THE STAR – Durian fans, especially those who love premium varieties like Musang King and Black Thorn, will have to deal with an expected 100-per-cent price increase during this year’s durian season.
Malaysian Deputy Agriculture and Food Industry Minister I Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah said the price hike was due to a 50-per-cent drop in durian production due to weather conditions. “We believe that the rainy season at the end of March to April has impacted the pollination of durian, which impacts the number of fruits.
“We expect this factor will result in a drop of 50 per cent in total production in some states,” he told reporters at the Aidilfitri open house at Pengkalan Umbai.
Besides weather, increased fertiliser and labour costs have also affected the production of the King of Fruits.
“So far, Penang and Perak have acknowledged the estimated 50-per-cent drop in production and even a durian planters association has issued a report that not only prices for Black Thorn and Musang King durians will rise, but also kampung durians as well,” he added.
Prices for the Black Thorn variety are expected to exceed MYR100 per kilogramme, while Musang King will be priced around MYR60 to MYR80 per kilogramme, depending on the grade, compared to MYR30 to MYR40 per kilogramme previously.
Ahmad explained that the ministry did not cap the price of durians as this depended on production and supply. He noted that the ministry had also obtained feedback from the Federal Agricultural Marketing Agency (Fama) in Penang and Perak about the estimated price hike in those states.
