December 11, 2023 | The Star |
Johor durian farmers, experiencing a prolonged and erratic season, witness fruits falling outside the usual May to August period. Despite continuous harvesting since May, the quantity of durians remains small during the off-peak season. Farmers, including Han Sing Kean, note unpredictable yields and income due to changing weather patterns. The longer harvesting period, extending beyond the typical season, doesn't correlate with increased earnings as overall durian quantity has declined by 20-50% this year. Francis Hong Sun Ho, vice-president of the Malaysian Fruit Farmer’s association, anticipates this trend to persist, impacting durians more significantly than other seasonal fruits in the region.