Boosting durian paste production for export
Published on: Tuesday, August 04, 2015
Penang: The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) will increase the production of durian paste products to be exported to other countries, said its director-general Datuk Ahmad Ishak.He said Fama was currently exporting 400 metric tonnes of durian paste to China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore each year."FAMA collects durian from farmers to be made into durian paste and the pulp will be separated from the seed before being frozen.ADVERTISEMENT "The durian paste is highly in demand overseas because it is more durable and can be used to make ice cream, cake, juice, jam, drinks and so on," he told reporters after opening the Students Agro Carnival at Permatang Pauh Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) here Monday.In conjunction with the four-day carnival starting Saturday, Fama is organising durian party where the public could eat durians and other local fruits by paying RM18 each.A total of 15,000 metric tonnes of durians and local fruits are available at the carnival.Ahmad said the durian paste products were also made to avoid dependency on fresh fruits and durian dumping.ADVERTISEMENT He said FAMA would build three more processing and storing centres for frozen durian in Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak by year's end to meet the growing demand.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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So far, Fama has built seven centres, two in Jerantut, Pahang and one each in Machang, Kelantan; Sungai Petani, Kedah; Berseri, Perlis; Batu Kurau, Perak; and Tangkak, Johor.
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"Due to the increasing demand for durian paste, we will also increase the number of 'destoner' machines which separate the seeds from the pulp," he said. – Bernama