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RAUB: Durian production in the country is expected to increase to 443,000 tonnes by 2030, from 384,170 tonnes last year.
The secretary of the marketing and export division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries, Khalid Ibrahim, said the projection is based on 2019 crop statistics which found that 72,536ha are now under durian cultivation.
Khalid said that Pahang, Johor and Sarawak are the main sources of the fruit, with 89,916 tons coming from Pahang, 87,838 tons from Johor and 34,650 tons from Sarawak.
“Raub en Pahang is the main producer of the durian Musang King. This district has 11,201ha cultivated with durian and produced 70,650 tonnes worth RM1.3 billion.
“Musang King (D197), D24, Duri IOI (D168) and Durian Kampung are the popular varieties grown here,” he recently said on a Durio Tour @ Raub 2020 show.
Khalid added that a total of 23,381 tonnes of durian worth RM118.2 million were exported in 2018 and that the top five export destinations are Singapore, Hong Kong, the United States, China and Vietnam.
In October 2019, the ministry told farmers and tourism industry players that it wanted to intensify durio-tourism to attract more foreign tourists, but the Covid-19 pandemic got in the way.
However, Khalid is still optimistic that the country will achieve its goal after a new promotion method was introduced through social media and the participation of several local Chinese university students.
“During the Durio Tour @ Raub 2020 program, the ministry brought six international students from China, five influencers from the media, and two representatives from the Chinese embassy in an orchard and discovery of durian.
“These social media influencers have hundreds of thousands of followers. I think their videos will go viral here and in China, ”he said.
Khalid hoped the promotion would continue to help increase the demand and export value of durian to China, as well as to show international durian lovers how to differentiate Musang King and other varieties available on the market.
He said the program also aims to strengthen ties between the durian industry players and the ministry, including promoting Malaysia as the world’s leading producer of premium durian and newer products from the agri-food sector.
The senior director of market promotion at the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama), Rosilawati Abu Hassan, said the program will have a positive impact on China’s demand for frozen durian, increasing its export value.
“The durian Musang King exported to China is of the highest quality. It is brought directly from the orchard to the factory so that the freezing process maintains its quality.
“The freezing process takes place the same day. Durian is first cleaned and then placed in a quick freezer at -80˚C to -110˚C for at least an hour.
“It is then vacuum packed and kept in a cold room at -18˚C. It will stay fresh for up to six months in here. During the trip to China, it will also be stored at -18˚C to avoid damage, ”he said.
Rosilawati said that as of February 25, there were 14 whole fruit durian freezing facilities approved by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), and these are maintained by PHG Ever Fresh Food (M) Sdn Bhd, Top Fruits Sdn Bhd , Exofruits Industry Sdn Bhd, JL Food Industries Sdn Bhd and Kami Food Services Sdn Bhd.
This time, the Durio Tour @ Raub 2020 visited Dataran Durian, Zamri Othman Agro Farm, Lembah Temir Resort, and PHG Ever Fresh Food (M) Sdn Bhd.
