With the increasing demand for durians from Sarawak, the state government has allocated RM8 million for a rehabilitation programme for the plantations to increase their quality and output this year.
Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas this year, said the state has successfully exported about 100 metric tons of durian products in paste and pulp forms through two anchor companies operating from Serian and Betong during the last durian season.
“This has exceeded the marketing target that was set at 60 metric tons. Most of the durian fruits were collected from Betong, Serian, Bau and Padawan,” he said in his ministerial winding-up speech.
For this year, the two companies have indicated that they will be able to export more than 200 metric tons of durian paste.
“To assist the two anchor companies to achieve their targets, my ministry will expedite the construction of new collection centres at strategic locations and to engage the Area Farmer’s Organisation (AFO) to act as the collector of durians from smallholders for delivery to the anchor company,” he said.
Uggah, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister, then said in line with the state’s goal to become a net exporter of food products by 2030, his ministry would also focus on pineapples, bananas, and coconuts beside durians.
“To develop our pineapple industry, the Department of Agriculture has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a private company in Miri to grow pineapples at Uma Akeh in Long Lama,” he said, adding that the project involves 40 smallholders as outgrowers.
He said the collaborative project will supply fresh pineapples to Brunei which the company estimates can absorb 40 metric tons per month.
On the development of the pineapple industry, Uggah said his ministry through the Department of Agriculture has allocated RM2.5 million for it this year.
“On the banana industry, there is a high demand for banana chips in Peninsular Malaysia and export markets especially China.
“Currently, there is a company operating in Samarahan which is involved in the production and marketing of banana chips,” he said, adding that the company was able to produce and market about 100 metric tons of banana chips last year.
Under the Anchor-Outgrower Business Model, the Department of Agriculture has assisted 34 farmers in the planting of bananas for the company.
Under the private sector initiative, a company in Sarikei Division is managing a Cavendish Banana plantation which was able to produce 2,800 metric tons in 2018 for supply to domestic and Brunei market.
Uggah said the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) was able to export 30 metric tons of “pisang kepok” to Peninsular Malaysia.
On the coconut industry, he said one company in Samarahan has exported about 410,000 nuts to Peninsular Malaysia in 2016, and the company’s export volume has increased three-fold to 1.2 million nuts in last year.
