SUNGAI PETANI: Five hundred coconut trees were planted today to beautify a fishing village developed by the Federal Government in Tanjung Dawai and give villagers an additional source of income.
Tanjung Dawai assemblyman Datuk Tajul Urus Mat Zain who is also chairman of the state Education, Transport and Non-Governmental Committee said kelapa pandan or Malayan Red Dwarf and Malayan Yellow Dwarf varieties were planted.
“We planted one tree at each of the 300 houses. The other trees were planted in the surrounding area, including the playground, surau and community hall,” he said.
“We hope this will not only beautify the area but also help the villagers, who are mostly fishermen, to generate extra income,” he said. when met during the programme today.
The one-day programme was initiated by the state Agriculture Department. Present was deputy director of the state Agriculture Department (development) Ahmad Munir Yusoff.
Tajul Urus said a coconut tree could produce about 150 fruits each year and a single coconut could fetch between RM4 and RM5.
He said there were 93 empty homes at the village and his office and the Fisheries Development Authority were looking into 200 applications for the homes.
“We will give priority to fishermen who failed in their application but have now met the criteria for the homes,” he said.