Madius advises durian entrepreneurs to venture downstream

TENOM: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau yesterday advised entrepreneurs to take advantage of the current glut of durians in the state to venture into the more profitable business of processing the fruit for various industries.

The entrepreneurs should be more creative in marketing the durian that they produced by optimising every opportunity, he said.

“The Musang King durian still fetches a high price and it has a large market, especially overseas,” he told Bernama at the Christmas open house organised by the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) here.

Madius, who is also Sabah Trade and Industry Minister, said other varieties of the durian could be processed into various products for the market, he said.

“Durian is also supplied to various industries, for example for making ice cream and several other products.

“I feel we can raise demand and the prices will also go up. I do not think the glut is a problem. It is up to us to produce durianbased products. It has been done successfully in other places,” he said.

Madius also said that the ministry was mulling the idea of getting companies engaged in processing raw products to get involved in processing the durian to address the glut. - Bernama