NIBONG TEBAL, June 22 — The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (MAFS) has asked the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) to help durian kampung growers export their fresh fruit to China.
Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said MAFS also requested Fama develop mechanisms to address this issue as it is an opportunity to expand durian kampung growers’ businesses.
“Fama needs to help durian kampung growers market and export the fruit to China. Large-scale durian companies in places like Raub and Bentong in Pahang and Gua Musang in Kelantan are different as they already know about export procedures.
“Those planting durian in villages who want to market to China but don’t know how, we’ve asked Fama to facilitate and discuss mechanisms to help them,” he told reporters after attending an engagement session with the Penang Farmers Organisation at Dewan Gerakan Masyarakat Sungai Duri here today.
Fresh durian from Malaysia can now be exported to China after the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Fresh Durian from Malaysia to China was signed on Wednesday.
Mohamad said not only high-grade durian of well-known brands will be exported to China, but various types, including premium durian kampung, due to the widespread demand for durian in that country.
“As long as the customers in China want them, we will send various types of durian, because some people in China cannot afford the expensive ones and may choose other varieties besides ‘Musang King’ and ‘Black Thorn.’
“In China, a durian can sell for between RM100 and RM150 each, which they consider normal prices. Based on projections, we might be able to export billions of ringgit worth of durian every year,” he said.
In 2022, Malaysia’s durian exports worldwide reached RM1.14 billion. Overall, durian was the main contributor, accounting for 58.6 per cent of the country’s total fruit export value of RM2.01 billion in 2022.
China was the primary export market for Malaysian durian, with an export value of RM887 million in 2022. The export value of durian is projected to continue increasing to RM1.8 billion by 2030.
— Bernama
