KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians can look forward to cheaper durian prices soon, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said Malaysia now has the technology to preserve durian to ensure longer shelf life which in turn will contribute to cheaper prices.
“Using deep freeze and collagen, durian can last up to year.
“Already, the durian season is coming and the price of Musang King had dropped to between RM50 and RM40 per kilogram recently,” he said in reply to a question from Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff (Pas-Rantau Panjang) who asked if Malaysia is capable of producing durian all year long.
Ahmad Shabery said the longer shelf life of durian meant that the seasonal supply of durian will be less of a factor that cause durian prices to spike.
Durian can be kept at room temperature between three and six days after being harvested.
Consumers, however, usually prefer fresh durian as storing at low temperature can lead to loss of aroma and disrupt the aril softening.
Durian prices had shot up this year following a shortage of supply of the King of Fruits caused by the weather.
The demand for the fruit has led to many charging more than RM100 per kilogram for varieties such as Black Thorns, which used to be sold at RM40 to 60 per kilogram.
In a reply to another question from Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali (BN-Bagan Serai), the minister said durian would not contribute to illness such as diabetes if taken in moderation.
He said studies conducted had shown that durian has aphrodisiac properties and rich in anti-oxidants while durian skin has analgesic and antibiotic properties which can relieve coughs.
“Durian also do not have saturated fats which raises the level of cholesterol in the body.
“Even Singapore's Changi General Hospital stated that durian are naturally rich in potassium, dietary fibre, iron, vitamin C, and vitamin B complex,” he said
On another note, he said the global market much prefers durian from Malaysia compared to Thailand, the largest exporter of fresh and frozen durian. -- Additional reporting by Beatrice Nita Jay and Fernando Fong