KUALA LUMPUR: Durian is planted on nearly half the land cultivated for fruits in the country last year, according to the Agriculture Department.
The fruit generated a sales volume of RM1.97 billion from the 66,038ha of land planted with the fruit, or 47 per cent of the total 139,476ha of land cultivated with premium fruits.
Durian growers produced 302,000 tonnes of the fruit and at the rate of its popularity, along with the high price it fetches and strong demand, it has all the impetus for growth.
The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) had contributed to the growing importance of the durian crop by producing three notable durian species — MDUR 78, MDUR 79 and MDUR 88.
Mardi is introducing other new species with better aroma, taste and texture.
The new species would also be more resistant to disease, such as the stem canker caused by the fungus Phytophthora palmivora, said Pauziah Muda, the director for Horticulture Research Centre at Mardi.
She said the new species had also been designed to bear fruit at different times of the year to ensure continuous supply.
“This can be achieved by planting durian at various ecological zones in combination with the various durian species designed to bear fruit either at the beginning, middle or end of the year.
“At the same time, Mardi is continuing research on the best horticulture practices for durian farming, such as fertilising, water supply, stemming and the use of flower inducing hormone.”
Among Mardi’s breakthrough is the introduction of the wild durian D. Iowanus as root stock plants, which are resistant to stem canker.
She said the research, which spanned more than 17 years, found that only 7.5 per cent of the durian trees (D24, D96, D99 and D114 clones) using the root stock had succumbed to stem canker.
To extend the shelf life and marketability of durians, Mardi had developed a “minimally-processed” technology.
Pauziah said the technology provided ready-to-eat fresh durian pulp for the export market.
“The advantages of this technology are that it can extend the shelf life of durian pulp by up to three weeks, combined with odour-free packing that can offer product visibility to consumers.
“It can also reduce the cost of shipping by eliminating durian skins as, on average, only 30 to 35 per cent of a whole durian fruit is edible,” she said.
A longer shelf life also enables better marketability by air or by sea.
The introduction of minimally-processed durian helps industries to overcome obstacles in market access for whole durian fruit in China.
Durian entrepreneur Simon Chin, founder of D’King, which manufactures durian downstream products, such as pastries, desserts and confectionery, said the nation must not take its position in the durian industry for granted.
He cautioned that neighbouring Thailand could overtake Malaysia as the country that produced the world’s best durian.
Chin noted that Thai durians were generally perceived as inferior in quality to Malaysian durians, but this was only because Thai durians were harvested before the fruits had ripened.
“Consumers can’t really tell the differences between the various durian species in the market, such as the Golden Phoenix, XO, D13, D1, D101 and Red Prawn, each with its own colour, taste notes and geographical origin.
“Only the hardcore durian fans can tell.”
Chin said the market penetration in China had been driven by tourists who tasted durian in Malaysia, and also through direct promotion by the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority and Tourism Ministry.
On how to cope with the durian shortage and ballooning prices, Chin said the solution lay in the large-scale commercial farming like the Federal Land Development Authority planting scheme.
“We need systematic cultivation of durian and scientific management of its plantation.
“We also need more involvement by Bumiputera entrepreneurs as the industry
players are mostly Chinese.”
Chin said there should be more effort to promote the benefits of durian, such as its nutritional value.
Chin said there was a lack of cohesion among industry players in the country, which led to challenges such as price war and farmlands being owned by foreigners.
He said it was time that the government take the lead as durian had proven itself to be a valuable commodity crop.
“It is clear that durian is the most lucrative cash crop from a value per acre perspective.
“The government can point the industry in the right direction and increase the total amount of crops planted, rate
of yield and revenue per unit sold.”
Chin said there was also the potential of durian orchards becoming ecotourism destinations, as had been developed by some durian farmers, which had gained good results.
“Every year, during the harvest season, tourists can come to the orchards and enjoy the fresh air, stroll under trees laden with durians, lie in a hammock or enjoy fresh durian.
“This can boost the value of plantations and improve the income of farmers.”