mas star fruit, Mutiara Merah and Mutiara Wangi rambutan and MS16 pineapple.
“Our focus on innovation extends beyond just increasing yields.
“For durian, pomelo and star fruit, our efforts are directed toward achieving higher yields and superior qualities for consumption.
“As for mango, we’re exploring varieties with visually appealing red blush appearances to attract consumers while maintaining quality,” he said in an interview.
Mohamad Zabawi said these advancements contribute to food security, support the livelihoods of local farmers and foster a resilient agricultural sector.
“These innovations not only help to stabilise fruit prices but also empower farmers to be more productive and competitive,” he added.
Mohamad Zabawi also said weather conditions such as heavy rainfall or drought were among factors impacting fruit production and, subsequently, influencing price hikes.
“Additionally, the high seasonal demand for fruits like durian can push up prices.”
Other factors include the rising costs of agricultural input and labour and the prevalence of crop diseases that can affect fruit varieties like bananas and papaya.
“Many farmers still use traditional methods that may not maximise yield or efficiency,” he said.
