The Malaysian Agriculture Research And Development Institute (MARDI), Perak will sell fruit packages online from its Duriotourism farm here, starting from Monday.

State Agriculture, Fishery, Plantation and Food Security Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Yunus Jamhari said the effort was made because people were not allowed to visit the Kuala Kangsar Duriotourism following the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) to curb the spread of COVID-19.

He said he had received advice from the National Security Council not to open the Duriotourism to the public.

"As an alternative, we will have online sales and shoppers can choose to place orders at either Kuala Kangsar Duriotourism or MARDI at the Rural Transformation Centre (RTC) in Gopeng," he told reporters after visiting Kuala Kangsar Duriotourism here, yesterday.

Also present was Perak MARDI director Daud Endam.

Meanwhile, Daud said the fruits offered are a variety of durian clones as well as mangosteens and prices ranged from as low as RM30 to RM200 depending on the weight of the fruits.

He said people could order through www.agrobazaar.com.my or download the 'Agrobazaar Online' app on the Play Store or App Store, a day before the delivery process.

"We are aiming for 10,000 durians to be sold through the package," he said.

Kuala Kangsar Duriotourism is Malaysia's first durian-based agro-tourism centre, which opened in December 2017 and visitors can board a tram to tour the farm while listening to information from farm workers on durian cultivation as well as enjoy the king of fruits for a certain price.

-- BERNAMA