FAMA says durian oversupply is due to export-grade clones failing standards, not low demand for local fruit, with prices falling to RM15–RM20 per kg.
PUTRAJAYA: The current oversupply of durian is due to export-grade clones failing to meet international standards, not weak demand for local village durian.
The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) clarified that the glut is also driven by younger orchards producing lower-quality cloned varieties like Musang King.
FAMA deputy director-general (Food Security and Operations) Faisal Iswardi Ismail said these fruits do not meet export requirements for key markets such as China and Singapore.
“The drop in clone durian prices to RM15–RM20 per kilogram has affected village durian prices nationwide,” he said after launching the Agro MADANI Seasonal Fruit and Durian Sales Programme.
To assist farmers, FAMA is purchasing affected village durians and processing them into paste and pulp at specialised centres.
Processing is focused at four main locations in Besut, Jerantut, Sungai Petani, and Machang to manage the oversupply.
Faisal said FAMA also operates 42 centres nationwide to conduct direct purchases of village durian for fresh sale or value-added processing.
The agency has mobilised its network of 285 marketing outlets to help stabilise the market and protect producers’ incomes.
He said the Agro MADANI sales programme is an intervention to ensure consumers have access to local durian at reasonable prices.
Over 30 tonnes of durians and seasonal fruits were brought in for the two-day sales programme that began yesterday.
The sale recorded over RM100,000 in revenue on its first day, prompting an extension until tomorrow with a two-day target of RM200,000.
Faisal said FAMA is planning a second round of durian sales at the same location, subject to supply availability.
Further Agrobazaar sales programmes are scheduled for Kedah on January 16 and Bandar Baru Selayang on January 22.
FAMA also provides logistics to transport fruit directly from farms to consumer centres.
The agency offers official marketing outlets to enable farmers to sell their produce without intermediaries.
