KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) is intensifying intervention measures to help stabilise durian prices affected by a glut in supply of the king of fruits in the market.
Its deputy director-general (Food Security and Operations) Faizal Iswardi Ismail said the durian season, which occurs simultaneously in most states from June to August, along with favourable weather conditions, has boosted supply, pushing national production higher compared to 600,000 tonnes in 2024.
"FAMA’s monitoring shows that kampung durian prices in some areas are currently between RM1 and RM4 per kilogramme (kg), depending on location and quality,” he told a press conference here on Wednesday (June 24).
To address the situation, FAMA is targeting direct purchases of 1,000 tonnes of durian worth RM7mil through its 42 operational centres nationwide.
He said FAMA-supported companies and entrepreneurs have also helped absorb supply through purchases of 1,199 tonnes worth RM3.28mil, in addition to the opening of 90 fruit sales locations, mainly in Pahang, Perak and Selangor.
On premium varieties such as Musang King, which have fallen below RM30 per kilogramme, he said the current floor price mechanism of RM2.70 per kilogramme applies only to kampung durian to protect smallholders’ income.
"The floor price currently covers only kampung durian and has not been extended to premium varieties such as Musang King and Black Thorn,” he said.
Meanwhile, FAMA International Market senior director Noorsham Ramly said China accounts for 60 per cent of Malaysia’s durian exports worth RM1.5bil annually, processed through 145 licensed centres.
"Malaysia has an advantage as the Musang King brand is already well known in international markets, which adds value to local products,” he said, adding that FAMA is expanding exports to new markets such as Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Japan.
He added that FAMA is also studying proposals for geographical indication protection and a QR code system to verify the authenticity and origin of Malaysian durians, while strengthening traceability, grading, packaging and labelling (GPL) systems globally. – Bernama
