PADAWAN: The state government has approved RM7 million in allocation for a rehabilitation programme aimed at increasing production of durian fruit in Sarawak.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas said the programme will involve rehabilitating 20,000 durian trees cultivated at farms in Serian, Betong, Baram and Limbang.
The initiative, said Uggah, would be jointly carried out by the State Agriculture Department and local fruit exporter Top Fruits (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd under the Durian Farm Rehabilitation Pioneer Programme.
“I hope the programme will yield result as early as next year.
“Increased fruit production will enable us to double our exports of durian paste to other countries especially China,” said Uggah at the launching of the programme at Teng Bekap multipurpose hall here today.
Uggah said the state government through Top Fruits made its first shipment of 16 tonnes of frozen durian paste to China.
“This is an encouraging start for Sarawak in the export of durian-based products,” he said.
Top Fruits, he said, was projecting 300 tonnes of durian fruits, which will enable the company to produce 60 tonnes of paste in the next fruit season.
“I hope farmers with durian farms in the rural areas will continue adopt good farming technique and ethics in order to ensure the high-quality and greater yield of the fruit.
“Top Fruits will acquire the yield at a reasonable price,” he said.
During last season, Uggah said Top Fruits had purchased 80 tonnes of durian fruits at an average price of RM3 per kilogram from farmers in Kuching, Serian and Sibu.
However, the fruit exporter could only produced 16 tonnes of durian paste as the fruit purchased was of low quality and could not be processed into the wanted form.