Sultan Mizan launches Terengganu herbal park
DUNGUN: Sultan of Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin launched the Pasir Raja Herbal Park, a Herbal Integrated Cluster Development project, in Pasir Raja here yesterday.
The project is a venture between the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) and Bioalpha, a health supplement product company.
Sultan Mizan was accompanied by his sons, Tengku Muhammad Ismail Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, Tengku Muhammad Mua’az Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin as well as Menteri Besar Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, State Secretary Datuk A. Rahman Yahya, Bioalpha Holdings Berhad chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Mamat and ECERDC chief executive officer Datuk Seri Jebasingam Issace John.
Earlier in his speech, Rahman said since 2015, the 406ha park had been planted with 20 varieties of herbal plants.
The project had produced 32 satellite herbal growers in the district.
The varieties include Tongkat Ali, Kacip Fatimah, Misai Kucing, Hempedu Bumi, Dukung Anak, Pecah Beling and Mas Cotek.
“The satellite farmers can become agriculture entrepreneurs through a pay-back system, which provides them with a reasonable income while developing the state economy.”
Rahman said more than 50 people from the community were employed in the project, including as general clerks, nursery operators and planters.
“More than 200 jobs are expected to be generated after the herbal park is fully developed by 2020.”