Malaysia: Durian commodities need to be managed under LPNM

PUTRAJAYA: The function of the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (LPNM) needs to be expanded to manage the durian commodity, following the country's recent success in exporting fresh durian to China. Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said durian can be managed by expanding LPNM's functions by combining the commodities of pineapple, coconut, and durian. "This is important so that our desire to reduce the trade balance deficit can be achieved through these three commodities which are indeed in such high demand," he told the media after the monthly assembly of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM), here today. Mohamad said as many as 40 metric tons of fresh Malaysian durians were sold out within 24 hours in the Chinese market on Oct 4. "Likewise with pineapple, we are only able to export 800 containers a year while the demand is 4,000 containers a year," he said. Mohamad said KPKM is discussing with China to export village durian which is ...