BINTANGOR, Sept 30: Local company Sunmark Trading Sdn Bhd is set to revive Bintangor town’s fading reputation as the main producer of citrus fruits in the state.
The company is planting various variants of pomelos on a 270-hectare site in Bundong Sian here, as observed by the Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas in a working visit to the site earlier today.
The company’s spokesperson Danny Huang Dung Po in a statement disclosed the company had been in operation for two years, and was expecting to harvest by the end of next year.
“We intercrop the citrus varieties with coconut,” said Huang, adding that the company was looking forward to working closely with the state government in introducing contract farming with land owners and others.
“We are seeking technical assistance and knowledge from the relevant departments. We also want to produce vegetables as well. We plan to market our products in the state and overseas markets,” he said.
Huang said Sunmark had also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with another company First Biogreen Sdn Bhd to buy all fruits produced at their farm.
Besides local markets, Sunmark also planned to penetrate overseas market like Singapore, he added.
Uggah who is also Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development, said Sunmark could help in promoting contract farming in efforts to produce more fruits or vegetables to increase landowners’ income.
“The ministry will see how it can help the company in aspects like drainage plus other technical input. Sunmark can certainly contribute toward the state’s aim of becoming a net exporter of food and food products by 2030,” he said. — DayakDaily
