Ranau set to power Sabah’s durian industry, with new board to support farmers- Jamawi

18 April 2026

RANAU: A proposed Sabah durian industry board is expected to become a new driver for the state’s durian sector without burdening growers with levy payments, said Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industries Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar.

Jamawi said the idea of establishing such a board was not new, having already been discussed for some time and now refined in a working paper tabled in the Cabinet.

“This proposal is nothing new. We already have a working paper and it has been taken to the Cabinet. Previously there was concern that, if established, the board would become a burden on durian growers,” he said when officiating the closing of the Ranau Durian Farmers’ Association general meeting at Rumah Rehat Lohan here today.

He added that farmers’ main worry was that the board might impose levies on durian harvests, as practiced by some other commodity boards.

“However, for this durian board, we are trying to ensure it gives more help and support to farmers, rather than charging levies on the durian fruit itself,” he said.

Jamawi expressed confidence that a dedicated board would help plan and strengthen the durian industry, particularly by increasing production of premium durian in Sabah.

He noted that, at present, the state can meet only about 40 per cent of its premium‑durian demand, with the remaining 60 per cent still imported from Peninsular Malaysia.

Premium durian, he explained, refers to high‑quality varieties such as Musang King, Blackthorn and IOI, which enjoy strong demand in the market.

He urged growers to seize the opportunity to convert local durian to premium varieties through mature‑wood grafting techniques.

“Here in Lohan I have found six people skilled in mature‑wood grafting. We will support them through specific initiatives,” he said.

To start, he announced funding for the first 500 trees in Ranau to undergo mature‑wood grafting.

“For Ranau, the first 500 trees will be sponsored by me for mature‑wood grafting. Farmers can claim directly from me, based on submitted reports,” he said.

He added that Sabah currently has about 20,000 hectares of durian plantations, of which only 5,000 hectares are premium varieties.

He said the annual glut of local durian pushes prices down to as low as RM3 per kilogram, hurting farmers’ incomes.

“We do not want farmers just to break even. We want them to have surplus income, which is why we are encouraging conversion to premium durian,” he said.

Jamawi also explained that this year’s El Niño‑related hot weather has caused all durian‑growing areas in Sabah to flower simultaneously, after the usual staggered flowering between Ranau, Sipitang, Tenom and Keningau.

“In the next three to four months, we expect a glut of durians,” he said.

In response, he said the State Government was planning to strengthen agricultural collection and processing centres to manage oversupply.

“Keningau already has one, Tenom is under construction, and I will try to secure allocation to build a collection centre in Ranau this year,” he said.

He also highlighted the need to upgrade farm roads to ease produce transport, although existing funds remain insufficient.

“The ministry’s allocation is only about RM4 million a year, yet in just four months we have already received RM12 million worth of road‑upgrade proposals,” he said.

He noted that poor farm roads, often passable only by four‑wheel‑drive vehicles, continue to make it difficult for farmers to move their harvests.

“I will continue to push for additional allocation for village roads and irrigation systems,” he said.

On related matters, he said the State Government was optimistic about the Federal Government’s commitment to increase Sabah’s share of federal revenue to 40 per cent, which could boost development funding for the agriculture sector.

Meanwhile, he also promoted the bacjyard garden initiative, already rolled out in Sabah, to strengthen food security.

“This initiative gives people the chance to grow crops and rear small‑scale livestock at home at lower cost, through subsidies and discounts,” he said.

He added that backyard garden roadshows would be held in all 25 parliamentary constituencies in Sabah, with the next stop in Papar on 1 May.

“Through this initiative, we want people to have their own food sources and be better prepared to face any future economic crisis,” he said

Also present were Ranau Durian Farmers’ Association president Datuk Japiril Suhaimin; Ranau District Officer Tinus Manggam; Kinabalu Farmers’ Organisation chairman Datuk Haji Paimin Kamin; Ranau District Council executive officer Elmer Endra Datuk Matius Sator; and Ranau Four‑Wheel Drive Association president Aliyu Zinin.

In a separate event, Jamawi visited Kampung Bongol, Tamparuli, to inspect farm roads serving farmers in the area.