Perlis Harumanis season is coming soon

KANGAR: In efforts to ensure that harumanis mangoes continue to excel as Perlis 'signature products', the state Agriculture Department has implemented several improvements to safeguard its premium quality.

State Agriculture director Hafizuddin Othman said one of the improvements made was the introduction of high quality boxes so that harumanis mangoes sent by courier would not be easily damaged.

"To ensure that the fruit ferried by courier services will not be easily damaged, we have introduced a three-layer hard box which is more durable," he told Bernama recently.

He said apart from that, the department had held discussions with several courier companies to improve the fruit delivery process.

"Several courier companies have agreed to provide special shelves in their delivery trucks so that the fruit will not be easily damaged as well as to provide a delivery centre to facilitate farmers to send their products quickly and no longer have to go to the crowded counter," he said.

He said there were also courier companies that agreed to replace harumanis mangoes that were damaged due to delay in delivery.

"They (courier companies) guarantee that the fruit will be delivered within four days," he said.

Hafizuddin said to ensure premium quality of harumanis, his department had organised a management briefing for farmers to maintain product quality starting from the process of caring for flowers, fruit buds, harvesting to the process of sending fruit either by post or hand delivery.

He said among the complaints received by the department last season was the fraudulent sale of Perlis Harumanis by non-growers who bought fruit from other states and sold them as Perlis harumanis to get a good price.

To prevent this from recurring, the department would hold a virtual briefing on Facebook to educate the public on the correct way to manage harumanis mangoes, he said.

The Perlis harumanis season is expected to start at the end of April until middle of June.

--BERNAMA