Malaysia: Durian commodity should be managed by an expanded industry board, says Mat Sabu

PUTRAJAYA (Oct 9): The functions of the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (LPNM) need to be expanded to include managing the durian commodity, following the country’s recent success in exporting fresh durians to China. Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, who is widely known as Mat Sabu, said the durian commodity can be managed by expanding the LPNM's functions by combining pineapple, coconut and durian commodities. “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 his ministry here on Wednesday. Giving an example, Mohamad said 40 tonnes of Malaysian fresh durians were snapped up within 24 hours in the Chinese market last Friday. "Likewise with pineapples…we were only available to export 800 containers [of pineapples] per year, although the demand is for 4,000 containers a year,” he said. ...