Decent harvest: Durian farmer Abdul Hadi collecting fruits at his farm at Dusun Durian Landak in Pekan Nanas, Pontian. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
With durian prices in Johor set to rise when supply drops at the end of the month, farmers and sellers find ways to keep drawing lovers of the fruit.
THE prices of durian in Johor are expected to rise slightly as supply of the King of Fruits drops with the season ending this month.
Durian farmer Abdul Hadi Ahmad Sani, 44, said the next durian season in the state was expected in June 2023, depending on weather conditions.
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“Currently, durian is priced between RM20 and RM45 per kg depending on size and variety, with Musang King, IOI and Udang Merah being the most expensive.
“There is the case of late-blooming trees, but even then the produce would not be as high as during the peak season,” he said at his farm in Dusun Durian Landak in Pekan Nanas, Pontian.
Abdul Hadi, a fourth-generation farmer, has been managing his family farm with the guidance of his 81-year-old father, Ahmad Sani Kemat, on 2.4 hectares of land.
His farm has become one of the famous spots for families and friends to visit and experience the joys of eating fresh durian in an orchard.
There are more than 60 durian trees at the farm, with the majority of fruits being of the Tembaga variety, Abdul Hadi said.
Abdul Hadi (right) and his cousin Irawan Baini, 37 (left) helping a customer select the best fruits at their family farm in Pontian. — Photos: THOMAS YONG/The Star
The farm would usually be packed with durian lovers, including locals, Singaporeans and visitors all the way from Batam, Indonesia.
“We started collecting around 100kg of durian a day in early June.
“By mid-June, the collection increased to more than 400kg a day.
“We are usually able to provide between 200kg and 300kg of fruits a day, either to customers who come here or those who order from us via catering services,” he said.
Ahmad Sani said the farm used to be a rubber plantation and was integrated with durian trees.
“We used to tap rubber back in the 1940s and my parents would plant durian seeds at empty spots.
“But for the past 25 years, our family has spent more than half-a-million ringgit on transforming this place into a beautiful durian farm complete with water and electricity supply,” he said, adding that the farm was also a famous spot for camping.
Ahmad Sani’s main concern now is the narrow road and bridge leading to the farm, making it inconvenient for visitors arriving in buses.
Muhammad plans to get his durian supply from Pahang after the season ends in Johor.
“These visitors, who are usually Singaporeans, need to walk to the farm because the bus will not be able to use the road.
“I hope that we can get some help from the government to look into how the infrastructure can be improved,” he said.
Meanwhile, durian seller Muhammad Ab Kahar, 39, said the next durian season would be in Pahang, with trees expected to start producing fruits in August.
“I usually get my durian supply from Muar and Pontian, but since we are nearing the end of the season, we may turn to Pahang for supply.
“The price will be slightly higher to cover the cost of transportation,” he said, adding that during peak season he would usually sell 400kg of durian.
Muhammad, better known as Mamat, has been mainly selling durian kampung for the past six years.
Fauziah showing her durian jam which is highly sought during the durian season.
Fauziah Othman, 61, also a durian seller, said most of her customers were from Johor Baru and were looking for Grade A durian in the kampung area, which were much larger and cheaper.
“The majority of durian in the market are smaller in size, as larger fruits are often exported or sold at a higher price.
“To satisfy their cravings, some durian lovers are willing to drive all the way from Johor Baru to Pekan Nanas for larger fruits at a cheaper price,” she said.
Fauziah added that customers also went to her for her homemade durian jam, prepared fresh every day.
“It takes about three hours to cook the jam depending on the amount of durian and volume of orders,” she said, adding that her durian supply is from neighbours.
“Most of my neighbours here do not own a farm, but they have durian trees at home.
“So the extra fruits are sent to my stall to be sold,” she said.
