Durian culture disrupted by Malaysian coronavirus crisis

Audio 01:56

A shop that sells Durian, this fruit as well hated by some for its odor compared to that of a decomposing body or to garbage cans in full sun, that idolized by others as the holder of incredible medicinal properties. RFI / Gabrielle Maréchaux

By: Gabrielle Maréchaux Follow

It is a prehistoric fruit with a sulphurous reputation, literally and figuratively, since the durian, with its large thorny shell cultivated in Southeast Asia, is as well known for its foul odor as for the refinement of its pulp, which sells very expensive. In Malaysia, its culture was particularly popular, but was also compromised by the coronavirus crisis.

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It is a word that immediately triggers crazy passions: the durian, in Malay "thorny fruit" is as well hated by some for its odor compared to that of a decomposing body or to trash cans in full sun, that idolized by others as possessing incredible medicinal virtues.

Objects of many myths and endless subjects of conversation, it also regularly returns in the rubric of various facts: because its sulfur content can cause death by poisoning when consumed with alcohol, when its consequent weight, up to 7 kilos, also sometimes knocks out a fatal blow anyone who is under a durian tree at the wrong time.

What the Asians nicknamed the king of fruits finally, interested until Australian scientists and researchers thus discovered that the flesh of the durian could allow to store large amounts of energy and thus produce super-capacitors to charge phones, computers or electric cars with unmatched speed.

But despite all these superpowers, fantasized or real, the king of fruits was not immune to the economic crisis due to the coronavirus.

Especially in Malaysia, where it had previously experienced impressive growth: reputed to be more subtle than the Thai durian, its main competitor, the most popular Malaysian durian sells for up to $ 120 each in the Chinese market, where it has become very popular. . Building on this success, the quantity of dourian sold in China has doubled, good news for the Malaysian authorities who want to double production by 2030, but bad news for environmentalists who have seen deforestation increase for intensify the cultivation of the fruit.

But whether we like it or not, defend our culture or worry about it, 2020 will remain a dark year for the Malaysian durian with exports which have dropped by 70% since January. Local demand has also been abused, because banned in many public places because of its stench, durian is often eaten in open air markets during containment.

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