Sungai siput: Durian growers are urged to be creative in producing value-added products such as tempoyak (fermented durian) and durian paste to help address the oversupply of the 'king of fruits' during peak seasons.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, State Rural Development, Plantation, Agriculture and Food Industry Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun emphasized the importance of not relying solely on selling fresh fruit. He highlighted the potential market opportunities available through durian-based products. The government, through the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA), is aiding in strengthening durian marketing by establishing 90 sales centres nationwide and setting a price of RM2.70 per kilogramme for durian kampung to mitigate growers' losses during periods of oversupply.

Mohd Zolkafly encouraged growers to take the initiative and be innovative in creating durian-based products, which could be marketed in various forms. He noted that, besides being sold fresh, durian could be processed into paste for export markets, with tempoyak also enjoying strong demand, especially outside the durian season. He discussed these strategies during a walkabout at the Jelajah Sejahtera Agro @ DUN Lintang programme at Arena Sungai Siput.

He further elaborated that areas with durian processing centres, such as Batu Kurau, Taiping, and Chui Chak in Langkap, allow growers to send their produce directly to operators for processing and marketing. This infrastructure aims to manage the simultaneous durian season across all states, which could lead to excess supply, by diversifying marketing channels and processing activities.

FAMA officers at the district level are actively engaging with growers to assist in marketing their produce. This includes purchasing durian kampung at RM2.70 per kilogramme if growers encounter difficulties in selling their harvest. Mohd Zolkafly added that with the durian season nearing its end, harvest levels are declining, and market prices are expected to gradually stabilize.