PUTATAN: Sabah Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said premium durian varieties are still selling well, with strong demand for Grade A fruits that continue to be exported to neighbouring countries, while Grades B and C are supplied to the local market.
He said poor weather conditions in 2025 affected fruit quality, resulting in a higher volume of Grade B and C durians, which led to market oversupply.
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However, prices in Sabah remain relatively stable, with Grades B and C selling at around RM35 per kilogramme (kg), while Grade A durians are still fetching about RM50 per kg at farm gate prices.
“For imported varieties, the price is still good as long as the quality is premium. Grade A is exported, while Grades B and C are sold in the local market,” he said.
Jamawi noted that durian kampung has been heavily oversupplied, with prices dropping to as low as RM2 per fruit or RM2 per kg in some areas.
He said local leaders and farmers’ organisations helped by purchasing durians in bulk and distributing them to the public through community programmes.
“This helps farmers sell their produce even when prices are unstable, and for rural communities it provides some income,” he said.
He added that the Ministry is encouraging durian kampung to be upgraded into premium varieties through re-grafting programmes, supported by training and agricultural packages.
“We have programmes under Kebun Dapur where farmers will be trained to convert old trees into premium-producing trees. Instead of producing kampung durian, the trees can be transformed into premium varieties,” he said.
Recently, the Sarawak Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) at Merapok seized 1.1 tonnes of durian from Sabah believed to be from the oversupply.
Jamawi said the incident was related to biosecurity enforcement by neighbouring states and countries.
He said Sarawak and Brunei have strengthened biosecurity controls, especially when large volumes of agricultural produce are involved.
“When we export legally, there are strict processes to ensure fruits and vegetables are safe for consumption. Even though it is from Sabah to Sarawak, the route passes through neighbouring countries, so biosecurity procedures must be followed to prevent pests and plant diseases from spreading,” he said at a durian distribution programme, organised by the Putatan Area Farmers’ Organisation, in town here, where nearly nine tonnes of durian were given out free to the public and hundreds of residents turned up.
He said his Ministry has visited 16 of Sabah’s 25 parliamentary constituencies to promote the Kebun Dapur programme, aimed at changing the perception that agriculture, livestock and fisheries are declining or “sunset” industries dominated by older generations.
He said mentorship programmes are being introduced for youths aged 40 and below to attract more young people into the sector.
Earlier, he visited an urban farming project in Kepayan and said discussions are ongoing to expand similar initiatives in Putatan, especially for residents living in apartments and condominiums without access to land.
“We will work with local authorities and other agencies to identify small unused plots of land so that urban communities can also participate,” he said.
He added that community gardens could be divided into small lots and even turned into friendly competitions to encourage participation as weekend activities for urban residents.
In Putatan, he said the Ministry will work with the Malaysian Farmers’ Organisation Authority (MAPI) and local farmers’ organisations to identify undeveloped land for similar projects.
Under the programme, participants will receive planting materials such as vegetable and chilli seedlings, as well as training on basic farming technologies and small-scale cultivation methods.
Jamawi also said assistance for farmers and livestock breeders affected by recent floods is being assessed, and support measures will be coordinated through relevant agencies under the Ministry.
