WHEN the durian season kicks in, the roads leading to Balik Pulau on Penang island are often choked with visitors craving for the king of fruits.
Many locals and tourists alike usually flock to Balik Pulau every year as the place is synonymous with durians.
However, many durian lovers have yet to explore another hidden gem, located in Cherok Tok Kun, Bukit Mertajam.
There is a durian orchard, about 12 acres in size, near the Cherok Tok Kun’s popular hiking trail.
Buletin Mutiara met one of the orchard owners, Chang Chi Chern, and found an interesting development during a recent interview.
Chang, who owns three acres of the family orchard, said their durian farm has been around for the past 50 years.
“It was managed by our elder family members, and we are continuing the farm operation. We are all cousin brothers, and we have our respective roles to manage the entire durian orchard.
“We are in the midst of registering our new type of durian, known as the ‘Tok Kun Top’. The durians are produced in Cherok Tok Kun and Bukit Seraya in the Machang Bubok state constituency.
“These ‘Tok Kun Top’ durian trees have been planted a long time ago and we can see that they now bear much fruit.
“Because of its sweet and creamy taste, the durians are well-known among the locals. However, they have yet to be as famous as the other types of durians, such as the ‘Musang King, ‘Ang Heh’, ‘Black Thorn’.
“Lately, some personnel from the Agriculture Ministry as well as the state Agriculture Department visited us to conduct a registration process.
“We expect ‘Tok Kun Top’ to be sold in the range of RM28 to RM30 a kilogramme,” said Chang, who is also a full-time engineer.
Chang also shared his recipe for not using any pesticides on the farm.
“We use microorganisms, which are priced at about RM3,000,” he explained.
Joining the visit were Machang Bubok assemblyman Lee Khai Loon and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) councillor Ong Jing Cheng. Also present to welcome them were Chi Chern’s family members Chang Yoong Heng and his wife Kathy Chong, and Bukit Seraya durian farm owner Mohd Azmi Othman.
Ong said the local authorities have come up with guidelines to promote ecotourism in Seberang Perai.
He said the guidelines for Innovative Chalet Concept Development in Seberang Perai had been approved in October last year.
“This concept is in line with the call by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry’s call to promote ecotourism in an environmentally friendly manner,” he said.
Lee said he was also pleased with the ‘Tok Kun Top’ development.
“We are now awaiting approval from the authorities to ensure our variety of durian can be commercialised,” he said, adding that well-known durians can also be found in Seberang Perai as well.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar