MUAR: The Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry is looking at the district’s potential for herb farming, fruit orchards and cockle farming.
Its minister, Salahuddin Ayub, said his officers would work with the relevant government departments and agencies to come up with plans for the development of the agriculture sector in a more efficient manner.
“I think the potential of herb farming as a viable sector has already been proven. We have only to look at what we have here (the Nasuha Herbs & Spice Farm). The Matag coconut is also one which we should develop as there is great potential there,” he said.
(The Matag coconut is a hybrid between either the Malaysian Red Dwarf or Malaysian Yellow Dwarf coconut and the Tagnanan coconut from the Philippines. The Matag coconut tree produces much more fruit than any other normal or hybrid coconut tree.)
Salahuddin said durian orchards could also have big potential for development in Muar.
“I saw just now a variety of durian and I feel that they are on par with durian anywhere else. We should encourage durian farmers to carry on their efforts.
“As for cockle farming, the Pantai Muar area is no less as encouraging as what I saw in Air Baloi, Pontian, yesterday. These are the sectors with huge potential here and I will take full responsibility in ensuring that they are developed,” he said.
Salahuddin was speaking to reporters after being briefed on farming activities in Muar at the Nasuha Herbs & Spice Farm.
Present were Muar Municipal Council president Mustaffa Kamal Shamsudin and Johor Fisheries Department director Zamani Omar.
Earlier, Salahuddin had visited an agriculture project at Institut Pertanian Jorak.
Asked if Muar would be made an agricultural hub, the Pulai member of parliament and Simpang Jeram assemblyman said the ministry would work to identify specific sectors which would be developed in the district.
Salahuddin said this would be done in the shortest time possible as Muar was a big district and still had large areas of land which could be developed for agricultural purposes.