Latest news with #durian
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Three new durian varieties set to debut in next two years… all thanks to Mardi
KUALA KANGSAR, July 19 —The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) is set to introduce three new durian varieties within the next two years. Mardi director-general Datuk Dr Mohamad Zabawi Abdul Ghani said the institute is currently evaluating several promising hybrid durians that could lead to new clones. 'We're assessing their suitability for planting in different locations. Apart from Mardi Kuala Kangsar, we're also developing hybrids at Mardi Jerangau in Terengganu. 'The names and codes are still being finalised and will be announced at the official launch,' he told reporters after the Duriotourism programme with the media at Mardi Kuala Kangsar today. Meanwhile, Mohamad Zabawi said the hybrid MRDI Super 88 (MS88) variety will be rebranded with a more appealing name. He added that 13,000 MS88 durian trees have been planted nationwide under Mardi's full supervision. 'Some trees are now between two and three years old, so in the next five to six years, they should be ready for wider commercial distribution,' he said. — Bernama
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Three new durian varieties set to debut in next two years…all thanks to Mardi
KUALA KANGSAR, July 19 —The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) is set to introduce three new durian varieties within the next two years. Mardi director-general Datuk Dr Mohamad Zabawi Abdul Ghani said the institute is currently evaluating several promising hybrid durians that could lead to new clones. 'We're assessing their suitability for planting in different locations. Apart from Mardi Kuala Kangsar, we're also developing hybrids at Mardi Jerangau in Terengganu. 'The names and codes are still being finalised and will be announced at the official launch,' he told reporters after the Duriotourism programme with the media at Mardi Kuala Kangsar today. Meanwhile, Mohamad Zabawi said the hybrid MRDI Super 88 (MS88) variety will be rebranded with a more appealing name. He added that 13,000 MS88 durian trees have been planted nationwide under Mardi's full supervision. 'Some trees are now between two and three years old, so in the next five to six years, they should be ready for wider commercial distribution,' he said. — Bernama
Malay Mail
12-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Johor couple reinvents ‘kuih bakar' with durian, beef and sardine — and Singaporeans can't get enough
JOHOR BARU, July 13 — Instead of the usual sweet and fragrant pandan kuih bakar, a husband-and-wife team here are making savoury versions of the traditional delicacy, experimenting with new flavours including durian, beef and sardines. According to Shahrilnizam Mohamed, 54, based on the original kuih bakar recipe of his mother, he and his wife, Mahanum Abdul Rahman, 52, allowed themselves to reimagine the traditional cake with contemporary tastes. 'We want to change the perception that kuih bakar is only meant to be sweet. It can also be savoury and come in a variety of flavours... The idea to create sardine-flavoured kuih bakar was inspired by both my wife and me, as we enjoy sardine dishes,' said Shahrilnizam when met by Bernama at his outlet in Larkin Sentral here today. 'Kuih bakar' made using Shahrilnizam Mohamed's late mother's original recipe, reimagined with modern flavours by him and his wife, Mahanum Abdul Rahman. — Bernama pic The couple began their business in December last year with a capital of RM70,000, and now offer five flavour variations, ranging from classic pandan (RM8) to premium durian (RM15). Shahrilnizam said this unique kuih bakar, which takes between 45 minutes and one hour to bake, is a hit with Singaporean customers, many of whom are willing to wait for long periods to take home their favourite flavours, particularly durian and sardine. During the holiday season, sales can reach up to 450 pieces a day, compared to an average of 200 on regular days, indicating how innovation can elevate this traditional Malaysian delicacy to unexpected heights. Mahanum Abdul Rahman, 52, prepares 'kuih bakar' for sale at Larkin Sentral, Johor Bahru. — Bernama pic Meanwhile, Singaporean Siti Kamalaila Zulkeplie, 54, described the kuih bakar as a 'must-buy' treat whenever she and her family travel to Malaysia on weekends. 'Whenever we come here (Larkin Sentral), it's a definite purchase for our family. Usually, kuih bakar only comes in pandan or corn flavour, so these unique variations like beef and sardine are truly different and they taste really good,' she added. — Bernama
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Durian prices, supply to stabilise with Johor's new processing centre in Tangkak
JOHOR BARU, July 11 — Johor's seasonal durian may soon be available year-round once the durian collection and processing centre in Tangkak becomes fully operational later this year. Johor Agriculture, Agro-Based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman Datuk Zahari Sarip said the centre aims to help stabilise prices and address oversupply issues. 'Because durian is a seasonal fruit, the Johor government decided on a joint venture project with the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority to establish the centre in Tangkak last year,' he told reporters after a fruit appreciation event at the agency's state head office here today. He said the centre is currently operating on a small scale and will be fully operational during the next durian season between June and August. Zahari added that the state is also working with a Selangor-based company that uses Chinese nitrogen-freezing technology to preserve the fruit. 'In addition, the technology also processes the durian into paste or jam for other products,' he said. He said FAMA will engage durian entrepreneurs from Tangkak, Muar and Segamat to explain how the centre can handle large quantities of durian and benefit traders. 'FAMA will also initiate the management and marketing aspects of the initiative,' he said. 'With the durian collection and processing centre, the fruit's traders are assured that this can also overcome the issue of oversupply. 'The centre will freeze the collected durian and they can be marketed all year round,' he added. Zahari said the centre would help stabilise durian prices throughout the year, depending on agreements with farmers and traders. 'The objective is to maintain a stable pricing structure during the durian season and off season,' he said. Johor produces several popular varieties including Musang King, D13 (durian kunyit), IOI, Tekka, Black Thorn, Kim Hong and kampung durians. Last year, Johor produced 189,787 metric tonnes of durian from 19,179 hectares involving 34,000 operators. Of the 13 million kilogrammes of durian exported nationwide, Johor accounted for 7.2 million kilogrammes. The main export destinations included Singapore, China and Hong Kong.
Malay Mail
12-07-2025
- Climate
- Malay Mail
Weather now decides which durians travel: Tough Musang King heads abroad, delicate Tupai King stays home
Malaysia's weather that swings from blazing hot to pouring rain now decide which durians are for overseas markets and which for eating locally. Erratic rainfall and heatwaves are reducing yields, damaging fruit quality, and forcing farmers to prioritise exports based on durability and shelf life. There is now more durian supply year round, but logistical hurdles still restrict exports while branding and rarity continue to inflate prices of premium varieties like Tupai King. BEKOK, July 12 — Malaysia's increasingly topsy‑turvy weather is forcing durian growers to split the 'king of fruit' into two camps: hardy varieties robust enough for export and fragile gems that must be eaten quickly at home. Erratic downpours and bursts of intense heat are shortening shelf life, bruising fruit during transit and rendering cross‑border logistics a high‑stakes gamble, Singapore's The Straits Times reported farmers in Johor and Penang sharing during a visit to their orchards during the July–August harvest. 'The weather used to be more predictable. We knew when in the year it would rain, but lately, it's raining all the time. From last year till this year, the rain hasn't stopped,' Chin Kuan Voon whose orchard is in Bekok, Johor was quoted as saying. Tough fruit for long hauls, soft flesh for local palates Chin's 20‑hectare VS Farms is betting on three sturdier cultivars – Musang King, Black Thorn and newcomer Tupai King – but only the first two are earmarked for Singapore and China. Their firmer, bittersweet flesh copes better with cold‑chain trucks and day‑long customs queues. China is one of the top durian importers from Malaysia, but changing weather patterns are limiting what varieties can be shipped out. — Bernama pic By contrast, Penang's much‑hyped Tupai King will remain a largely Malaysian indulgence this year. Penang planter Eric Yeap keeps the variety at home 'because the eight‑hour journey from Penang will affect its quality'. Smaller harvest, sharper triage Storms have already felled four of Chin's mature trees, and he expects yields to drop 40 per cent in 2025 — a squeeze likely to push prices 10–15 per cent higher. With less fruit to sell, deciding which orchard rows feed export orders has become a game of loss minimisation. Rain also washed away much of last season's profits. Chin said Musang King's thicker skin and lower moisture content let it 'survive the vagaries of climate change'. By contrast, the once‑popular D24 suffers when nights stay warm because the flesh 'is very hard. It doesn't get enough water' as Chin put it, adding that this is not the preference for Malaysian tastebuds. Bonus January crop — but can it travel? Swings between scorching days and sudden showers have triggered an off‑season flowering every January. That means a second, smaller crop — but exporting it is tricky because Chinese New Year demand forces hauliers to stack crates and rush deliveries. 'Because the weather is becoming hotter and hotter, we can harvest durians in January as well,' Chin was quoted as saying. According to The Straits Times, Singapore wholesalers expect July's concurrent Johor and Pahang peaks to knock retail prices 20–30 per cent lower, yet admit they will skip Tupai King until supply stabilises. Branding, not just flavour, fuels price gap The Penang‑born Tupai King can fetch up to RM200 a kilogramme, triple a good Musang King; but Chin refuses to convert his entire orchard. 'You can't just sell expensive durians. You need to give people variety,' he told the Singapore newspaper. Marketers hail it for 'bittersweet depth, nutty undertones and subtle fermented notes', but growers concede the premium stems from scarcity and hype as much as taste. The erratic weather may be squeezing margins for durian exporters, but for now it is also ensuring that Malaysia's most fragile, flavour‑packed durians remain a treat best enjoyed on home ground where they drop. — Bernama pic With the changing climate limiting the crop's shelf life, Malaysian farmers say their new checklist looks like this: Hardier husk, drier flesh — to survive six‑ to eight‑hour road trips and two more days on foreign racks. Old‑tree fruit only — older root systems buffer water stress better than young saplings. Triage at orchard gate — fruit that softens within 12 hours is routed straight to domestic stalls instead of the export packing house. Staggered, smaller cuttings — picking in batches reduces pile‑up at customs during unexpected rain delays. Climate may be squeezing margins, but for now it is also ensuring that Malaysia's most fragile, flavour‑packed durians remain a treat best enjoyed where they drop.
