Yee Xiang Yun
ANN/THE STAR – Some two tonnes of fresh durian are processed into tempoyak (fermented durian) and pulp daily to address the oversupply in the king of fruits in northern Johor, said Datuk Zahari Sarip.
The state agriculture, agro-based industries and rural development committee chairman said the processing activities are conducted at a food processing centre in Tangkak.
“The processing centre, set up by the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority, has helped to address the oversupply of durians in Tangkak, Muar and Segamat.
“The centre is equipped with machines to separate the durian flesh into paste, vacuum packing equipment, blast freezers and cold room that can store 22 tonnes of frozen durian at any single time,” he told the Johor state assembly sitting at Kota Iskandar yesterday.
“The amount was increased to 20,000 seedlings in 2019 and the plants were distributed to farmers statewide.
“The state government has also allocated about MYR6.34 million for durian plantation development since 2018 and this year, we have allocated MYR2.17 million to incentivise 233 durian growers that cover about 504.9 hectares throughout Johor,” he added.
