DURIAN runtuh” is a Malay proverb that describes an unexpected boon or an unbelievably great bargain.
This phrase can now be literally applied to the King of Fruits itself with prices of this once very premium indulgence dropping like a stone in recent weeks.
As local durian fans throng roadside stalls with placards declaring slashed prices, some sought to spare a thought for the farmers and orchard owners who are taking a huge financial hit with the current oversupply.
According to Singaporean travel writer Jeremy See, a 10-acre durian farm would cost approximately RM120,000 in annual maintenance cost.
Multiply this by seven for the number of years required for a durian tree to mature, orchard owners are already RM870,000 deep before a fruit has even been harvested.
The current oversupply was due to a glut of investors who sought to ride the Musang King wave propelled by the lucrative China export market.
However, the mainland consumer only wants the Grade A premium rated fruits and this has led to an oversupply of lower rated fruits in the domestic market.
“Consumers are ecstatic, buying premium fruit for pocket change while the farmers are quietly drowning,” he observed in a recent Facebook post.
“Desperate owners are now dumping their land at a brutal 50% discount compared to just two years ago. To survive, they only fertilise trees that show flowers and leave the rest to starve.” This is when he expressed sympathy for the orchard owners.
“Life is incredibly hard for these farmers at the mercy of middlemen. The next time you see a ridiculously cheap promo, remember the financial ruin behind it,” pleaded the kind-hearted automotive content creator. “Buy an extra fruit if you can.”
The erstwhile musician’s Facebook post has generated 1.3K Likes, 368 comments and 270 shares at time of writing, denoting that durian prices is a hot topic among local netizens.
However, not everyone shared the international road-tripper’s empathy for the orchard owners.
One commenter was delighted that the current drop in prices was a hark back to the days when the fruit was abundant, accessible and enjoyed by people from every walk of life.
Citing ridiculous prices for premium fruits in recent years, he deliberately refused to support such prices by exercising his right as a consumer to boycott.
His fond memories of buying durian by the fruit or even by the basket was echoed by others who rejoiced in the current collapse in prices which has seen a return to “the good old days.”
Other durian lovers were more scathing by pointing out that the orchard owners profited greatly during the boom years with sky-high prices, making the fruit inaccessible to many.
“It’s payback time” was the common consensus here.
Similar sentiments were also evident with news of the durian oversupply being reported on Malay-language Kosmon Online’s Facebook portal.
One commenter claimed that the business was so lucrative that some planters even resorted to illegal farming, alluding to the infamous illegal orchards in Raub. “Those who are greedy always lose out in the end,” she surmised.
More than a few claimed that it was through the Almighty’s good grace that finally the poor could finally try these much-acclaimed premium species of durian.
The fact that durians had once again become affordable and accessible was celebrated by many citizens.
While it is without a doubt that some durian orchard owners will have faced significant financial losses with the oversupply, there is no doubting the mood among local durian lovers has been largely positive as it meant the fruit was no longer an exclusive preserve of the rich.
As one commenter cheekily appropriated an airline’s catchphrase, “now, everybody can eat durian”. – Focus Malaysia
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