Government to rehabilitate 5,000 durian trees in Limbang

LIMBANG: The Sarawak government will rehabilitate 5,000 mature durian trees here under a pilot programme, as an effort to produce fruit yields that are healthy, abundant and of good quality.

Assistant Minister of Agriculture Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail said this programme, to be carried out in cooperation with Top Fruits Company ( Sarawak) Sdn Bhd, would also include the planting of new trees to revitalise durian production.

“Under the traditional practice, most durian tree owners use the old method of planting, harvesting and inadequate maintenance of the trees, which has resulted in low productivity.

“The rehabilitation of durian farms is one of the most effective approaches to be adopted by the government to produce sufficient durian fruits to meet local and export demands,” he spoke at the ‘Durian Farm Rehabilitation Course’ held in Kampung Bunga Raya Hall here recently.

The course was attended by about 100 local participants.

Dr Abdul Rahman, who is also Bukit Kota assemblyman, said the Ministry of Agriculture had identified 5,000 of the 45,000 durian trees across this district for the programme.

“Apart from Limbang, three other areas have been identified for the implementation of this project, namely Serian, Betong and Long Lama,” he said.

The Sarawak government had signed a memorandum of understanding ( MoU) with Top Fruits to develop the durian industry and entered into an agreement two years back to appoint the company to develop the Musang King durian variety in Sarawak.

“Considering the experience of Top Fruits’ involvement in the durian industry for 35 years, we ask them to help durian planters, by providing training and expertise,” said Dr Abdul Rahman.

The assistant minster added the bottom line was getting local farmers to produce top quality durians in great numbers for both domestic consumption and export.

Also present at the event were Agriculture Department Sarawak deputy director Rosahajah Mohidi, divisional Agriculture officer Jafaruddin Ali, Top Fruits representative Benson Kho and Bayer Company representative Tan Kang Wei.