he Faculty of Agriculture at Brawijaya University in Malang, East Java, is currently developing a selection of superior durian varieties that can be reproduced through grafting and cutting.
At the university's Agro Techno Park, research is being conducted using local durian from Kasembon and Ngantang districts. Both areas are known as being home to superior durian, with harvests increasing every season.
At least six varieties of durian have been developed by the team, namely the jingga, Arab, sepanjang musim, cikrak, kunir and hibrida, which is a cross between the montong and red durian from Kalimantan.
"Some of these varieties have been planted on a 2-hectare plot in Waturejo village, Ngantang district," said Sumeru, the head of the Agro Techno Park.
Read also: Nutritionist debunks biggest myth about durian
He said the varieties would be registered with the Agriculture Ministry through the Agriculture Variety Registry (PVT) mechanism to add to the current number of durian varieties, which has reached 81 since the PVT was established in 1984.
Sumeru added that the development research was currently focused on superior local durian to allow them to produce fruit off season, which would lead to easier marketing through more sustainable production.
One durian farmer in Waturejo village, Amad, 64, said he was grateful for the selected seeds and workshop provided by the university. "Other than producing a more delicious fruit, I can also get a higher price," he said.
He said that currently the price of local durian was around Rp 25,000 (US$1.75) to Rp 75,000 per durian, "But if the durian is more delicious, I can sell if for at least Rp 100,000”. (kes)
Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.
Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.