In Malaysia, durian growers are struggling as climate change makes it harder and more expensive to produce high-quality fruit. Premium varieties such as Musang King and Black Thorn are prized by durian lovers, especially in China. Durians are famous for their strong smell and rich, creamy taste, though not everyone enjoys them. Yet the extreme weather linked to a warming climate has become a serious threat to the farmers who grow them. Average temperatures in Peninsular Malaysia, the mainland part of the country, have climbed for decades.

Stephen Chow, who owns a fruit farm about an hour from Kuala Lumpur, has faced repeated losses. In 2021, heavy rain caused flooding that damaged around 100 of his trees. In the following years, wet weather during the flowering season meant fewer fruit formed, and his harvest fell. Between February and April 2026, high temperatures led him to water and fertilize his trees more often, increasing his costs. Meanwhile, hot, dry conditions in Malaysia have helped create an oversupply that pushed prices down, so he now expects to lose money in 2026.

To adapt to the changing weather, some fruit farmers have changed how they work. Ooi Teik Hock moved his farm to cooler highlands to escape the heat, while Kie Kim Hwa installed sensors to track rainfall, humidity, and wind so he could act before problems appeared. Even so, hotter weather and the new pests it can bring remain a worry.

"We live and die by the weather," one grower said. "But we can still prepare."