RM18 mln for durian planting to mitigate fickle markets of mainstays: Uggah
SERIAN: Farmers who depend heavily on crops such as oil palm, pepper and rubber may soon find a safety net if the state government plan finds favour among them.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said the state government wants to avoid a situation where farmers find themselves victims of serious price fluctuations of mainstays like oil palm, pepper and rubber.
Towards this end, the state government is promoting the planting of durians as an arrangement to help these farmers if they have serious problems or get into a difficult situation.
“A sum of RM18 million has been set aside to further develop and strengthen the durian industry in the state under its diversification programme.
“We want to avoid a situation where our farmers struggle to keep afloat when prices of oil palm, pepper and rubber drop.
“We want them to continue to enjoy good income from their endeavour and right now the key word is diversification,” he said when closing a basic Musang King Durian planting course at Kampung Pichin community hall here yesterday.
According to him, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg specifically wants farmers to diversify their crops by growing Musang King durian, pineapple, banana and coconut which are in high demand.
“Have no fear about market because we will look for the market for you.
“The Agriculture Department will collaborate with Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (Fama) and some anchor companies on this,” he assured.
Uggah, who is also Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Minister, said through anchor company Top Fruit Sdn Bhd, the state has successfully exported 30 tons of durian paste to China last year and 100 tons this year.
“There is still great demand from China for our durian. We are now going into the Musang king variety because of its great popularity, and very good market price.
“Top Fruit Sdn Bhd has markets in seven countries for Musang King. It also has processing plants internationally certified by these countries including China. This is no easy thing to accomplish, but that is how it is now.
“Besides, Fama has 31 processing centres which are also internationally certified,” he added.
According to him, Sarawak is in the process of refurbishing the Agriculture Department’s property in Tarat as a collecting, processing and packaging centre (CPPC) at the cost of RM1.8 million.
“We can process durian and other seasonal fruits there when it is ready within this year,” he said.
Uggah also commended Fama for its initiative in setting up a RM600,000 CPPC for durian in Kota Samarahan as well as the proposal by durian farmers to set up an association to represent them.
“I welcome this move. Let us all work together in this industry. I would also like our farmers to continue to take good care of their durian trees to ensure good harvest when the fruiting season comes around.
“Let us try to produce premium fruits so that we can compete against other agricultural products exporting countries in the region like Thailand, Vietnam or Indonesia,” he stressed.
On the course, he hoped Fama would organise the event in other places in the state as well.
About 600 local farmers took part in the course.
Also present were Kedup assemblyman Martin Ben, Semuja assemblyman John Ilus, Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development permanent secretary Datuk Ik Pahon and state Fama director Shahid Abu Bakar.
