PUTATAN: The demand for premium Grade A durians remains strong for export markets, while Grades B and C are supplied locally, despite poor weather last year affecting overall fruit quality and increasing lower-grade supply, said Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar.
He said market prices in Sabah have stayed relatively stable, with Grades B and C selling at about RM35 per kilogramme and Grade A fetching around RM50 per kilogramme at farm gate level, although
kampung durians have been heavily oversupplied, with prices falling as low as RM2 per fruit in some areas.
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Jamawi said community intervention, including bulk purchases by local leaders and farmers’ organisations for free public distribution, has helped ease the burden on growers while providing some income for rural communities during periods of price instability.
He said the Ministry is promoting re-grafting programmes under the Kebun Dapur initiative to convert old kampung durian trees into premium varieties, alongside youth mentorship schemes and urban farming projects to attract younger participants and apartment residents into agriculture.
Commenting on the seizure of 1.1 tonnes of Sabah durian at the Sarawak ICQS in Merapok, Jamawi said stricter biosecurity enforcement by neighbouring states and countries requires full compliance with export procedures to prevent the spread of pests and plant diseases.
