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India has exported more than 45,000 tonnes of <keyword id="50894" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="onion" source="Orion">onion</keyword> since the ban on outbound shipments was lifted early this month, a top government official said on Wednesday. These exports provided relief to farmers after curbs were imposed to keep domestic supplies steady ahead of general elections. The world's biggest vegetable exporter banned exports of the bulb last December and then extended it in March, after a rise in prices triggered by sluggish production. "Since the ban was lifted, more than 45,000 tonnes of onions have been exported, mostly to the Middle East and Bangladesh," Nidhi Khare, Secretary of the Consumer Affairs Ministry, told PTI. To keep <keyword id="20035406" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="onion-prices" source="keywords">onion prices</keyword> affordable during the election period, the government on May 4 lifted the ban but imposed a minimum export price (MEP) of USD 550 per tonne. Khare said the forecast of a good monsoon this year will ensure better sowing of kharif (summer) crops, including onion from June onwards. State-owned agencies have started procuring onions from the recent rabi (winter) harvest to build a targeted 5,00,000-tonne buffer stock for the current year, she added. The country's onion production is expected to fall 16 per cent from a year earlier to 25.47 million tonnes in the 2023-24 crop year due to lower output in key growing regions like Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, according to the Agriculture Ministry's first estimates.

India exports over 45,000 tonnes onion after lifting ban, brings relief to farmers

Nashik, <keyword id="519104" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="onion-traders" source="Orion">Onion traders</keyword> have said that they suspended auctions in all agriculture produce market committees in Nashik district of Maharashtra and their protest will continue indefinitely, a development raising the fear of shortage of the kitchen staple in retail markets and hike in prices. An office-bearer of the Nashik District <keyword id="50894" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="onion" source="Orion">Onion</keyword> Traders Association (NDOTA) said on Wednesday they were protesting against the Union government's recent move to increase <keyword id="139959" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="export-duty" source="Orion">export duty</keyword> on onions up to 40 per cent, which will remain in force till December 31. Taking serious cognisance, the District Sub-registrar, Co-operative Societies, on Wednesday night issued an order directing all APMCs to suspend or cancel the licences of the striking traders and submit the Action Taken Report on September 21. "In protest against the export duty hike decision, we have decided to shut the auction of onions in all APMCs in the district indefinitely. This (export duty hike) decision of the Centre will not only make export of onions difficult but it will also affect the onions in transit, causing huge loss to farmers," the office-bearer said. Earlier on Wednesday, Maharashtra marketing minister Abdul Sattar said that observing a bandh (shutting auctions of onions) was not right. "Secretaries in the departments of cooperation and marketing will discuss the action to be taken as per rules and Nashik district collector will take the necessary action," he said on the sidelines of an event. Notably, auctions of onions remained closed at most of the APMCs in Nashik district, including at Lasalgaon, the largest wholesale onion market in India, on August 20. "We had given time till September 19 to the government to find a solution to our demands. But as our demands are not agreed to yet, we have decided to shut the auction of onions indefinitely," the office-bearer said. The other demands raised by traders include the cancellation of export duty on onions, a 50 per cent reduction in market fees, participation by the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF) in auctions and a 50 per cent subsidy in transport of onions. Accordingly, onion auctions did not take place in all APMCs in Nashik district on Wednesday including in the Lasalgaon APMC. No onions arrived at APMCs, sources said. The government order mentions that Khandu Deore, president of Nashik District Onion Traders Association, had written a letter on September 13 to minister Sattar mentioning four demands and warning of not participating in onion auctions from September 19. Accordingly, the minister has organized a meeting of officials of the Marketing department on September 26. The minister also requested the traders to defer the agitation. Despite that the traders and brokers resorted to strike which has caused many problems for farmers in the sale of various agri produce, the order said. "Even in the meeting held by the government on Wednesday (Sep 20), the traders and brokers remained adamant on their stand. As a result, the order of immediate legal action has been issued," it said. Accordingly, as per the Maharashtra Agriculture Produce Marketing (Development and Regulation) Act, 1963, all the APMCs should make optional arrangements and take necessary measures to continue the sale and purchase deals of agri produce. APMCs have the right to suspend or cancel the licenses of such traders. As per the provision, the APMCs should immediately suspend or cancel the licenses of such traders. In addition, a necessary process should be implemented to issue licenses to new buyers who want to purchase goods at the APMCs, the order said. If an APMC fails to follow the order, action will be taken against the board of directors and the secretary, the order added.

Onion traders in Nashik district go on indefinite strike over export duty; govt orders strict action

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Solar sharing, or agrivoltaics, is a system where solar panels and farming are on the same land.</li><li>It's growing in popularity among farmers in Japan as a way to generate money and adopt sustainable practices.</li></ul>In 2012, Yoshiaki Hattori was itching for a change. His family business, Hattori Tea Farms, situated in the Shizuoka prefecture in Japan, had been growing sencha green tea for over a century.Hattori wanted to find a way to make the farm more profitable. He landed on a solution: Rather than growing regular green tea, the farm would specialize in high-quality matcha.The thing is, matcha – a powdered form of green tea that comes with a heap of health benefits – is pretty tricky to grow. First, it's a waiting game: It takes five years before farmers can harvest the crop. Then comes a shading process that is vital to creating matcha's distinctive flavor, in which 90% of the tree needs to be shaded for three to four weeks.Traditionally, this shading is achieved by wrapping the trees in a cover. There are limits to this, though: It increases the risk of disease and damages the leaves. The alternative is constructing a roof over the tea trees. But, Hattori told Insider, this can be very expensive."I needed a cost-effective way," Hattori said. "I wondered, how can I do this?" Around the same time, the Japanese government was re-assessing its approach to energy. The Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011 prompted a shift away from nuclear power. The following year, the Japanese government introduced the feed-in-tariff scheme, also known as FIT, which was designed to promote investment in renewable energy. The scheme made it easier for people to sell energy to utility companies, at a guaranteed fixed price.This was when Hattori had an idea. Instead of building a normal roof to shade his tea trees, he would build a cover made out of solar panels installed two to three meters above the tea trees. The matcha tea would get the shading it needed, and electricity would be produced at the same time.It was still more expensive than the traditional method of wrapping the tea trees, but, thanks to the new government scheme, Hattori would be able to sell the electricity — and so the solar panels would quickly pay for themselves.Hattori said: "Thanks to the income from electricity sales, we have more leeway in operations."<h2>Prioritizing energy self-sufficiency</h2>This method of farming is called 'solar sharing', or 'agrivoltaics.' The concept is simple – solar panels and farming take place on the same plot of land. Crops can be grown under the panels, or livestock like sheep and cows can graze in between them.Ruth Anne Gonocruz, a postdoctoral researcher at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan, told Insider that the method is particularly suitable for Japan. With limited productive land, Japan needs to strike a balance between food production and energy security. Gonocruz said the country's susceptibility to natural disasters also makes energy self-sufficiency a priority."Having a decentralized system, having energy in [people's] own region, is necessary, especially in natural disasters," she said. Gonocruz added that investing in solar power across the country decreases Japan's reliance on imported energy."The main purpose [of agrivoltaics] is to lessen the impacts of using renewable energy," Gonocruz said. "Big solar farms can be very disruptive because the land use is only for harnessing solar energy. But with agrivoltaics, it can be used for farming too."<h2>Solar sharing on the rise in Japan</h2>Solar power is an essential part of Japan's plan to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The country's mountainous terrain and deep coastal waters mean that wind power is difficult – leaving solar as a key renewable alternative. With <a href="https://aip.scitation.org/doi/pdf/10.1063/5.0054674">just under 2,000 agrivoltaic farms across the country</a>, the solar-sharing method is gradually expanding across Japan. The majority of the agrivoltaic farms are small, with 65% of them occupying less than 1,000 square meters. The farms generate between 500,000 and 600,000-megawatt hours of power per year.Some 120 different kinds of crops are grown in agrivoltaic farms in Japan, including ginger, green onions, blueberries, and paddy rice. While the increased amount of shade <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353184969_Analysis_of_the_Rice_Yield_under_an_Agrivoltaic_System_A_Case_Study_in_Japan">can reduce a farm's productivity</a>, solar panels can bring benefits to the crops, too. <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?postID=638f771d507e5b40995a31cc&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs41893-019-0364-5">One study</a> found that the cooling effects of an agrivoltaic system increased the yield of cherry tomatoes and jalapeño peppers.At Hattori Tea Farm, the method has been a success. It produces five tons of green tea and 8,000 kilowatts of electricity each year and has expanded to use the system in seven locations. The biggest difficulty, according to Hattori, is convincing other farmers to try solar sharing."Japanese people have a way of thinking. They protect their customs, the way of the old style, so many people don't do new things," he said. But Hattori is optimistic that the win-win solution could bring a boost to other matcha farmers."We want more people to know about this system," he said. "We want to make it spread and for more people to create good green tea."

Solar sharing helps farmers in Japan adopt sustainable methods — and earn additional money

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Green onions and scallions are the same thing and can be eaten raw or cooked.</li><li>Chives are a different plant and are considered an herb and best utilized raw.</li><li>Chives and green onions are both members of the genus allium, which also includes shallots and garlic.</li></ul>Chives and green onions are two well-loved and often-used ingredients across the culinary sphere. And while they've both got slender green shoots and an onion-like flavor profile, chives and green onions each have unique characteristics that make one preferable over the other, depending on the recipe.Both belong to the allium genus — which also includes onions, leeks, garlic, and shallots — all of which add pungent and spicy notes to savory <keyword id="11910989" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="cooking" source="Orion">cooking</keyword>. But beyond that common thread, chives and green onions have different uses, according to chef and author Laura Pauli of <a href="https://www.cucinatestarossa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cucina Testarossa</a>.<h2>Scallions and green onions are the same thing </h2>Just like chickpeas are sometimes called garbanzo beans, or hazelnuts might be referred to as filberts, scallions and green onions are exactly the same thing. How they're labeled is up to the store or farmer who is selling them, says Pauli. Similarly, how they're listed in recipes depends entirely on the author, so you need not worry if the ingredient list specifies "scallions" but your local market only has "green onions."Regardless of what they're called, green onions (Allium fistulosum) are used in many dishes, from starring as the main ingredient in Chinese scallion pancakes, building another layer of flavor in savory baked goods, or adding a pop of color to a tray of enchiladas. Their tender green shoots have a milder flavor than their thicker white stem near the roots, and can be eaten raw or cooked. "They have a sharp, fresh flavor, very similar to an onion or shallot," says Pauli. "The white part is stronger than the green stalks and can be used as a replacement for onions in a recipe." Grilling, sauteeing, or roasting them can help reveal their earthy sweetness, while the addition of fresh green onions adds depth, crunch, and a notes of onion without as much bite.Quick tip: To store scallions, wrap them in a paper towel then put them into a resealable plastic bag in the fridge. Pauli says this will keep them fresh much longer than if they are just loose in a bag. <h2>Green onions vs. chives </h2><div type="image" title="Whole and chopped chives on a wooden cutting board" height="1262" width="1683" msid="89309514" hostid="261"></div>Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are certainly related to green onions but have a distinctly different look. Their tapered, slender shoots are solid green from root to tip, and nearly the entire length of the chive is used. Unlike green onions, which stand up well to various cooking methods, chives are much more delicate and are best served raw or ever-so-slightly cooked."While [green onions] are considered a vegetable, chives are considered an herb and are really used as such," says Pauli. Finely chopped chives are a popular garnish for a fully-loaded baked potato, French omelets, or caviar-topped blinis, adding a subtle onion flavor and pop of color. Fresh chives can also be included in dips and dressings to add some complexity, or added to soups and stews just before serving.Quick tip: Fresh chives don't have a long shelf life, so it's best to use them within a couple of days from purchase for optimum flavor.<h2>Substituting green onions and chives</h2>"Green onions, especially the white section, are more of an integral part of a recipe, so a chive wouldn't be sufficient for a substitution," says Pauli. On the other hand, if a recipe calls for chives and you only have green onions on hand, you can use the dark green parts of the stem as a suitable replacement by slicing them very thinly and adding them to your dish.<h2>Insider's takeaway </h2>Chives and green onions (or, scallions, as they are often called in North America) are both delicious additions to all sorts of savory dishes. While their similarly lithe green shoots and oniony flavor might suggest they are interchangeable, chives are best used like a fresh herb whereas green onions can be treated more like a vegetable.

What's the difference between scallions, green onions, and chives?

<ul><li>Mumbai’s residents are paying ₹140 per kilogram for good quality onions and many are also buying half rotten products at a lower price. </li><li>In Hyderabad, government owned farmer’s markets are selling limited quantity of onions at subsidized rate. </li><li>The high price of onion and garlic has affected the sale and prices of meat and meat products. </li></ul> When people in Maharashtra are not worrying about who is their chief minister, they are bothered with rising prices of onions. And there is a reason. The city of Mumbai is saddled with the costliest market price of this staple food—at ₹140 per kilogram (kg). This of course is for good quality onions. There is a large market for partly squashed and rotting onions as well, which is going at an exorbitant price of ₹80 a kilo. For good quality onions though, the <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/commodities/news/wholesale-onion-prices-hit-rs-100/kg/articleshow/72269648.cms">wholesale price </a>itself hit a ₹100. All the other major cities too are buying onions at around ₹100 a kg as indicated in the table below. Traders, however, say that customers too have significantly reduced onion consumption. 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="onion rythu" msid="72276074" hostid="261"></div>











 In the city of Hyderabad however, government owned farmer’s markets called Rythu Bazaars are selling onions ₹30 below the market rate. “But for that we have to stand in line for hours together and show Aadhar cards. Even after that, only a limited quantity of onions is given like one or two kgs,” Jaya RaviShankar, a homemaker from the city, told Business Insider. The high price of onion and garlic, which is also above ₹120 a kilo, has affected the sale of meat and meat products. The retail prices of chicken came down by ₹10 as per data collected from Navi Mumbai market in Vashi. The price of onions went up considerably after erratic rains affected crops in major onion producing states like Karnataka, Telangana and Maharashtra. Rains have been affecting the supply and consumption of many fruits and vegetables but the rising cost of staples has been disrupting Indian home economics. Last month, tomato prices have peaked to around ₹70 per kilo. That had forced Delhi government to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/news/indian-government-is-offering-puree-as-an-alternative-to-costly-tomatoes/articleshow/71534211.cms">peddle tomato puree </a>as an alternative—especially during the festive season. 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Onion prices hit ₹150 in some parts of Mumbai (1)" msid="72276233" hostid="261"></div>







 Source: Retail markets from each city

Desperate Indians queue up for cheap onions or buy half rotten ones as prices soar

New Delhi, Mar 2 () The government will allow export of onions from March 15 in the interest of farmers, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday. The decision will help boost the income of farmers, the minister said in a tweet. The government last week decided to lift nearly six-month-old ban on export of onions as prices are likely to fall sharply due to bumper rabi crop. The ban was imposed after the prices of the commodity skyrocketed. Now, onion prices have stabilised and there is bumper crop also. Expected monthly harvest in March is over 40 lakh MT compared to 28.4 lakh MT last year, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan had tweeted on Wednesday. In September 2019, the government banned onion exports and also imposed a MEP of USD 850 per tonne. The move came after prices started skyrocketing due to supply-demand mismatch. There was shortage of onion as kharif crop was adversely affected due to excess rains and floods in key producing states, including Maharashtra. Currently, the arrival of rabi (winter) crop of onion has begun in small quantities and would increase from mid-March onwards. Exports of onion are expected to arrest sharp the fall in domestic prices. RRMR

Govt to allow onion export from Mar 15

The government on Wednesday decided to lift the nearly six-month-old ban on export of onions in a bid to protect the interests of farmers as prices are likely to fall sharply due to bumper rabi crop. Sources said the decision was taken at a meeting of a Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Home Minister <keyword id="6355521" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="amit-shah">Amit Shah</keyword>. "Since the price of onion has stabilised and there is bumper onion crop, government has decided to lift ban on export of onions. Expected monthly harvest in March is over 40 lakh MT compared to 28.4 lakh MT last year," Food Minister <keyword id="973" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ram-Vilas-Paswan">Ram Vilas Paswan</keyword> said in a tweet on Wednesday. The lifting of ban would be effective once the Directorate General of <keyword id="35087" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="foreign-trade">Foreign Trade</keyword> (DGFT) issues a notification in this regard. The GoM on Wednesday also deliberated on whether to reduce or scrap the Minimum Export Price (MEP) on onion to facilitate outbound shipments, the sources said. The MEP is the rate below which no exports are allowed. Paswan, Agriculture Minister <keyword id="6382481" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-singh-tomar">Narendra Singh Tomar</keyword>, Commerce Minister <keyword id="6355222" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="piyush-goyal">Piyush Goyal</keyword> and Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba were present at the meeting. In September 2019, the government banned onion exports and also imposed a MEP of USD 850 per tonne. The move came after prices had started skyrocketing due to supply-demand mismatch. There was shortage of onion as <keyword id="6617893" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kharif-crop">kharif crop</keyword> was adversely affected due to excess rains and floods in key producing states, including Maharasthra. Currently, the arrival of rabi (winter) crop of onion has begun in small quantities and would increase from mid-March onwards. In March alone, onion arrivals are expected to be as as high as 40.68 lakh tonne (Metric Tonne) when compared with 28.44 lakh tonne in the year-ago period, as per the sources. The arrival is anticipated to be higher at 86 lakh tonne in April compared to 61 lakh tonne in the year-ago, they added. Exports of onion are expected to arrest sharp the fall in domestic prices and thereby protect the interest of growers, the sources said. During the meeting, the sources said import of pulses, especially urad, was also discussed.

India lifts ban on onion exports as prices cool off

<ul><li>The amendment to the <keyword id="95281" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Essential-Commodities-Act">Essential Commodities Act</keyword> was introduced as a part of the slew of reforms that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced in May 2020 as relief measures for COVID-19 pandemic.</li><li>Through the amendments, better price realisation will be made possible for <keyword id="45092" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="farmers">farmers</keyword> and cereals, edible oils, oilseeds, pulses, onions and potatoes will be deregulated. </li></ul>The monsoon session of the parliament will begin on September 14, and one of the amendments that will be up for discussion is for the Essential Commodities Act. Introduced as a part of the slew of reforms that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced in May 2020 as relief measures for the COVID-19 pandemic and the ₹20 trillion stimulus package, the government had said it was a landmark decision which would help India’s farmers. The amendment was a step towards creating ‘One India, One <keyword id="6355165" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="agriculture">agriculture</keyword> market’. The Essential Commodities Act (ECA) was passed by the Union Cabinet in June and is now an <keyword id="152892" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ordinance">ordinance</keyword>. The ECA will lapse if it doesn’t get cleared by the Parliament in this session. Amendments to the Essential Commodities Act Through the amendments, better price realisation will be made possible for farmers and cereals, edible oils, oilseeds, pulses, onions, and potatoes will be deregulated. Stock limits will be imposed only under exceptional circumstances like national calamities, famine with a surge in prices. No such stock limit shall apply to processors or value chain participants, or any exporter subject to export demand. According to PRS, a stock limit may only be imposed if there is: (i) a 100% increase in the retail price of horticultural produce; and (ii) a 50% increase in the retail price of non-perishable agricultural food items. What is referred to as Essential Commodity? Currently, essential commodities are defined as per the schedule within the act. The schedule entails drugs (fertilisers – inorganic, organic or mixed), petroleum and petroleum products, food products, raw jute and jute textiles, seeds of food crops, fruits, vegetables, and cattle fodder, jute seed, cottonseed. During this COVID-19 pandemic, face masks and hand sanitizers were added to the list. This was due to the scarcity of the products, and as there were cases of a price increase. However, deeming them essential the government notified that their prices cannot be increased. The notification was in force until June 30, and the two items <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/hc-rejects-plea-seeking-to-classify-masks-sanitisers-as-essential-commodities/articleshow/77611390.cms">aren’t classified</a> as essential anymore, once the availability in the market improved. What is the Essential Commodities Act initially implemented in 1955? The act was brought into place for the control of the production, supply and distribution of, and trade and commerce, in certain commodities. The act then allowed the government of India to control the price of essential commodities, and also decide to increase or decrease the supply of the product in the market. It also gives the government to regulate through licences, permits or otherwise the storage, transport, distribution, disposal, acquisition, use or consumption of any essential commodity. However, in recent years the Essential Commodities Act has come under a lot of debate. It has also been called ‘<a href="https://theprint.in/opinion/draconian-essential-commodities-act-needs-to-go-if-india-wants-to-raise-farm-incomes/183006/">draconian</a>’ by certain sections as it gives the government complete control. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/the-epidemic-diseases-amendment-ordinance-protecting-the-corona-warriors/articleshow/78038114.cms">The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance — protecting the ‘corona warriors’</a>

Monsoon session of Parliament: All you need to know about the Essential Commodities ordinance

(Eds: Updates with more details) New Delhi, Mar 2 () Export of all varieties of onion will be free from March 15, the government announced on Monday, lifting around six-month-old curbs on shipments of the bulb following a correction in prices and improvement in local supplies. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) also announced removing the minimum export price (MEP) for outward shipments of the commodity. "The export of all varieties of onions has been made free without any condition of letter of credit and MEP, with effect from March 15, 2020," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification. Farmers in several parts of Nashik district in Maharashtra agitated over falling onion prices, with an official informing that average per quintal price for Monday was Rs 1,450 at Lasalgaon, the country's largest market for the kitchen staple.Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that the decision will help boost the income of farmers.The government last week decided to lift ban on export of onions in view of projected sharp fall in prices due to bumper rabi crop.In September 2019, the government banned onion exports and also imposed an MEP of USD 850 per tonne. The move came after prices started skyrocketing due to supply-demand mismatch.In December last year, the prices hit Rs 160 per kg in certain parts of the country. The prices are hovering at around Rs 30 per kg at present.Expected monthly harvest in March is over 40 lakh MT compared to 28.4 lakh MT last year, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan had tweeted on Wednesday.There was shortage of onion as kharif crop was adversely affected due to excess rains and floods in key producing states, including Maharashtra.Currently, the arrival of rabi (winter) crop of onion has begun in small quantities and would increase from mid-March onwards.Exports of onion are expected to arrest sharp the fall in domestic prices. RR MRMR

Govt allows onion exports from Mar 15, MEP removed

In Southeast <keyword id="21718" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Asia">Asia</keyword>, the <keyword id="975427" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Durian">durian</keyword> is the undisputed king of fruit. Crack open its thorny green husk, and you'll find several yellow or red nuggets of custard-like pulp that melts in your mouth.The smell, though, is divisive. Durians are so pungent that <a href="https://www.vox.com/2016/4/21/11477608/jessica-chastain-jimmy-kimmel-durian">Anthony Bourdain</a> once said they make your breath smell like "French-kissing your dead grandmother," and food writer Richard Sterling <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Boobies_Baobabs_and_Bot_Flies_Experience/1zKyCwAAQBAJ?hl=en&amp;gbpv=1&amp;dq=its+odor+is+best+described+as+pig-shit,+turpentine,+and+onions,+garnished+with+a+gym+sock&amp;pg=PT215&amp;printsec=frontcoverntsec=frontcover">opined</a> that "its odor is best described as pig-s--t, turpentine, and onions, garnished with a gym sock."The fruit is so smelly it's banned on public transport in Thailand, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong.Still, durians are a special treat in Asian households, and, at as much as $13 a pound, they're not cheap. They're also the subject of an increasingly bitter year-long battle between Malaysian farmers who cultivate premium durian trees and a government-backed consortium that's trying to cash in on the beloved fruit.At the center of this dispute is one specific breed of durian: the <keyword id="11740083" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="musang-king">Musang King</keyword>. It's been called gold that grows on trees, and a single tree can earn farmers up to $1,000 a year. Most of the world's Musang King durians come from Raub, an old mining township of 100,000 people that has become the <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/10/23/booming-durian-business-but-no-water-supply/">"durian capital of Malaysia</a>" after farmers discovered its soil and climate were perfect for growing the fruit.<div type="image" title="Map of Raubq" height="800" width="1600" msid="84823356" hostid="261"></div>Tan Wai Kiat's family has been growing Musang King on a plantation in Raub for 20 years. Just like with wine, trees that age longer produce better fruit. The average tree has to mature for up to 10 years before it starts bearing industry-standard Musang King. Tan's crop used to bring in around $46,000 a year, a tidy sum considering the country's median annual income<a href="https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2021/07/14/malaysians-average-median-salaries-in-2020-fall-for-first-time-since-2010-t/1989755#:~:text=The%20median%20monthly%20wages%20for,RM2%2C160%20(2017)."> is less than $6,000.</a>But all that's left of his farm now are logs and mud, he told Insider. In mid July, the state forestry department finished chopping down 15,000 durian trees, including the entirety of Tan's 13-acre plantation.Farmers like Tan believe the destruction of the 15,000 trees is meant as a warning to other durian growers, since the area cleared only spans around 250 of the total 5,537 acres involved in the dispute.When Tan heard that his plantation was being destroyed, he and other affected farmers rushed there to negotiate with on-site officials, he told Insider.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=saved&amp;v=1708924416156515651"> A video of the confrontation shows that tensions were high</a>. State authorities had sealed off the area, and the group was arrested on charges of trespassing and detained for 48 hours. Days later, Tan's entire farm was wiped out."I don't know what to think. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. It feels like there is no rule of law in this country," he said.<div type="image" title="Durian farm raub" height="577" width="768" msid="84823357" hostid="261"></div>The battle around Raub's Musang King comes as demand for the fruit has been exploding in popularity in China.In 2020, a<a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/10/06/300000-musang-king-durians-sold-in-60-minutes"> durian festival in China sold out $15 million worth of Musang King in 60 minutes</a>, and <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/musang-king-durian-millionaires-pahang-town-raub-businessmen-11718322">flocks of Chinese tourists have been paying to visit Raub's plantations</a>.<a href="https://www.itfnet.org/v1/2021/02/china-2020-fruit-imports-surpass-usd10-billion-for-first-time/">Durian is now China's No. 1 fruit import by value</a>, and the country bought<a href="https://comtrade.un.org/data/"> $2.3 billion of it last year.</a> China has historically brought in durians from Thailand, which holds an exclusive trade agreement with Beijing for fresh durians, but a 2019 deal with <keyword id="8695" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Malaysia">Malaysia</keyword> to sell frozen durian has seen Chinese interest in Malaysia's Musang King varietal skyrocket.<div type="image" title="Durian at a singapore supermarket can fetch as much as $38 for a small packet." height="1155" width="1536" msid="84823358" hostid="261"></div>The Musang King craze has been around for at least 20 years in Singapore, said durian expert Charles Phua, who owns a durian shop in the city and <a href="https://guide.michelin.com/sg/en/article/people/ask-the-expert-how-to-pick-and-choose-durians">has been consulted by Michelin for guides on the fruit</a>. It's the reason why people start lining up every morning in front of his shop during harvest season an hour before he opens. Prior to the pandemic, foreigners would fly into Singapore just to buy Musang King, he said. The golden Musang King is the "most famous of them all" because of its strong bittersweet taste and unrivaled creaminess, said Phua. At his stall, one pound of his best Musang King goes for $13 a pound.<div type="image" title="Durian Mao Shan Wang" height="902" width="1200" msid="84823360" hostid="261"></div><h2>The great durian land grab</h2>As interest in durian cultivation has grown, so has interference from Raub's state government, say Musang King farmers.Most of the Musang King farms in Raub - like Tan's - are built on government-owned land and are technically being run without permission from state authorities.Farmers say they have been trying to legalize their farms for years. Tan said his family have applied for a land title multiple times since 2011. His latest application was in 2015, according to documents seen by Insider, and is still pending.Even so, Tan's family had farmed Musang King peacefully and without interference from the state, he said - until now. "They just saw that there are profits, and now they want to come in and contest the rights to the land," Tan said.That's where Royal Pahang Durian Group (RPDG) comes into play.<a href="https://royalpahangdurian.com/about/">The association, which was launched around 2017,</a> is <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/2020/03/13/royal-pahang-durian-signs-agreements-with-perbadanan-kemajuan-pertanian-negeri-pahang">partnered with the state agricultural department</a>. Its shareholders include the country's royal family - the sultan's daughter is the chairperson of the board. In June 2020, the state government <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2020/07/14/land-scheme-a-win-win-soution-for-illegal-durian-farmers">awarded</a> the RPDG more than 5,500 acres of Musang King soil.The problem is that the land was already host to roughly 1,000 Musang King farmers.RPDG told farmers it would lease them back the land - the same land on which those very farmers had already been running plantations for decades - for a one-time fee of around $1,400 an acre.But the leased land comes with strings.The farmers are required to sell their durian to the consortium at a fixed rate of about $4.30 per pound. This price is well below market rate for Musang King, which can reach as high as $6.80 per pound, the farmers said. On top of all that, the consortium charges the farmers an additional $1 per pound of Musang King, which it said would go toward miscellaneous fees and state land taxes.The association said the scheme was put in place to protect the <a href="https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/08/22/company-refutes-pahangs-musang-king-farmers-modern-slavery-accusations-says/1896062">Musang King industry from foreign players</a> and that farmers would make <a href="https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/09/01/royal-pahang-says-musang-king-durian-farmers-can-still-profit-despite-rm30/1899100">large profits under its plan.</a>In response, 204 farmers formed a group called the Save Musang King Alliance, and said the proposal was exploitative and would turn them into "modern slaves." The scheme is not unlike share-cropping arrangements that were offered to former slaves in the South after the Civil War. Consider Tan's now-destroyed farm as an example. If the lease were to be applied to Tan's farm, it would have cost him 40% of his total $46,000 yearly revenue. He said he used to spend nearly a third of his revenue on labor, fertilizer, and pest control every year. If those expenses were combined with the new land levies and the lower market price, he would make essentially nothing, he said.Chiang Heng Mun, another farmer whose 20-acre plantation was completely cleared this month, said the state forestry department and consortium are creating a culture of fear among the Musang King growers."These are the trees that I put my tears and sweat into for years," he told Insider. Chiang, the sole breadwinner for his family, lives with his wife, parents, and two kids in their rural house near Raub. His family has been durian farmers in the area for 20 years."We have been trying to meet with them to work things out, but they don't respond. We just want fair treatment, because we have been working here for many years," he told Insider.The Pahang Agricultural Department declined to respond to Insider's request for comment, citing its ongoing legal dispute with the farmers. The RPDG and the Pahang State Forestry Department did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.<div type="image" title="Durian farm in Pahang" height="3061" width="4600" msid="84823362" hostid="261"></div><h2>'How can my family survive the pandemic?'</h2>The farmer's alliance plans to wage its legal battle on two fronts.Its main objective is to question why the land was leased to the consortium, said Chow Yu Hui, a Malaysian state assemblyman and opposition politician who rallied the farmers last year."We have many documents to prove that these farmers have been working here for 30, 40 years, building the brand of the Musang King," said Chow. "Why not lease the land to them?"The alliance is also arguing that the 15,000 trees destroyed this month were on land that's protected by a superior court. <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/pahang-durian-farmers-get-reprieve-they-obtain-stay-being-evicted-plantations">The farmers managed to secure a stay of eviction in January in the Court of Appeal,</a> which allowed them to return to their plantations and work until their case is reviewed. The court order, seen by Insider, includes protection against the destruction of their Musang King trees.Meanwhile, the state forestry department says the durian trees cleared were not covered in the court order, a claim that Chow and the farmers deny.However, the dispute is difficult for the farmers to contest because the exact boundaries of the land sold to RPDG have not been publicly disclosed, Chow told Insider.The farmer's alliance is now looking to create a proposal with the state government that will let them sell their durians at free-market value and be treated as equal partners. Even if they succeed, there is not much of a future left for farmers like Tan and Chiang, now that their plantations are gone. Tan plans to help out on other farms to feed his extended family of 10, who all live in a one-story village house. He and his brother, whose durian plantation was also destroyed this month, were the family's only sources of income.<div type="image" title="Tan Wei Kiat House" height="750" width="1000" msid="84823366" hostid="261"></div>Chiang said he legally owns several acres apart from his destroyed plantation, where he plants other fruit like bananas. But without his Musang King trees, he doubts the money will be close to what his family needs to live off of. He's looking for odd jobs, but said he can barely find work now."I have no hopes, no dreams anymore," Chiang said. "When they chop down all of my trees, how can my family survive the pandemic?"

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