Terengganu agriculture department holding 40-tonne durian auction

KUALA TERENGGANU - The public is in for a treat when forty tonnes of durians, including premium grades, are set to be auctioned off under the 'Makan Durian Sampai Jeluok' (eat durians until you're stuffed) at Dataran Jambatan Angkat here on Sept 1 and 2.

Terengganu Department of Agriculture director Datuk Zulkepli Amin Mat Jusoh said the auction will start at 3pm on Sept 1 and end when stocks run out.

He said more than 200 orchard owners from the state will participate in the first-time programme, which is in collaboration with Kuala Terengganu City Council (MBKT).

"There will be Musang King, Black Thorn, D2, Kucing Tidur, and many other types of durians at prices guaranteed to be lower than market rates.

"We expect more than 20,000 durian lovers to seize this golden opportunity,” he said when contacted today.

Zulkepli Amin said apart from helping orchard owners to sell their produce, the programme also aims to provide lower-income groups the opportunity to enjoy the fruit at affordable prices, which is quite expensive in the market.

He said that there has been a bumper harvest of durians this year, including in Terengganu, but it is not a glut and the prices are still stable due to high demand from abroad.

"The durian season is not the same in all the states. For example, it is over in Pahang...but just starting in Terengganu. So we can send the fruits from here to Pahang and other states, including Selangor.

"The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) also has a central durian processing facility, so we are not worried if there is a surplus or glut,” he said. - BERNAMA