By Zaki Salleh
Photo MARDI
KUALA KANGSAR: MARDI Kuala Kangsar has been declared a popular tourist destination, known as Duriotourism, attracting enthusiasts of the ‘king of fruits’.
In addition to durians, the site also highlights tropical fruits with a village orchard theme.
More than 20 types of durian clones and traditional varieties are cultivated here.
Visitors will enjoy unique durian flavors when they visit.
They will also be taken to the fruit plots to experience the atmosphere and enjoy fresh fruits directly from the orchard.
The Duriotourism package, available during the durian season, provides visitors with the experience of touring a real durian plantation.
MARDI Kuala Kangsar emphasizes five key concepts: technology, innovation, conservation, education, and recreation (TICER).
One of its objectives is to transfer MARDI’s durian technology to the public visiting this Agro Park.
Recently, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, visited Duriotourism MARDI Kuala Kangsar to experience the ambiance and enjoy various durian varieties.
Among them are MARDI’s hybrid durians, MDUR 78 (D188), MDUR 78 (D189), and MDUR 88 (D190), which have high potential and are often in demand by visitors and durian growers nationwide.
During the visit, Arthur was also briefed on the technology for post-harvest handling of fresh durians.
Seasonal fruits like durians require technology to preserve and extend their shelf life during storage and marketing
