Gaharu a top NTFP product, says Awang Tengah

KUCHING: Gaharu is one of the most valuable non-timber forest products (NTFP) that have brought encouraging economic returns.

Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development, Trade and Investment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan added that the state should tap the potential of gaharu or agarwood.

He said Malaysia exported 1,379,382 kg gaharu in the form of chips and block between 2002 and 2008, worth about RM482.7 million.

Aside from that, he said the country had also exported 161,485 kg of gaharu dust worth RM565,198 and 829 litre of gaharu oil worth about RM24.3 million over the same period.

“We notice that the gaharu cultivation industry that produce gaharu have grown rapidly in Peninsular Malaysia.

“May be in Sarawak, through a good research and development, we can also cultivate the gaharu successfully,” he said at the launch of the NTFP Heart of Borneo carnival at Kuching Waterfront yesterday.

Awang Tengah said Sarawak depended largely on the natural gaharu, which have high quality.

“I can tell you that our natural gaharu is of high quality and can attract a lot of interests from foreign buyers.

“So, we should try to venture in this NTFP,” he said.

Awang Tengah, who is also Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment, said herbs and spices in Sarawak also have the potential to be expanded to the global market.

He said herbs could be used in the production of health food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, tradition medicine, health care product, flavour, colouring, perfume and essential oil for cosmetic and medical usage.