‘Plant more ‘Anak Sekolah’ rambutan variety’

The Federal Agriculture and Marketing Autority (Fama) has been exporting this variety of rambutan to Dubai and Holland since 2015, and made a trial export to China in 2016. It is said the first shipments to Dubai and Holland.

KUCHING: Farmers in Sarawak are encouraged to plant rambutan of ‘ Anak Sekolah’ variety for overseas market.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agro- based Industries Datuk Anthony Nogeh, this variety has been generating great demands, especially in Europe and the Middle East.

He also acknowledges that the ‘Anak Sekolah’ is of better quality and more suitable for export than other rambutans.

“The Federal Agriculture and Marketing Autority ( Fama) has been exporting this variety of rambutan to Dubai and Holland since 2015, and made a trial export to China in 2016. It is said the fi rst shipments to Dubai and Holland.

“Some of the exported rambutans came from Sarawak, especially Sri Aman,” he told The Borneo Post at his office here yesterday.

Nogeh, who is Mas Gading MP, said a Touch Point Programme ( TPP) to prepare ‘Anak Sekolah’ rambutan to Dubai and Europe

Datuk Anthony Nogeh, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries

was launched at Rumah Nimong in Pantu, near Sri Aman recently, where he witnessed 58 planters signing the farming contracts with Fama under his ministry, in which the fruits would be purchased at higher prices.

Of the total participants, 20 are from Rumah Nimong, 20 are from Rumah Sepitson and eight are from Rumah Helary.

Additionally, 33 people (14 from Rumah Nimong and 19 from Rumah Sepitson) also received the ‘My Good Agriculture Practices’ (GAP) certificate – a certification for agricultural practice that emphasises on environmental, economic and social aspects to ensure that the produce is safe and of good quality.

Nogeh said Fama would also be working closely with the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development to set up other fruits collection centres across the state.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Masir Kujat was also present to witness the launch of the TPP at Rumah Nimong.

Nogeh beats the gong to officiate at the launch ceremony in Rumah Nimong, withnessed by Masir, state Fama director Paza Dan (sixth and fifth right, respectively) and others.

It is reported the ‘Anak Sekolah’ variety are better and more suited for export than other rambutans.