RAUB: Durian farmers in the district - be it legal or illegal - should consolidate and turn themselves into high-performing durian exporters to China.
Royal Pahang Durian Group (RPDG) deputy chairman Datuk Albert Chang Si Fock said the farmers should take advantage of the growing durian market in China which required a consistent supply of high quality durian such as the frozen Musang King.
At present, Chang said, there is no shortage of demand in China for Malaysian frozen Musang King durians which are considered as a premium and superior durian cultivar.
Chang, citing a China Insights Consultancy Report, said the China durian market is estimated to grow up to RMB 130 billion by year 2026.
He said efforts were being made to mobilise and structure the fragmented durian farming industryin Raub into a holistic and systematic venture.
"We believe by working together we consolidate and we have a bigger voice," he told reporters after a familiarisation visit to RDPG's 1,000 acre farm yesterday.
Currently, he said, around 200 farmers had stated their intention to join RPDG to export the durians to China and he hoped more would join in so that the durians could be exported under one, trusted label.
According to Agricultural Department statistics, there are 24,154 acres of documented durian farms in Raub in 2022 which translates to 13 per cent of the total coverage for durian farms in Malaysia at 190,011 acres.
"We will buy their durians and market them (under one brand). As long as it's from Raub it will have its own fans and be of good quality.
"RPD Group strongly encourages remaining unregistered farmers to come forward and take advantage of this opportunity to grow the Raub durian industry to its full potential via a shared long-term sustainable vision. Together, we can achieve more," he said.
The group wished to begin exporting by the year 2025.
Chang also said that Malaysia was facing competition from other durian exporters, includingThailand, which also exported Musang King durians to China, as well as Hainan Island in
China, which is developing its own Musang King variety.
Exporting more Raub-grown durians is part of the group's effort to 'legalise' the durian industry as the group had been appointed by the Pahang State Government for the legalisation process.
The current undocumented farms in Raub are estimated at approximately 11,000 acres.
The legalisation process would aid in proper record keeping and transparency, aiding accuracy in data collection, analysis and accountability; addressing issues associated with undocumented durian farming; fair pricing for participating farmers under the Initiative together with a dynamic price adjustment mechanism, thus ensuring price stability and sustainability, as well as clear and transparent durian grading specifications which are published.