48 complete Musang King propagation course
BINTULU: A total of 48 participants recently completed the Musang King durian (D197) propagation course at Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu campus (UPMKB).
The course was organised by UPMKB’s University Agriculture Park (TPU).
“This course is one of a series of courses planned in 2020 in realising the University4Society programme that targets agricultural expansion with the general public,” said University Agricultural Park and Development (TPUP) director Assoc Prof Dr Ong Kian Huat.
TPU head Nalong Buda said among the objectives of the training course was to meet the government’s recommendations to further improve the agricultural industry in Malaysia, especially in Sarawak.
He said other objectives include to upgrade the skills of farmers with good agricultural methods and practices for the feasibility of viable projects, to transfer the latest technology to farmers to improve productivity and quality of farm produce, and also to equip farmers with entrepreneurial characteristics to become successful entrepreneurs.
Training course organising chairman Sat Maling said among the areas covered by the course were the scenario and potential of D197; morphology, types of clones/varieties, breeding, and cultivation media for D197; planting, care and maintenance after planting; and production costs including demonstration and breeding/nursery practice D197.
The lectures and practical classes were conducted in accordance with standard operating procedures and new norms outlined by the Ministry of Health to prevent the spread of Covid-19.