The Borneo Post

Limbang has great potential in producing Durian King

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LIMBANG: This district has great potential in becoming a major producer of durian including Durian King (Raja Kunyit), which is highly demanded in China.

Assistant Minister of Agricultur­e Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail said based on a recent study, this district has 45,000 matured durian trees.

“The government is now rehabilita­ting the durian trees by implementi­ng a pilot project, including 6,000 trees here that have been identified for the purpose,” he said during a working visit to a durian orchard in Kampung Ukong and a red chili farm in Kampung Palas yesterday.

Divisional Agricultur­e officer Alex Ding was one of those who accompanie­d him during the visit.

Dr Abdul Rahman, who is also Bukit Kota assemblyma­n, said five farmers here had been identified for the pilot project.

“Each farmer will be provided with a hectare of land and RM5,000grant to buy fertilizer, durian seedlings and also technical assistance,” he said.

Dr Abdul Rahman said the project is in line with the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s suggestion of wanting Sarawak to be an agricultur­al production hub using modern farming methods.

He added that the state government, through Syarikat

The government is now rehabilita­ting the durian trees by implementi­ng a pilot project, including 6,000 trees here that have been identified for the purpose.

Top Fruits ( Sarawak) Sdn Bhd, had successful­ly exported, for the first time in Sarawak’s history, 16 tonnes of frozen durian paste to Guangdong, China, during the recent durian season in Kuching.

For musang king farmer Louis Lu Zen Kun, 26, he said he has cultivated over 800 seedlings in his 60- acre orchard at Kampung Ukong, Medamit.

He said the high demand for the fruit in China had prompted him and his family to invest RM1 million to start the business in 2015.

Apart from Lu, an engineerin­g undergradu­ate, Gregory Gumbang, 29, too left his career in the hospitalit­y industry earlier this year to pursue his passion in agricultur­e – planting red chilli ( Saskata species) the fertigatio­n way in covered structure.

He has invested over RM70,000 to plant red chilli in 360 polythene bags.

Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, Assistant Minister of Agricultur­e

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 ??  ?? Dr Abdul Rahman (front third left), Lu (second left) and others take a closer look at a durian seedling in Kampung Ukong, Medamit.
Dr Abdul Rahman (front third left), Lu (second left) and others take a closer look at a durian seedling in Kampung Ukong, Medamit.

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