Durian farmers give away $20 fruit for free

Did you know that some fruits can cost more than a nice dinner? Durians are one of them. These spiky fruits grow in Southeast Asia and taste sweet and creamy. Many people love them. But right now in Malaysia, durians are very cheap. Some farmers are selling them at half price. Some are even giving them away for free!

Why is this happening? There are many durians in the market right now. When there is a lot of fruit, the price goes down. This is basic supply and demand. Too much supply means lower demand. Lower demand means lower price.

Farmers are sad about this change. Durians take a long time to grow. It takes years before a tree makes fruit. Farmers spend money on water, care, and equipment. They hope to earn good money when harvest time comes. But now the price is too low. They cannot earn enough to pay for their work.

Some farmers are trying new ideas. They are selling durians online. They are making durian candy and durian juice. They are selling to shops and restaurants. These ideas help a little. But the main problem stays the same: too many durians and not enough buyers.

This story shows us something important about farming. Farmers do not control the price. Weather, rain, other farmers, and shoppers decide the price together. When you see cheap fruit at the market, remember: a farmer somewhere is worried.

Imagine you work hard for months on something. Then suddenly, nobody wants to pay for it. How would you feel? That is what farmers are living through right now.

Inspired by reporting from BBC News.