MELAKA: The Melaka government through the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) will turn the new durian stock ‘Lima Jari’ into a signature produce for the state.
State Agriculture, Entrepreneurs Development, Co-operative and Agro-based Industries Committee chairman Norhizam Hassan Baktee said the durian was among the local durian varieties of high quality originating from Asahan, Jasin.
“At first glance it appears like a durian which is imported from neighbouring Thailand, but it is from Melaka,’’ he told reporters after launching the 2019 Melaka Fruit Fiesta at the Melaka Tropical Fruit Farm, Sungai Udang, today.
He said that the durian was sweet and had a rich taste and its flesh was thick compared to other durians.
He also said that a Lima Jari durian weighed three to four kilogrammes (kg) and it would be sold at RM12 a kg.
Norhizam said the durian had a big potential to be developed and it would be turned into a signature agriculture produce of the state.
In addition, he said that FAMA would also endeavour to commercialise the ‘Cinta’ durian or D88 as a new icon for seasonal fruits in Melaka.
Norhizam said that although Melaka was not a major durian producer for the export market, the state exported nine tonnes of frozen Musang King every month to China.
He said that on the average Melaka produced about 100 tonnes of durian worth RM20 million a month for the local market.